Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-18
GIBSON MEMORIAL.
A Beautiful Tablet unYsilsd ID Mem
DRY Of Tho Pastor.
DEDICATED AND coHsEcRAlsD.
splcndid Tribute by tho Rsw Thomas
spencer-Yor over Fifty Years No
served Church aud People.

PETERSBURG, VA. December H.
fspecial) THE beautiful memorial-window
erected IN Grace Episcopal church. IN tina
CITY In loving remembrance OF the late
pev. DIR. Churchill ]. Gibson, for over
aftv wears tho honored and beloved rec
tor a the church. was formally dedicated
and consccrated Sunday afternoon In the
presence Of an assemblage that hiled
every seat and all standing space In the
large edifice. The assemblage was COM
posed OF people Of oil denominations who
knew and honored Dr. Gibson In lie, ana
Who. Irrespective Of denomination or
.reed. recognized and valued his services
"a Christian minister. No man who
,yer lived in Petersburg was more h'gniy
IGNORED or more beloved than DR.. Gibson
To look upon his face at any time was,
IN the belief OF the people, TO look upon
he face OF an angel.
Hundreds of people were turned away
from the church because no seats could
, be found for them, and great regret was
expressed on this account. because so
many of the ardent admirers of the late
DIR. Gibson were not permitted to pay
respect to his memory.
THE MEMORIAL-WINDoW
The memorial window. which had been
unveiled and exposed 70 view before the
congregation assembled, Is in the rear
81 the chancel and pulpit, and Id In fuii
giew OF the entire congregation.
II Is one of the most elaborate anu
BEAUTIFUL windows Of the kind ever erect
ID In any church In the SOUTH IL 10
Gothic In style. and represents the picture
~ fine Ascension. a subject on which DR..
Gibson was wont TO preach. The inquire
Of Christ at the moment Of His ascension
e presented IN bold relief. on either SIDE
apDearing fringes of clouds. In wnicn ap-
oear the heads Of cherubins gracefully
tanerin9 from base TO head. The shape
OF the tablet IL Gothic, and us size ls
i5x9 feet, and in execution II Is one VI
The most beautiful ever seen by our peo-
nle. And In this connection II may DE
said that the memorial window. which
rost fujIv 1900. was the loving gift or
the congregation over which DIR. Gibson
an long and so acceptably presided. Be-
low the picture Of the Ascension. upon a
scrolI. anpears the legend: II ascend unto
NV Father and your Father" and Deneath
IS plate representing the date OF the
birth. death, and work or the deceased
pastor. surmounted with representations
Of roses and lilies.
NOTHING LACKING.
The services on the occasion were Doth
appropriate and delightful The prayers
the music and the readings from scrip
ture were altogether appropriate lhuesu'
there was nothing lacking TO add 10 the
beauty ana inpressiveness on tne oeea'' ~, l.
T'he several Episcopal ministers OF the
city were In the chancei. and the only
regret expressed was by reason OF the
absence OF Bishop Randolph, who was
exnected to take part In the services anu
deliver the formal address. The Blsnop
was not able TO be present, ana the rev,
Thomas Spencer ably and acceptaoiy nheu
his place. and delivered the ADDRESS
which, in point Of dictfon, or eioquence,
and appropriateness, could not wen nave
been excelled by the Bishop.
A SPLENDID TRIBUTE
Mr. Spencer began his address Dy re-
ferring 10 the fact that on the third sun
dav in Advent the Church brings before
ne the subject of tire Christian ministry.
a ministry well spent would not soon De
forrotten. and ought not to be. speak
inc Of the ministry of DR.. Gibson, ne
said: 1900
"As we gather here to-day, there comes
before lis the memory OF ministry that
stands pre-eminent in more respects IMAM
sne among the ministries that nave peeh
snent in this city OF PETERSBURG. 1t began
In the bloom and freshness of young
manhood, when. at o. just old enough
TO be admitted TO the Office and work
of a deacon, he came to do In Cnrists
name what hand and heart might hhu
10 do. It ended in the sunset glory OIL
a beautiful old age, two years ago for
more than fifty years in the exercise OIL
that ministry, he walked In ana OUT
among this people: and 50 far as the
secret things OF life can be manifest TO
mortal eyes he also walked with God.
And then-'he was not. for God took him.
During the fifty years OF that ministry
there was not a street or alley Oh TINS
town that did not know his Footsteps.
there was scarcely person In 1t tnat ala
not know his face and form. by
legal right and title the rector only OF
this church, he was by common desire
and consent a pastor at large OF the whole
city and OF the country round about;
freely called for by those VINO nad no
other pastor, ana frequently by those VINO
had. No one was in more request at the
bedside Of the sick and dying and more
sought for by those whom some great
trouble had over taken"
After speaking further OF DR.. Gibsons
ministry, ana announcing that those VINO
knew him had chosen as memorial TO
him something that should be also for
the glory OF God and the advancement OF
Gods house. he said:
A BEAUTuFUB CUSTOM.
'It IS a beautiful custom, growing more
in favor among US. to place memorials OF
our dead In the house OF God, ana
we shoald place them there as gifts 10
Hin-thank-offerings for the hfe that He
gave 70 bless our Hives. Here In Gods
house we are oftenest brought face to
face with lessons OF life and thoughts OF
death. II is weA that the memories OF
our dead should be present with US as
we worship here. II VIII heip us better
10 realize the communion Of saints. l
can we'll remember In the years gone by,
when A. was my privilege to minister
with him IN his place, how. IN
the communion service, especially
ON the great feasts OF Christ
mas ana of Easter, the time at
which we miss our dead most, and the
Tina al which we most realize their tri-
umph. he would turn loving eyes upon
those windows to the right and left that
were placed here in memory Of his son
and daughter, and into those eyes would
come film OF tears; ana then, after
the tears, as SUNSHINE dltcr iciiA, e'si
would come q light that was heavenly,
that told as plainly as words could tell
that during the time his children were
back with him."
HIS TEACHINGS.
TT is desirable that In memorial
there should be fitness. No memorial Of
pr. Gibson would be a fit one that
did not reflect In some way the sum and
substance OF his teaching. He was not
one of those who ran after new things,
whose great care was. as the phrase goes,
TO keep abreast of the times To him
the Lord Jesus Christ was the great
theme of preaching, and the great ex-
ample of life. No one could listen to DIR.
Gibson's preaching without hearing that
Jesus was the Son OF God. the Saviour
and friend OF men. and the very heart
and centre of all Gospel teaching. Again,
our brother departed walked this earth
as one who was the citizen Of another
country. He loved to speak Of the heav-
emily country on which his desire was set,
and to dream what might be it's joys.
And so. out OF the many pictures of the
Christ thak might have been selected.
there has been chosen the picture Of the
Ascension, as that which best joins
Heaven and earth In cur thoughts OF the
Christ, and our loving memory OF His
servant
Better than some great tablet inscribed
IN large letters with the name OF your