The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-29
DR.. VANCE'S FAREWELL.
He Delivers the Last Sermon of
His Passionate.
TOUCHING DISCOURSE.
He Explains His Reasons for Max
ing the Change and Oommends
His Flock to God. Friends
and Workers Must Part,
But to Meet Again.

The last sermon of his pastorate
at the First Presby terrain Church
was delivered by Rev. James /.
Vance on Sunday night.
Long before the hour for service
the large structure rapidly filed up,
and when MIR. Vance arose standing
room could not be had.
After the Service the eminent
young divine chose for his text the
10th chapter OF the Acts, sd verse;:
"And now brethren, L commend
you to God aud to the word Of His
grace which is able to build you up,
aud to give you an inheritance
among all them that are sanctitied,"
He said: "This sentence came to
us from
SCENE OF THE ARTINa
Of 8 preacher and his flock, with
whom he had lived for three happy
years.
''If there are any ties which are
strong, sweet and tender it is those
born In Christian work. If there is
one thing that can destroy selfish
ness aud establish perfect friend
ship, pure and holy love, it is that
formed from that great gospel.
81 do not wish to preach set ser
mon tonight, for l feel like spend
ing this last hour in friendly talk"
MIR. Vance then paid beautiful
tribute to his congregation for their
earnestness aud he thanked them
for their carefulness OF his comfort.
I'm this hour of parting, my friends,
L can say no better word than to
commend you to God. Whom Paul
left his charge at Ephesus, where
he spent three years of his mi nistry,
no doubt the elders at that CITY
THOUGHT 1T BEST
for the great preacher to remain
there. His work had been SO sue.
cessful, but he must on to Jerusalem
and his answer to their protests set
tied two great questions: First, that
the Lords work is larger than one
city, one nation, one continent-it
includes all the world; and, second,
that for every worker taken away to
spread the gospel another will be
raised up, who may do O greater
work than his predecessor. SO we
must not come to think that upon
one man the work of the Lord de
ponds. The work is His and rost
assured He will provide for it. And
now may l repeat to you
TIE PARTING COMMENTATOR
OF Paul to his flock. I commend
you TO God. to His fatherly care, to
His infinite love, to his omnipotent
power, and this is my farewell,
Sometimes We lose our possesslona
and our earthly friends, but who
can deprive us of God? commend
to you the rich and holy promises
and exhortatlons of the Book Of
Books.
Earthly valuessare unstable, it's
treasures moth and rust corrupt, but
there is an inheritance above which
may be ours.
ION many sad occasions we have
taken the faithful dead to Elmwood
aud performed the last sad rites.
But we have not lost them. The
harvest field ia wide and
NohhEhS HAVE TO SEPARATE,
God calls them to different parts of
the field, but they shall meet again.
"And believe God has called me
to another field, bnt the hardest
feature OF this parting has been
that some OF you have not under
stood my motives III taking tho
step.
81 am not dissatisfied with nv
charge here. 1 love you oil and
surely my work has been most
pleasant. Seldom have / seen more
earnest cooperation of members.
churches and denominations. Bi1o.
try Is at low ebb in Norfolk npd I
thank God for it,
81 wish to express my affection for
and gratitude for dear old DR.. Arm.
strong, who for forty years wss your
beloved pastor. He has
UPHELD MY HANDS
on many occasions. Young and in.
experienced, the dear old man has
been father to me-.
Hooking around me see the faces
OF many whom l have led to Jesus
God bless them and God bless the
man who shall como after me.
when | leave the desk to.Dioht
TINS Will no longer be my church.
When l descend the pulpit stairs. [
shall no longer be your pastor. but
GOD bless you, one and all, The
last words it seems more fitting to
sing than speak. Let us sing.
'Blest be the tie that binds our
hearts in Christian love?"
Alter the vast volume OF sonnd
died away, DIR. Vance pronounced
the benediction, his voice trembling
with emotion.
AS the speakers earnes! tones