The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30
TWO Farewell sermons
Delivered by Rev. l.. {. Floyd, ID. D.,
and Rev. ". H. Pearce, d. d.
LEAVE FOR OTHER CHARGES
They Have Been Laborins for COngrcga.
tions of This City for the Last Five
Yeas and Have Done Grcat
service for Religion.

completed a nve years paStorate In the
Simpson Methodist Episcopal church
ON North Main avenue. His evening
sermon was delivered to one of the
largest congregations that has ever
iilled the spacious church auditorium.
br. Floyd took his text from Acts M.
32: And now, brthren. | commend
you to God and the word of His grace
which is able To build you up and to
sive you an inheritance among all
them which are sanctitied." In part
the sermon was as follows:
ilul planted the church at Ephesu ana
continued his ministry there ior three
y,dis. Afterward he wrote them u letter
which l. leSardtd as one Of tle most sub
LIME Of all as tp!StlCs. Upon ais de-
parturr Ee cSmmrnis them 10 God Tor
SG.i.ncr ana pi Jtcciiun, ana .ulthiiSt, The
mysterious Word. wno was OF ii-sh and
died among us. I'M, word - able 10
"bui!d us up" Man Is Il structure, bnilt
up one STORY upon another, and as suth
he l. Srander and more ennODlns than
the EDhesian temple, st. Peters at Rome
or any structure reared by she hands "f
man. They will pass away with time.
bat man will endure forever. The Gospel
lays the foundation of this spiritual struc-
ture in Jesus, the tAriSt. We begin IN
repentance and faita and regeneration
and sanCtification ami through all me
years the Christian character rises, until
the skies. This word Is the only power TO
reconstruct ana build up man. The inner
taHce Of the sanctihei follows. And us
the telescope reveals the hidden worlds OF
space. 81. also, does the Lord Of COD snow
Us the unseen and THE eternal We only
know dinly OF the future life: We DO NOT
know all aDort this iife. our best knoWi-
edge is Imperfect. II Professor Roent-
gems y rays can reveal Il mans bftlh:
still they cannct tell rs OF the vital
thought. SO We know God sent down His
Son from heaven TO show US 'tnat there i
Il land beyond the grave; This inheri-
tance is revealed by the figure Of an east
prn city, with walls and gates and streets
Cf gold and precious stones. place where
God will wipe away all tears from our
eyes This is the city We are journey
ing to.
Then DR.. Floyd began his farewell
address to the congregation. His words
We're full Of genuine tenderness and the
audience was much affected. Dr. Floyd
said:
HIS FAREWELL TO HIS FLOCK.
We close tonight our public ministry
here, have spent nine years as pastor in
this city and five in this church. The
economy of MethodiSm changes regular
ly and without friction and our terms OF
service are longer than supposed Near
~ all the pastors ON the West Side have
changed since | came: some of the church
"s twice. our plan is peculiar. The the
ory of appointments Is this: The minis
trrs and the churches l.ave the appoint
meGi to Il third party, the bishop. We
promise to so when sent, you accep. the
pastor that is appointed.
FiN" years ago yoL were Just coming
ont OF he lire and on the following May
the audience room was reopeneo.
This church, wiki its surroundings. Is
great field OF labor. No minister alone
can do all the work. lie can occupy The
pulpit, but he cann0S begin 10 do all
thc preaching from house TO house.
In the review am conscious that much
has beer imperfecti. done and some
Things hav, not been done at all ! haze
tried to do my part and have tried to have
you do yours. All the business affairs
have beer in your hands. ! have not
stunned To declare the whole counsel OF
God. have preached the whole Cos
pel"--two sermons Il week-new and fresh
every time like a coin from the mint. l
never as, Il barrel for sermons only 10
make n bonfire TO burn up the CID stock.
My sermons are mostly written from
to I in the morning winter and summer.
Since here | have married hiiy-siX cou-
pies. Thrty-four members of the church
have died and | have attended over l3o
our people still die we'll. There
has been lif. in the church and growth.
| received on probation lSi: into full mem
bersh nip over iOG. After pursuing the MEM
bership roll | lind that we have IA very
large nllIiJtl Oi me liIDtTS anu plpbit'oH-
eiS
CHT'RCH DEBT WAS REDUCED.
The church debt has been reduced on an
average of $l,JOH a year, while many I'M
have been made in the church
and Parsonage property ana they are all
paid for. the f,pworth league the La
dies Aid socsty, the Social circle. are
agencies for great and growing good. My
health has been most excellent. Horse
back riding and bicyCl" riding ana gem
eral athletics have wonderfully preserved
me-. ! have had good helper in the pa |
sonagr who has graduated into the Sab
batn school ~ children from the prim- !
ary room. and whose influence has touched
every department of the church work and
life.
\ new church is projected and lots have
been securei On kelser avenue. \ revival !
has been in progress there during the past
winter and in IA few months "A new chapel |
Is expected TO shelter Che grcwins congre
cation IN that part Of the city.
! commend YOU, dear brethren. TO God |
and the Word of His Grace. The MEM !
ories OF the past will be delightful 10 me. ,
have but one regret. and that Is thal l !
have net done more for the Master. We !
,lrt a. friends do not know an enemy |
i'm the ,'hur,,l or congregation God bless |
you all till we meet beyond the river.