The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-06-15
HIS FAREWELL SERMON
PREACHED YESTERDAY BY REV. II,
II. MASON Al THE FIRST BAPTIST.

An Appropriate Text Chosen-Words of
Advice in Parting "A Large Congregation
--Parishioners Visibly Affected Recep-
tion at the Church This Evening.
Rev. j. II, Mason, who recently re-
signed from the pastorate of the First
Baptist church, preached yesterday
morning his farewell sermon to that
congregation, A large congregation
was present to hear the sermon, which
was preached from the text II. Corin-
thians 1911: Finally brethren fare
well, be perfect, of good comfort, be of
one mind; land the God of love and peace
shall be with you"
At the close of the service the MEM
bers of the congregation gathered
around Mr.. Mason and grasped his
hand in farewell, all showing their
great affection towards him and the
high esteem in which they held him.
Some of the pastors old friends were
deeply affected and some were even
moved to tears. A farewell reception
will be given to Mr.. Mason at the
church this evening, beginning at 7'30,
by the congregation.
Mr.. Mason said that these last words
of Paul to the Corinthians expressed his
desire for the congregation OF the First
Baptist church and that they were
words of tender affection, of earnest
council, and of blessed assurance. He
analysed each clause of the text. The
first clause Finally brethren, farewell,
has a great depth. Mr.. Mason said
that Christ had come into this world
to make all the children of men mem
bers of the family of God. In this con-
nection he spoke of the great confidence
which had always existed between him
and the congregation and the pleasant
relations that had prevailed during his
pastorate He said: 1.-THE memories Of
my pastorate here can be nothing but
pleasant memories. We are brethren
and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ"
Passing on to the second clause Of the
text Mr. Mason said:
Be perfect. OF course the word
carries the suggestion of incomplete
ness and imperfection. If you read the
whole letter you will see what Paul
meant Wherever errors have existed
either in your views or in your prac-
tice, see that correction is made. Do
not forget that you possess the Christ,
that the principle of the Christ life is
in you and that you have the Christ
power to energize all your being. That
thought itself will bring comfort to
you. There is no occasion for the Chris
tian to be discouraged over failures and
losses in the spiritual life and over sad
reflections from the path of duty, if
only there Is a clear understanding of
the present need and clear under
standing of the Christ supply for that
need. Be united; let harmony be found
among you as is fitting among those
who are living for the same Master;
and continue in the life of harmony
and peace which alone is becoming in
the church of Jesus Christ l know of
no better counsel to leave with a church
of the Lord Jesus Christ than just this
of Pauls.
have long been impressed, as have
other pastors and all who have known
} this church, with the harmony which
has existed among its members. We
have never heard any talk of factions
in the First Baptist church. And that
is quite a wonderful thing among more
than 700 members. 1t would be cal
amity not to have differences of opinion
SO that wisest courses might prevail;
but differences of opinion have never
resulted in strife or heart burnings.
Neither has this harmony been the
harmony of Indifference or of inactivity.
While no church accomplishes all that
a church might accomplish and while
we cannot escape the censure of our
own conscience for our shortcomings,
and while here as everywhere there are
many whose Christian life finds no no.
ticeable expression in earnest Christian
activity, yet l have rejoiced to know
how many in this church whose high
est happiness was to be found not mere
ly in knowing Christ, but in making
Him known.
And I approach Just here a matter
which is particularly upon my heart
You know my earnest hope that under
new leaderships this church will come
to be what. it has never been. l am
praying for a depth of Christian love
and a perfection of Christian character
here beyond anything that you have
ever known. How shall it be attained?
\ BY shutting ourselves away over wholly
\ world and giving ourselves over wholly
to meditation and prayer? Well, per-
4 haps not one of us gives as much time
. as we ought to just this thing. But
on the other hand you know that those
I lives which have been thus withdrawn
( from the world with this end in view
have not shown us the highest type of
n Christian attainment Those ages of
II the church in which asceticism and
mysticism and monasticism have been
( most prominent have not been the pro-
ductive ages of the church. And the
/ one final word which Jesus has given us
as expressive of the thought which
L overshadowed all others in the mind
of the Master even in the hour of His
ascension unto the eternal throne was:
go We and teach. Do not draw every
thing unto yourself and shut yourself
away from the world; but go we out
in the world and give yourself for the
worlds salvation. You may feel lonely
amid the worlds sordid selfishness; but
10, I will be with you even unto the
| worlds end" There then is the high
commission of the Christian issued
| from the central throne of this uni
verse itself. It is not the commission
of your pastor alone. You cannot dele
gate to him your duty and pay him
for doing something which God will re-
sceive at no hand except yours. Nor
even, though he be your leader, must
you depend too much upon his leader
ship. There is a divine finger which