Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-28
A Sad ~LeaVe-Taking.
THE PRESBYTERIAN coNaREaA-
TON RELUCTANTLY DEPART
FROM THEIR OLD CHURCH.
A Magnificent New Edifice to Take
Its Place-Rev. MI. Wallace Re-
views the History of the Old
Church Building.

Church Building.
Rev. A. A. Wallace preached to
standing room only last Sunday morn
ing. 1t was the last service to be held
in the old Presbyterian church and the
room was packed. Rev. Mr.. Wallace
preached a most impressive sermon
and closed as follows:
'The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulnlls Himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world"
Words az true to-day as when Ten
nyson put them on King Arthur's lips.
We soon are to witness the pass-
ing of the old building in which we
are met to-day. Tomorrow morning
the hammer and pick will be piled
upon the old structure and before the
week is over the house that, more
than any other, is of historic interest
to Mexico will have been dismantled
to give place toa modern building.
For forty years it has stood. It's
successor will do well II it can with
stand for twenty-five years the
onward march of Goth century pro-
gress. The old building is closely con-
nected with the life and history of
Mexico. 1t was built at a time when
church buildings were not plentiful
and it has been the home, not only of
the Presbyterian flock, but of others
| also. Methodist conferences have been
held in it. The First Baptist church
was organized here. The Regular
Baptist congregation ~worshiped here
Just after the war. Here the civil
courts have convened and held their
sessions. 1t has furnished shelter for
the soldier and the walls which were
built for peace have heard the tramp
of a 1t has witnessed the passing
of more than a generation of people.
Under its shadow the child has grown
to manhood, and during its useful life
time the ma of middle life has grown
old and feeble and been gathered unto
| his Father. 1t has heard the vow of
| the mother and father az the smiling
infant was by them presented to the
Lord in baptism. 1t has echoed to the
sweet hymn bursting from the lips OF
children gathered in the Sabbath
school. Within it the young man and
maiden have sealed their vows of holy
wedlock, and it has heard the glad
stains that broke forth when the twain
became one flesh. 1t has heard also
the slow, sad funeral dirge and looked
down upon the weeping heart that
sorrowed sorely because slowed ones
slept in brighter worlds to waken." II
has witnessed the falling of tears
from the penitent sinners eyes, and
1t has heard his cry of faith ascend to
an ever listening Savior. Here elders
and deacons have been elected, Or
dained and installed for high, RESPONSE
BILE duties, and here they have met tc
pray and counsel and plan. Here
Presbyteries and Synods have con-
vened to discus and further the in
terests of Gods kingdom.
1t was here that the great commits.
sion fell upon earnest hearts, and ii
was here that one of d W best
workers was hidden farewell as she
went forth to lift up her benightet
sisters in Japan.
Weeks by weeks 1t has opened it
wings of retreat to gather in the wor'
shippers to the services of prayer ant
Thanksgiving. Through sunshine ant
shadow the faithful have come tt
worship and hear the story of Cod
love in Christ for a lost world.
1t has witnessed the setting apart o
the young man to the gospel ministry
and it has heard the people as the.
promised to support and labor will
and pray for the pastor. I cannot for
get that here I was ordained to tn
ministry just ten years ago Friday
and here was begun a relation for th'
3 mutual sweetness and ~genuineness o
whose love I 4 am profoundly grateful
Here a noble band have sacrifice,
their offering of praise. Here eloquen
ministers have unfo,ded the mysterie
! of the gospel-old, yet ever new
Here the tables at the Lords suppe
has been spread and the sweet, cain
silence as Gods people remembers
the death of their Lord has givel
: peace to our hearts and entered int
the Savior's ear.
During the whole life of this oil
building it has been the spiritual hom,
for more than 1900 members o
the church and the retreat of man,
who, while not openly c~onfessin,
Christ, have yet found here an inspir
alton and a help that the world coul
not afford.
Precious, then, and tender are tn
memories which cluster about the oil
building and we do well to give OK
preston to these memories, either b
, word or by tear.
To-day we rejoice that a new hous
is to take the old ones place, but on
rejoicing has in 1t the tremulous not
of holy association. We are glad to
day, not with a wild, boisterous glad
ness, but with a calm, quiet thankful
ness that praises God for mercies Civ
en- while In the old and that hopeful
expects the continuance of thef
;, mercies in the new. Gods blessing o
us as we have w~orshiped here in th
past is to us q pledge of his blessing
y the futare. With that blessing beck
oning us on we say goodbye to th
n old door as It closes and hopefully wi
+ we enter the new door rs it opens.
Mcqueen annehill.
q At Brownwood, Tex, at 7:15 o'cloc
"Wednesday, April 20, Mr.. E. G. Nj