The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-16
FAREWELL SERVICES
Affecting Leave Taking at Fifth Street
Church by Presiding kIder Beaman
and Pastor Cuninggim-Fine sermon
and Impressive Services-Apprecia.
tive Gifts to WIZ. Cuningg im and His
Family

The services, both morning and eve
ming, at Fifth Street NJ. T.. church last
Sunday. are characterized as the most
extraordinary and interesting hat have
ever been held in that church.
At the IL a. m. service the Rev. r. c..
Beaman, who has for two years been
presiding elder of the Wilmington dis
trict, preached and took his leave OF
the congregation, preparatory to leav-
ing for his new field Of labor as presid-
ing elder of the Elizabeth City circuit.
He took as his text, He that soweth
bountefully shall also reap bounteful-
1y." The main proposition was that in
proportion as a man puts himself into
the kingdom of God in the same pro-
portion does he receive blessings out
of the kingdom of God. The sermon
was a grand one and is pronounced the
finest sermon ever preached here by
Mr.. Beaman.
At the conclusion of his sermon, Mr..
Beaman took an affectionate farewell
of the church. In doing SO he feelingIy
spoke of his former relations to the
church, which he served three years
as pastor, and also of his relations as
presiding elder for the past two years.
He encouraged the church to perserve
and go onward, and INVOKED Gods
blessing upon the congregation. His
sermon was exceedingly appropriate as
he gave many instances of the faithful
ness and good work of the congregation
on1 tho hlacc;n1c noinn1 hu thapo IN
the hours of trial. Hundreds crowded
around Mr.. Beaman to bid him good
bye, and the whole congregation was
deeply affected.
HANDSOME PRESENTS.
The Sunday school exercises at this
church Sunday afternoon, were very
interesting, in view of it's being the
last Sunday of the pastOrate Of the
Rev. w. l.. Cuninggim, who has been
pastor the full limit of four years al
lowed by conference. MI. Cunningham
addressed the school and spoke of the
progress it has made in the four years,
increasing from 100 to 244. He appealed
to the officers and pupils 20 go on with
the good work.
II IlE llIluol VI Tx VII. W.
J. ToOmer, on behalf of the Oxford
League, presented Mr.. Cuninggim a
handsome ebony gold headed cane. 1t
is beautifully engraved as follows:
1884.
Presented to Rev. w. l.. c.,
By the o. l.. s..
1898"
Mr.. Cunningham accepted the present
in a feeling speech, and also rendered
the heartfelt thanks of himself and
Mrs. Cunningham and her sister, Mrs.
Alberta Bourn, for presents to each
of them.
During the exercises of Mrs. Cunning
gins class of young men, Mr.. George
c. Jackson, in behalf of the class, made
a beautiful little speech and presented
Mrs. Cuninggim with a handsome
French chimes clock. Accompanying
it was a printed care bearing the fol-
lowing inscription:
To Mrs. Cunningham,
From Her Glass, Fifth Street Church,
December, 1898.
A Slight Token of Affection from Those
Who Through These Years have
Learned to Admire Her Chris
tan Graces and Works.
1885,"
On the reverse side of the card were
the names of the members Of her class.
Previously the Ladies' Aid Society
had presented Mrs. C~uninggim with a
beautiful silver waiter inscribed:
Mrs. w. l.. Cunningham,
From the Ladies' Aid Society,
1895"
The ladies of the Oxford League also
presented Mrs. Bourn a handsome pic
ture with a massive frame.
The Ladies' Aid Society also present.
ed Mr.. Cuninggim with a gold pen,
with a pearl handle, and a gold pencil.
In his remarks accepting his cane,
Mr.. Cuninggim also extended thanks
for these gifts, which were a touching
evidence of the love of his congrega-
ton. ! 'r33
MIR. CUNINGGIM'S FAREWELL.
At the 1880 p. m. services Mr.. Cunning
GIN preached his farewell sermon. The
church was literallvy packed with
people, including not only the congre-
cation, but a large number of other
persons. His text was II Corinthians
xiii:11: Finally, brethren, farewell. Be
perfect, be of good comfort, be of one
mind, live in peace, and the God of
love and peace shall be with you" He
said he might review his work with the
church the past four years and gather
the lessons from them. but instead of
attempting in n hour to go over that
work it was deemed more profitable 20
set up an ideal elf life for the future
as a help. He said that ideal was in
n life OF and character Of Christ, and
that the APOSTLE had given some of the
features of that life in the text. He
took up the different expressions in the
text--tO be perfect which he defined
that they ought to he what God hal
inteded them to be. and that if they
met the requirements Goo would Civ