The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-05-25

Some weeks ago, the above cut of the
Rev. James Roberts, ID. d, appeared
in the Presbyterian J0tuRai of Phila
delphia. and We arc indebted 10 the
editors of that paper for it's appearance
in fHE RECORD of this week In con
neetion with the cut. there appeared
also in the JojbHdf an article on DIR.
Roberts ms "Fhe New Secretary of the
Mercer Home. As the article will be
of special interest 10 our readers, nj
this time, We reproduce it, with some
corrections and additions of our own
DIR. Roberts was horn in Montrose,
Scotland. and was brought hv his
parents TO this country at the age of
ten He prepared for college ut the
Classical Institute of Media, Pa, then
conducted by the late Rev. Samuel NJ.
Gnyley and his son, Thomas q. Cay
ley, NJ A. lie graduated from Lafae
cite College in ts6hand from Princeton
Seminary in 1868 At the close of the
first year of Theological study, he WIS
invited to take charge of mission Of
the University Place church III New
York City, and spent the summer Of
1866 in TINT work His second summer
vacation Ms II Theological student was
given to preaching i'll AllamuchN, War
rem County. \. J. In both Of these
fields of labor he made friends, with
whom he hns been on terms of pleasant
intimacy ever since. Four months he
fore graduating from Princeton. he WIS
called tosncceed the Rev. AlcXanderG.
Morrison, at Contesyille, Pa The
people waited patiently for him until
his graduation. when beWa9 ordained
and installed pastor May 2sth, 1865.
1t will thus he secn that DR.. Roberts
celebrates the thirtieth anniversary oil
his pastoral life and work on next
Saturday. For twenty seven years he
was one of the most successful and
popular pastors of the State of PennaYl
vanln.
For more than seventeen years, he
ministcred with more thnn ordinary
acceptance and success IA pnstor of the
Coatesville church Under his minis
try. the congregation became one oI
the strongest and most influential oi
the Presbytcry of Chester. Without
any pressure ON the part Of the people
whom he served lie resigned in order
to accept II unanimous call which was
rendered to him from the Presbyterian
church of Darby, PA. The church was
weak and torn 10y discussions, but
soon peace and harmony we're restored,
and the congregation entered upon an
era of prosperity, which has continued
unto this day. In this pastorate, DIR.
Roberts continued from August, 1885
until May, 1895 When he resigned,
he says, he did not know of man,
woman, or child who desired his re-
signntion.
In March, 1898, he was called to the
phSlOINlt VI lit II ~ itoi'1 W. ihii
church, Lamhcrtville, and was installed
May l4th, three years ago. 1t was with
much regret that the Coatesyille and
Darby churches parted with DIR. Rob
erts M their pastor. But we are conf
dent that the regret of these churches
was not more keenly felt, nor more eyi-
IDENTIFY manifested, than is the regret
now experienced by the Presbyterian
church Of this city al this time.
During the three years of their resi-
denee in this city, both DR.. Roberts
and his estimable wife have made for
place in the hearts of the
people, not only of the church to which
they have both so efficiently and faith
fully ministered, but also in this com
with which they have been
identified Outside, ns well a8 within
the church itself, we hear it said, on
all sides, that it will be very hard to
fill the place soon to become vacant 10y
the removal of these two people from