The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-24
Repose For
Christians.
PEN EC0ST
breaches to Old Folks On
8Oth Birthday.

, A remarkable scene was witnessed at
Grace Church yesterday morning. when
the sermon of the day was preached by
Rev. William Pentecost, who is one Of
the oldest members of the Methodist
conference in this section. "Father"
Pentecost, as he is affectionately
termed by the Methodists of the city,
was so years old yesterday, and it was
by special request that he occupied the
pulpit on Walnut street church on the
occasion of "old folks day."
1t was touching scene indeed to
those who had known the reverend gem
tleman in all the long years he has la
bored in this state, to see him return as
he did yesterday from the retirement
he has earned SO wen to the pulpit,
there to deliver what was perhaps the
last discourse he will ever give before a
public audience.
He chose for his text, Deuteronomy
xii, 8, For We are not as yet come to
the rest and to the inheritance which
the Lord, your God, has given you"
The theme was a particularly appro-
pirate one for as Mr. Pentecost pro-
ceeded in his address the congregation
felt thattthe old man who stood before
them had not yet reached she inheri-
tance which the life of uprightness and
goodness shall merit, but thet he was
very near to it, and could even now see,
as by the eyes Of faith, the promised
land of his rest.
The occasion was arranged for the
benefit of the old people Of the con-
gregation, and the selection of Mr..
Pentecost was very appropriate one,
for many of those who were in the au-
dience had been his parishioners in
years long gone by. Every effort was
made by the committee in charge of
the service to have all the old men,
bers and attendants of the church pres
ent, and to this end they solicited from
several of the livery stable men of the
city the use of their hacks to bring
those too feeble to walk to he church.
In moot. cases the request was freely
granted. The committee make suita-
Bile acknowledgment of the kindness
of the stablekeepers on the program OF
the day.
The music yesterday morning was ar
ranged with an eye to the fitness of the
day, and was of such a nature as to be
thoroughly enjoyed by the visiting old
people The church was handsomely
decorated in preparation for the au~
tumn concert of the Sunday school, and
this added to the pleasant effect that
the whole service gave.
Mr. Pentecost said on advancing to
begin his sermon, that he had in the
course of his long life never done either
of two things He had never made an
apology and he had never delivered a
sermon from manuscript. He spoke
for more than half an hour in forcible
manner, with clear and logical think
ing.
The subject of the sermon was "Hu-
man life a journey" The speaker
traced the course of the lsraelites from
the time they came out of the bondage
of Egypt until they had come in sight
of the Jordan and could view the prom
ised land ON the other bank. So can
the Christian, after the wanderings Of
his life, at length perceive the goal of
his reward which he has been seeking
as he looks with the eyes Of faith
across the Jordan of death.
But the Israelites were compelled to
remain seven long years after they had
crossed the river that divided them
from the land of promise and to spend
the time in overcoming hostile nations
in waging long and bloody wars and in
enduring every sort of privation. But
| the Christian who has crossed the river
that divides this life from the next
has no more battles to fight, no more
privations to endure.
How cheering it is for one who has
fought the good fight for the span of
long lifetime. who has wandered
through the wilderness of the world, to
see the bright and happy shores of the
new Canaan drawing near to him and
to know that soon he viii have crossed
to eternal rest And there his rest
shall be such as no earthly repose, but
it shall be the joy of heaven that sur
passes the understanding Of man,