The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-01
Farewell Sermon.

Rev. w. A. Dawson delivered his fare.
well sermon as pastor OF the Baptist church
Sunday morning The audience room was
we'll filled and the discourse was both for
chile and appropriate to the occasion.
Mr.. Dawson took for his subject, "Come
and Co." basing his remarks on that por-
ton Of Acts 1928 which reads "Whose 1
am and whom l serve" He spoke of the
bonds OF love and cooperation which have
existed between the people and himself dur
ing his pastorate here and of the pain of
parting but he explained that God, who
willed it that he should come to this field.
also willed 1t that he should go and it was
left to him to obey.
God has three-fold claim upon our lives,
by right of creation, by title of purchase
and by voluntary dedic stion. He laid par
ticular stress upon the last claim as it in
volved mans cooperation. He said the
word dedicate meant to set apart by
promise. 1t implies abstracting ourselves
from others-the world, the flesh and the
devil. 1t also implies the solemn act of CIV
ing to the cause.
In touching upon the words, whom l
serve," which forms the last half of the
text, he said this service implies identify
ing ourselves with Gods cause. This will
lead US to serve his church which is his
ministering body in the world. This will
also lead us to serve individuals. III our
service to God, the church and the individ-
ual is Of the right sort it will be intelligent
not blind hearty not grudgeful, constant
not intermittent, and the result will be
Gods presence with US here and throne
in heaven hereafter.
In closing, Mr.. Dawson thanked his peo-
pie, the citizens and the press OF the city for
the many kindnesses and courtesies shown
Mrs. Dawson and himself during their stay
here. He exhorted the members OF his
| church to give to the new pastor the same
love, confidence and support they had given
him and he would have no fears for the re-
suit. He emphasized the fact that the work
! Of the pastor is of no avail unless he has the
| hearty cooperation of his people.
Following Mr.. Davison's DISCOURSE, the
! ordinance OF baptism was administered up
on two candidates. At the evening service
no regular sermon was delivered by Mr..
! ID avison as he desired that this last service
| should be of a more general and social char
acter. To this end he gave a short practical
talk on the text, "Let us not be weary in
we'll doing" which had been suggested to
him by Mrs, Dawson Ak appropriate for
this occasion. He reviewed the work done
by the church during his three years pas
torate and urged the members to still con-
tinue in it.
In the three years fifty. eight new mem.
| bers have been added and the church
which was in debt at the opening OF Mr.
| Davison's pastorate, is now clear and has
balance in the treasury having in the mean
time made improvements upon the property
amounting TO over $1,000. This s in excess
of the salary paid for that period. amount
ing to 81, 800. At the close of the evening
service, the right hand of fellowship was
extended by Mr.. Dawson to those who
were baplised in the morning.
Thus closed the pastorate OF one OF the
most loved and respected pastor who has
ever served the First Baptist church in
Montpelier. He won the esteem Of all with
whom he came in contact, without regard
to denomination, for he was man who
lived what he preached. His successor
Rev. William j Cloues, for the past eleven
years pastor at Littleton, Mass, will arrive
ia the city this evening with his wife and
three sons. Mr.. Cloues comes highly recon-
mended IA Christian and scholarly gen
tlemau and his reception will be a generous
one. Mr.. Dawson eft on the late train
Sunday night for Worcester, Mass, where
he will devote himself to the care OF Mrs
Dawson during her remaining days. Sh'
is steadily failing her life being consumed
by hat dread disease, consumption. Sh'
is resigned to her fate as Is attested by he
last message to the people here, "'Thougl
He say mo, yet will ! trust Him" Botl
Mr.. and Mrs, Dawson will have the heart
felt sympathy Of not only their people bu
the community at large in this their sat
atlliction.