The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05
THE PULPIT OF THE CHURCH OF
THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

80 large that il could not he pleasantly
seated in the church building, in which
the pews were then owned by the men,
hers. Looking ut the situation as 1t
then existed, it was evident that the city
of Raleigh had grown large enough,
and the church was strong enough, 10
support two Parishes, and that the time
had come when small colony might be
sent ON to do this work. This met the
appreciation of the old Parrish, of DIR. Nal
SON. who was the Rector, AMID OF the
Bishop of the Diocese. With the approval
of these parties few of the newer
members OF the old congregation with
drew. and organized the Parish of the
Church of the Good Shepherd, to which
we now belong.
The difficulty of sustaining and
building up the new Parish under eX-
listing circumstances was not linderes-
timated 1t was no part of the purpose
of the new organization to draw mem
hers from the old 1t was well known
that many of the oldest and best falni-
lies in the city had worshiped in the
old Parish. There their children had
been baptized their daughters married.
and their dead carried from its sacred
precincts to their last sad resting place.
1t would have been a sacrilege to at
tempt to disturb associations so sacred
as these While our new Parish must
be built up under the shadow of the
old, it must be done in perfect harmony
with it, and by work in Il new field and
with new material The difficulties to
be encountered and the work required
to build up and sustain a new Parish
under such circumstances were necessa-
rily great To command success we
must deserve it, and to this end we must
show by our works in our church and
Parish, that we were actuated by the
true spirit, and present as far as posi-
BILE to those around us. all the attrac-
tions of a Holy Religion embodied in
human form. And here we met one
of the most important duties of our new
work.
In order TO complete our organization
a Rector of the Parish must be selected.
This was no light natter The Rector,
who was necessarily the leader in the
work, must possess the peculiar quail
ties which would fit him for the posi-
ton. He must be net only an earnest.
Jealous. untiring and popular worker in
the new Parish, but must also have
attract congregation to the new church
and hold them when their attendance
commenced To this he must add the
essential qualities of the leader; he must
be resOlute and fearless and at the
same time attractive in his work; the
real head in fact as well as in theory,
which his ordination vows made him.
1t was well known that every priest in
41.o hn1 n - nh w
no hope that any one of these who
would suit the place could be induced
to accept it, Therefore the necessity
for going beyond the limits of the State
was unavoidable. =
Fortunately some one who knew the
Rev. Edward r. Rich, of the Diocese of
Maryland, recommended him to us in
such terms of commendation as induced
us to make inquiry as to his fitness for
the position. Notwithstanding the high
recommendation given to Mr.. Rich, it
was, in matter of such Importance,
only a prudent and wise precaution to
make some inquiry as to his character
and antecedents, and thus determine
for ourselves whether or not he would
suit us in the great work which we
had undertaken.
Upon enquiring, we ascertained that
Mr.. Rich as a young man had become
a Confederate soldier, and as such he
was distinguished by his faithful dis
charge of every dirty, patient under
hardship, obedient to authority, ready for
any emergency, and of courage which
was only the cooler when danger was
the more imminent. As an instance of
his GOODNESS and daring and disregard
OF consequences in the discharge of a
duty. or in the pursuit of an object
which was dear to him, tradition informs
us that on cold winter night he swan
a river and passed into the enemys lines
to meet the lady to whom he was en-
gagged and who afterwards became his
wife, well knowing tnat in case of his
capture he ran the risk of being shot
or hung as spy.
After the war was over he returned
10 his home and became a minister
of the Church. In the discharge of the
duties of his sacred calling he manifest
ed the same leaumg characteristics
which had marked his career as sold
Ter, and gave evidence of the future
success which he was to achieve.
Being satisfied that such soldier in
the humber position was no mean ma
terial out of which to make command
er in the highest of all armies, we gave
him our first call. He accepted at
once: the Parish organization was thus
completed, and the first service was held
in Tucker Hall, on Quinquagesima sun
day-the fifteenth OF February, 1874
This was the beginning of our parochial
life. and this the introduction into our
Parish of our first Rector.
The result proved that no mistake was
made in This selection. Our new Rector
was full of tact, energy, industry. and
enthusiasm in his great work. Under
his wise administration Of his sacred of
fee his Parish took strong hold of our
people, and grew and flourished as much
as we had dared to hope. The neeessi-
nv for our action was thus yindicated.
1t was soon evident that the little
church around the corner" would not
long remain the little church, but by
its good work and Christian zeal and
spirit, would soon be recognized as one