The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-18
Thoughts on Separation.

! Thoughts on Separation.
In his ever changing world Of ours sep
arations are the common lot Of ALL from
the cradle to the grave we experience them.
Sometimes they affect us mildly, at other
times most kcenly. All have had at some
time or other The experience OF separation
which have beon mos. bitter. But apart
from the separation which death brings to
all of us, we can think Of no separation
which saddens tho heart more than when
a faithful Minister Of God is separated
from the flock he has been leading and
| pointing to the Lamb OF God for five long
| yenrs, being tho exJrome limit given to
any minister Of the great Methodist
| church.
These thoughts come to us as wo draw
near TO the now closing conference year,
and rot only So but the close Of u five
years pastora, of Brother j. u. C. Hanna
of Union NJ. Il. Church. We cannot ex-
press our own sadness in words and only
our hearts inner language can convey to
us the loss We sustain and the sorrow we
feel at his departure. Bit in our sadness
We must not forget to ''put on charity"
for true it Is while we have b,en favored
with his faithful work here these five long
! years, there arc other parts Of Gods moral
vineyard to which he must go and
labor to sproud the joyful tidings of saliva
toD, and wherever that field may be the
people will have great cause to thank A.
mighty God for a faithful and untiring
messenger of salvation.
We said before words could no. express
our sadness at his separation from us. and
we may say still farther that language
fails hopeessly to measure the field where
glorious fruitage will b, harvested from
the good seed hc has sown. The foun.la-
tion he has laid are found in Gods eternal
truth, which cannot be moved; upon it
and it alone, he has labored to show his
numberess hearers, that they must build
upon 1t or DO lost. We wouli not pass by
unnoticel his labor and toll in behalf of
the young. A wise master builder having
laid good foundation will strive 10 get
tho be,t material to erect lasting editc,.
Aud the young have been the object Of his
solieitous care IN selecting material for the
visible, church Of Christ. This brings to
notice, the lnstrumentniity he las by tho
favor OF God, chosen to adopt, and the I'M
told good accomplished will only bs fully
known when the Master shlll 'smake up
His Jcwels.' We refer to his illustrated
Sermons a move to throw The strong light
cfthe gospel into the ranks of the young
A move to impede tho progress of Satan in
his eagerness to capture tho young and
rising generation. And while Satan has
squirmcd, and called to his aid all his
agents In order to- lay waite the plans of
Gol, success has crowned he work to en-
extent that IL marvellous.
And wki!c there have bccn Ephra inns
to contend with no attention was paid to
them more than to let them alone they ara
joined to their idols ana a grand LASTING
and eternal good has been accomplished.
And what tho Dsvll nnl his conductors
were pleased to denominate shows proved
to he nm Instrument in Coils hands of en-
rolling vas. army OF young pooplo to
work k-nud faithfully too-in the Masters
cause; filling up tho ranks thinued by de-
scrters. aad making an army with banners
fearless before their satanic foe. And such
TN army OF Young and faithful soldiers for
Christ hns been mustered Into service dur
ing Brother Hanna's pastorate. will only
tell In eternity, the full measure OF the
Appropriateness Of tho means used and the
fer roaching gnod to be expected aud real
liz d ismore than finite mind can conceive.
10 sum up. our retiring Brother has been
faithful in all things, his perseverance a
marvel, his activity uncxcsllsd, to every |
interest of the church faithful and untir-
i,fg to the upmost tension. But we must
say farewell, but will over remember his
noblo work, aud the good ho has booa TO !
IL. and in our memory thers will ever be
for him an ample place for him until we
meet in our fathers house to 60 out no
more forever.
We part with our Moses but bolieve tue
gooh Lord will sond usn Joshua Of great
courage. to lead us on to consu,nate our
must say farewell, on tho one sido. with
faith in God AMI chri stan lovo for the
ministry ho has established, with open
arms we shall welcome tho incoming min
is.er of Christ, and stand by him through
evil as we'll as good report, and may Gods
richost blessing accompany him. and may
the new miuis,cr and now people to him,
In tho strong bond Of Chr.s .stlan fellowship
wage au incessant .welfare against the