The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-01
SAID GOOD-BY.
DIR. L. Blakesley's Path etic
Sermon of Farewell.
Listeners Crowded the First
Congregational Church.
MANY WET EYES.
MANY WET El
Work of a Generation Comes to
an End.
81 Go, But the Church Re-
mains," Says the Minister.

The last sermon of a pastorate of
over twenty-eight years; the final
words of comfort and admonition from
a pastor to the people among whom he
had Iabored for nearly a generation;
the end of almost a lifetime of joys and
sorrows, trials and triumphs-such was
the occasion at the First Congregational
church Sunday morning when DR.. Linus
BIakesIey preached his farewell sermon
as pastor of the church.
The church was crowded NOT ohIy
members of the church, but those from
other churches, many of whom nave
known DR.. Blakesley all their llVes,
came to hear his final discourse II IS
seldom that church ties are OF such lolS
standing as those which are broken by
the resignation of DR.. Blakesley from
his pastorate. He has spent the pest
years of his life among the peoPIe of of
Topeka, and many of the members OF
his church he has known since thelr
childhood He inserted little pleasan-
tries in his discourse Sunday, but hand-
kerchiefs were in demand, and at times
during the service many eyes were far
from dry.
DIR. B1akesley took his text from II
Cor 13:l1-''Finally, brethren, farewell
He said he did not wish to give a formal
DISCOURSE but would speak such things
as his heart prompted and the occasion
suggested.
saThere is an end to everything" he
said. Paul had to bring this letter to
the Corinthians to a close, although
they and we would have liked to nave
had a few more chapters added TO IL.
There is an end to every sermon, even
though they sometimes seem internin-
able to the listeners. Long sermons are
not in favor nowadays The pulpit IS
only one of the many avenues for re
ligious teaching, and people are not
moved by long discourses. They want
sermons cut short, but they do not want
them abridged as to quality.
iG q
Preachers become ambitious or dis
couraged. Congregations get dissatisfied
and want a change of diet. PastorateS
are usually too short, because both pas
tors and people are too anxious for
changes. On the other hand, they may
become too much prolonged. The people
may become accustomed to the pastor
exhortations, so that they will go to
sleep under them. But no matter how
long the pastorate may be, the end
comes some time, and the word finally
has to be spoken.
Life. too. has it's ending At the be-
ginning it seems like a long journey
before the finally is reached To chill
dren the years seem intermlnable, ana
to some sorrowing hearts it seems that
the end will never come. But 1T does.
In a few years others will take our
places; they will sit in the seats which
we call ours here in this church, and
they will transact what we call our
business.
For twenty-eight years many of US
have 1abOred together side by side. we
have united loving hearts in the holy
bonds of matrimony; we have baptized
the little children; we have laid away
the dead. L came among you a young
man; 1 go away-well-not as young as
I once was. We have had trials and
tribulations, joys and triumphs, but
through it all we have proSpered. How
we'll 1 remember the advent of this
organ into the old church, and the sensa-
ton it created. Then we had to move
out and build this new church and
though it was a struggle, came
through it successfully. At length came
the time for swarming. This church
became so full that even the front seats
were in demand, and in joy and sorrow
we sent off three score and more to
form the Central church, and the out
come has justified the movement"
In closing DR.. BIakesley said:
"And now farewell. I go, the church
remains The personal welfare of the
individual amounts to little, the welfare
of the church is everything. The history
of this church is connected with the
early traditions of Kansas. Some of the
pioneers of the state aided in it's up
building. Part of my own life is incor-
porated in these walls.
Great opportunities for usefulness
and growth await you here. Be per-
feet, be loyal. Rally around your pastor
and uphold his hands. I call you today
to a higher life of conservation and ser
vice. There is nothing in this wide
world of so great Importance as the
gospel of Jesus Christ, which have tried
to teach you during all these years.
His kingdom is coming, and when it
comes don't fail to be identified with it.
Finally, brethren, farewell"