The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-31

full PASTORS, have you been weaving,
day after day, an arduous wreath of
fond reeolections, which will hang
around your hearts and make them
glad, whenever you enter, or think OF
this, your house of God, endearing to
You this little temple and making it
spiritual home full of peace and joy.
And surely it will not be out of place
for me, ON this occasion, to return the
hearty greeting ] have received in this
the parish of my own planting, where |
spent SO many years and where friend
ships were formed which will last thro'
life. | greet my brethren OF the clergy,
who faithful and true, have taken up
and carried ON so well and so bravely
the work | began. / greet the vestry,
who as body and us individuals upheld
my feeble hands and aided my every eff
fort in the temporal ana spiritual adj
vancement OF the parish; | greet the
choir, which from the very beginning
of the work, made Gods house ring
with the praises OF heaven. greet
the guild, which with loving hearts and
willing hands, aided so materially in the
blessed work; | greet the dear chill
dren, who are to become the leaders IN
and guardians of this parish, and |
greet the congregation, whose interests
are dear to me and for whose peace and
prosperity ! daily pray. | greet you all,
brethren dear. and with the greeting
goes out the love of my heart which
has not diminished nor grown cold dur
ing all these years.
And as we stand and look back over
this quarter OF a century, oh what
memories crowd upon us. Sorrow and
JOY have gone hand In nand-for some
the brightness of the sun has been OBJ
scured by misfortune, or sickness or
death; for others the darkness and sor-
row has been dispelled by hope and
peace. Many of the dear ones we loved
so well are resting from their labors,
and their voices no longer fall as music
upon our ears, but the memory of them
fingers in our hearts and we thank
God for the bright example left us.
They were men and women and chill
dren weak as we are, subject to the
same trials, buffeted with the same
temptations, and yet through faith in
Christ, and by the spirit of God they
triumphed gloriously, fitting themselves
for that wondrous future which blooms
and blossoms for all those who are one
with Christ.
But until that future dawns upon us
there is much to be done-sin stalks
abroad capturing the souls of men; ii
must be conquered and br0ght unto
subsection to the law of righteousness.
Ignorance haumts the homes and hearts
Of men; it must be met and driven out
by the knowledge of the Lord. Infidelity
and doubt ilaunt their banners and seek
to tear down the very bulwarks of the
faith; those banners must be trailed
in the dust and give way to the Cross
of Christ.
And that all this may be done, we
must go on with our work, advancing
in personal holiness, following and
growing like unto Christ, and doing all
we can to set up His Kingdom here on
earth and to draw into its blessed fold
struggling and sorrowing and penitent
souls.
And as one means Of setting Christ
before men You are about to erect Il
stately building. which, when compile
ted shall be consecrated to the glory
of God and the salvation Of mankind.
1t is a blessed work, and one in which
you may take just pride. But re-
member, it must be Il work of faith
Faith i'm God and faith in yourselves
And as it rises in all its fair proportions
and stone after stone is set in its place,
it must be with the firm conviction
that the God who has put it into your
hearts to do the work will crown it
with success.
And it must be a work of patience.
There must be no hurry, no confusion
IN Gods work. The age in which you
live is a restless one-it is anxious for
immediate results, it cannot brook re-
straint. In patience POSSESSES ye your
souls struggle manfully, prayerfully
hopefully, faithfully, unitedly: wait
uron the Lord and He will renew tiny
strength; trust in Him and He will
bring it to pass.
Your beautiful little city is growing
is opening her arms to embrace all man
kind and the parish of the Good Shep-
herd is seeking out the lost and stray
ing ones, that they may find shelter
from the storms of life, and spiritual
food sufficient for their journey. May
God bless and strengthen you and your
loving pastor for the noble work before
you. May He give peace in this house
and parish, binding you all together in
the bonds of an holy love; may He
crown your every effort with success,
and ais the years roll by and your Golden
Jubilee comes on, may the little one
have indeed become a thousand and
may Your work and labor of love, re-
dound to the glory Of God and the sal
yation of your fellow man.