Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-01-03
NEArHRR rROBABILITIRs.-For this
section fair till Friday light westerly winds.

SeC0uu IIoooJ toi'""
crowded last night, the occasion Deing
a farewell reception given Rev. ). T..
Tbacker before his departure for his
new charge in Norfolk. An excellent
musicsl programme was given. Se'
lections by the St. Paul's Church choir,
nv Miss Grace Bauldin, Of Baltimore.
and Misses Taylor and Lindsey, and
instrumental pieces by Mr.. Fowler
were particularly enjoyable. Address
es were made by Mr.. T. }. Dempsey on
behalf of the Westminster League and
Rev. n. B. Masters, for the ministers
nj the city and were feelingly respond
ed to by Mr.. Thacker. Mr.. Dempsey's
address was as follows:
MyD.ar Brother: When it became
definitely known that you hsd con.
cluded to accept the very fl altering Call
extended to you by the Second Pres
bvierian Cnurcb, of Norfolk, the mem
bers Of the Westminster League OF this
church determined to tender you re-
cep,iop, that We might thus have one
more opportunity to publicly express
our admiration for you as a minister OF
the word; our love for you as man
and our confidence 10 you as
a time-tried and faithful friend,
and to me has bsen assigned the III :
possible task OF conveying to you the
sentiments of our league regarding the
approaching separation. There are
Others who could perform this duty
much more eloquently and GRACEFUL y,
but there is no one, assure you, VINO
feels more the loss we are about to sui >
tain, or whose expressions OF sorrow
could possibly be- more genuinely SID
cere. When you first assumed tie paste =
rate OF this church two years aud eight
months ago, this same band OF young
people arranged and successfully car
ried out similar meeting to welcome
YOU to our midst. But the clr-
cumstances under which we gath
er tonight are far different, for
i,y has given place TO sadness,
and bright smiles to tears. This Wes,-
munster League, intended to develop
the latent power lying dormant in cur
youug people and to train them tor
cIurcl service, was organized by one of
your most distinguished predecessors,
the Rsv. DR.. James |. Vance, man
whom We all love most devOtedly and
whose reputation is now national, as he
stands today one of the most prominent
diyines 10 the Presbyterian Church. 1t
was his opinion. and yours too, think,
that the hope of the church is it's young
people, and dark indeed is the future
of that congregation which ignores Its
younger members, or relegates them 10
the back ground as unworthy of con-
sideratioD. | presume, sir, 1t is divulelng
no secret and betrayiDg no confidence to
say that the call extended to you to be-
come the pastor of this church Was large =
ly the result of a movement on the part
OF our young sople, and right proudare
they at the evidence OF the wisdom OF
their choice. The statistics of the
church present most hatteriDg show
ing, The additions to our membership
during your passionate have been one
hundred and nine, larger increase,
probably, than we have ever before
had in like period, and l learn from
the treasurer that whereas when you
came to US you found us 10 debt, the
receipts have been such that barring
some unusual expenses in connection
with our new organ and to repairs to
this building and the maDse, we
have today handsome surplus in
the treasury. That you have ell
deAred yourself to our community
at large is we'll evidenced by the UNUSUAL
honor paid you last Sunday when tw
at least of our sister churches omitted
their own usual evening services in or
der that their ministers and cOngrega-
tions might Join with US 10 the last
public eIvice conducted by you as Oul
pastor. That your work has been
greatly blessed of God is unquestioned
and the expressions heard on every
hand, as friend commuDes with friend
or one talks with companions on the
street are universally those of great re-
greet that our city is to lose the very
helpful influence of your labors among
our people. Indeed. | have been per-
sonally approached by not few non
churchmen who have desired to men
ton their sorrow at the thought o.
you terminating your residence II
Alexandria. And now, sir, that it IL
determined that you will leave us, We
bid you, in the name Of the Westmin
SER League, God speed in your noble
labor of love among our neighbors
ever praying that the God OF Israel
who neither slumbers nor sleeps, may
have you and yours in Hi
holy keeping; that Heavens rich
est blessings may attend 20,
and that wherever Jehovah in Hi
providence may call you to preach tb'
unsearchable riches of Chris, you ma,
be the instrument in HIS hand of call
ing hundreds, aye. thousands, of tb
unconverted. into the glorious liberty 9
the gospel of the Son of God. Thoug
we may DOT, and 10 all probability Wi
not. again meet each other IS paste
and people, We will look with cout
dence to tina: happy day when We shal
all gather around the great whit
throne, when you will doubtless re
ceiye ut the Fathers hand q rich n
ward for faithful work in the Master
service.
Mr.. Masters followed in happy af
dress on the part of the ministers OF tn
CITY. He said eight months ego he WI
asked to speak to Mr.. Thacker Col
gratulaiory words upon the occasion
Ills completing his second year OF pa
torate work here, but he found 1t hare
er to speak at this time, rs words OF n
eret were hard to utter. He spoke
the PLEASANT fellowship existing b
tween himself and the other minister
of the city and Mr.. Thacker and Il
sense of personal loss they would lee
He contaminated him upon the ev