The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-21

Dfs
There was a very large congregatio
at St James Episcopal church on Sun
day at IL a. m TO hear the farewell ser
mon Of the Rev. Robert Strange. d. D
who recently resigned the rectorship o
accept the cal to ST. Paui's Epfscopa
church. Richmond. Va
All the seats in the auditorium ans
gallery were filed and very deep inter
est was manifested In every word tina
fell from DR.. Strange's lips. He tool
as his text Hebrews xi-s: by Faith
Abraham, when he was called to go on,
into a place which he should after re-
ceive for an inheritance, obeyed: and be
went out. not knowing whittier he
went"
DR.. Strange employed this text TO
call Of duty. He did not know where
he was going but his faith in God
was all that he depended upon and he
cbeyed the call. He mentioned Incl
dents in the Scriptures where God
called Moses and the prophets. where
~ SoAiCo A6 aPoSAACS Ny hahAC III
spoke to Paul from the heavens. The
Bible. he said, was full of Gods calls
to his servants. He not alone calls
those whose lives were of greater i'm
portance but he calls all his people. He
declared that n of the plainest teach
ings Of the Bible is the God knows.
loves and calls each of his children.
discussed the manner in which God
called those whom he wanted, and
among other things he said the consci-
ence is one of Gods methods of spanking
to us.
DR.. Strange did not take a final fare
well of his congregation. After preach
ing his sermon he explained why he
had accepted h call to another church,
and decided to separate from the people
who loved him SO well and who were
SO much beloved by him. He alluded to
himself as a young man just from col
lege, ambition calling him to the law,
while duty and conscience in a still
voice pointed to him the duty of
becoming a minister of the gospel. The
law was given up to the promptings of
the spirit and he yielded up his ambi-
ton n accepted Gods call to the min
istry. He alluded a~ffectionately and
t~ouchingly to his long service with st.
James church, but he closed by saying
hat he felt that it was his duty to ac-
cept that call to Richmond in a field
that to his conscience opened up a
greater sphere Of usefulness in Gods
work. He came to this decision after
earnest prayer and thought, and he ac-
cepted the call as the promptings Of that
conscience which God uses in us for his
purposes,
There was no leave taking of DR..
Strange, at the church but hat re-
manned to be done at a reception which
it was announced he would hold at the
parish house last night.
In view of his early departure for his
new home, DR.. Strange last night gave
a farewell reception at the parishhouse.
1t lasted from 8 till 10 o'clock and large
numbers of people called and bade the
doctor goodbye. Not only did Epis-
copalians call but members from sew
eral denominations were among the
friends who attended. Several minis
tiers called and among those who did
so were representatives Of the official
boards of the First Presbyterian
church who called in a body. They
were Messrs. B. F. Hall. C. H. Robin
SON and Captain w. r. Kenan. This
compliment to DR.. Strange was quite
pleasing to hin and his friends.
Among those present during the
| evening was the Rev. Fred T. H
Horsfield, who is to serve St. James
| church for the next three months. The
callers had an opportunity to NEE
| him, and they found him to be a very
| charming gentleman. He is a gentle
man of marked geniality and his pres
ence added to the pleasure of the even
ing.
The reception was informal and ex
ceedingly pleasant. DR.. Strange me
his friends with the freest cordialit.
and in his genial way he had some
thing pleasant to a. to every n a
they shook hands with him as the.
came in and toook their departure
The ladies charmingiy served refresh
ments to the callers. Altogether tn
affair a quite pleasant. barring tn
sadness which everybody felt becaus
DR.. Strange is to take his departur
from our city.
DR.. Strange will leave for Richmon
next Thursday morning. Mrs. Strang
and their little son and daughtel
morning for LawrenceviIle. where the
will visit Mrs. Strange's parents, jude
and Mrs. Buford. They will join D
Strange in a few days at Richmond.
FIRE AT NORFOLK NAVY YARD