The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-06
new YEARS
| GREETING.
The Rev. T. A. McCurdy's
Letter to Congregation.

The following letter was received
by the members of Central Presby.
terian Church, from their pastor yes
terday;
My Dear People: greet you this
sabbath morning of the New Year
with loving heart and an ardent
hope. thank you for your patience
and confidence, and respect, and gen
erous kindness.
You have given me much encour-
agement and have done me good,
You have responded promptly and
grandly to every call to meet your
own emergencies, to help others, and
to redeem your pied. es.
What YOU promise, you fulfil; what
you undertake, you accomplish; what
YOU plan, you execute Your enthu-
siasm is Of obedience far removed
! from the ''noursh Of trumpets, " and
i the etfervescense Of superficial senti-
ment. 1t has the virtue OF loyal de-
vetion, 1t IS right that l should pay
/, YOU this modest tribute.
: We have been together in the dy.
ing hours Of six Old Years, and in
tie birth hours of six New Years
Five New Years have BECOME old and
departed; and the sixth Now Year
has already begun its journey TO be
with those gone before. The past is
with us as a memory; its mingled
joys and sorrows, h, res and realiza-
lions. successes and failures. are Eos.
sessions and inheritance inalenable
and permanent in their contributions
to character and pcrs 1na worth.
Lessons of wisdom and strength
have come from experiences OF sorrow
and lessons of energy aud hope from
tie voice of joy.
The old year, nineteen hundred
and one had erected its monuments
in our hearts They are four square,
and bear the inscriptions God S.
Purpose Is Inception and execution
"Our Submission in Patience AID
Love.
Tears have relieved the stricken
heart, and love has healed the wound
ed spirit. Loss has increased our ap-
precmtion OF what was lost: and sub
mission has lifted us into thc rcpose
Of Higher viii. Dark hours came;
the nation s sorrow intensified By do
nestle bereavement threw over our
eyes the drapcry of grief and TUNED
the CLEAN Of dav INTO mist: but the
might of weeplag' passed into 'the
morning Of joy. and thereafter we
have seen
Those angel faces smile
Which | have loved long since, and
lost awhile. y
We bring to this new year the
assurance that the bitter waters of
The oid year have been sweetened by
the toticn ui our Saviur'S love, AID
the expectation that this new year
will be in many RESPECTS as the old
years were.
There are conditions which time
cannot change. Time holds no mort
cage On the inevitable and furnishes
scarcely any MOI fc .lion of the pos
sib'e
But VIC march on. Keen-eyed hope
leads in the way aud a purposed
heart follows close second.
We vii! do our best to make the
Nineteen Hundred and Two full Of
Joyous labor and rich reward. Per-
,unal life will be more cunsecrated;
home life will be sweeter; business
life will be more frugal; the Church
life will be more inspiring il we move
On with unfaI,ering trust in God and
in reliance on His grace.
With heart low at the Saviour's
feet, and hand high upon the SavIour's
head, we will be strong in the power
Dr His might.
May God bless and give happy |
New Year to you, Brethren Of the
to you, Brethren Of the
Board Of Trustees; to you, Beloved
Teachers in the sabbath school; to |
you Faithful and Helpful members of
he cilul; to you, fathers and
mothers: to you, young men and
ana to you, dear little chill.
lren, is the prayer and greeting OF
'our pastor,
Thomas A. McCurdy,