The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-16

grew out of It? II was said in that day
of business depression and commercial
stagnation that the sum of ten thousand
dollars could not be raised for the estab-
lishment or perpetuity of any business
or industry. In the face of
that statement you declared by your ae-
tion that what might be impossible Tor
man to do In the realm of Caesar was not
impossible for man to do In the king
dom of God. and when you went out into
the night you left in my heart light
that has never been extingulshed. Ten
thousand dollars you pledged to begin
the crusade, but ten times ten thous-
and dollars has this congregation paid
since that night for the spread of the
gospel and the establishment Of the
faith of Jesus Christ. Who among us
has forgotten the sacrifice and service
involved, not only in that first act of
faith in God and encouragement to our
selves as rector and people, but also
represented in the many succeeding
stages of our development and growth?
They are all of the things behind us this
morning, but Is one feature of them for
gotten, or can it ever be?
AS of ieself being the completion
of our work. 1t is true, no one act
is ever remembered or considered,
but as being a link added to the
chain being wrought to completion in our
service for God and man, and no single
sacrifice or deed is this day forgotten,
nor ever can be. AS being the perfection
of Gods purpose and will concerning
us, nothing we have done has place in our
consciousness this hour, but as equipping
and inspiring us to lay hold upon the
things of that purpose and win that are
yet before us. everything we have done
is this moment present with us, and Will
be with us to the end. For the honor due
the accomplishment of the work of the
PASTOR the faithful discharge of the OBJ
legation upon you to perform in the
name of God the duty of the future,
l beseech you, be obedient to the ex-
hortation of your recorded achievement
and realize power from its nspira-
ton. God will send you a man to take
up the work l now lay down. Not to
take my place among you, or in your af-
feetions. In that relation | desire
you to yield no man my crown. But
God will send you a man to make place
of mis- own in your hearts and your
homes, as well as In this blessed church
of Christ we all love SO well. l want
the work of this parish in the future
to be tn e browning of that of the
past. You and he who is to come in the
name of the Lord, can make 1t 80. You
must make 1t so, and the way to do it
is to begin right. Continua To be true
to each other, your church and your
God. Receive him who shall be your
representative of Christ. as a solid. I'M
serried congregation, every man ana wo-
man In his or her place and doing the
specific individual duty of that place. I'm
der tho divine spell of Gods love for
you and the potent influence of that love
among YOU keep your organizations In
tact and your energies in motion. You
are the church In this particular parish.
The church Is of God. 1t should be like
His word. That word is immutable and
eternal Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away"
says Jesus Christ and If His teachings
are forever, then forever also must b.
the vehicle of those teachings, the house
of His establishment and perpetual love
and care. As members of that house
hold, ! exhort you to forget all things
else and lay hold upon the things of its
holiness, immutabilty and eternity.
Farewell.
And now I must say farewell 1t is Gods
will that we all shall say farewell. The
record of our common work together is
made 1t is of the past so far as time
Is concerned. It is of the eternal ages.
not in every way what we wish, but II is
done, and may the blessings of God be
upon 1t. From the day of our present
separation, we shall never all meet again
In time, but our interests can never be
estranged or our relations severed. There
Is part of you, there Is part of mI In
this building in these walls-there is also
part of LIS in each other-and identified
are we with the life that has been Great
ed here in the years now gone. There
can never again be separate identity for
us, either one. And this common iden-
tity has its existence I'm the life of our
common Saviour. We shall all meet again
In and with Him. The work Of the days
to come will then be added to that of
the days that are past. May God bless
that, too. and may the record of 1t de-
clare In the end that we have each and
every one laid hold upon the things for
which Christ has laid hold upon us. and
reached the Mark for the prize of the
high calling of God In Christ Jesus"
Amen.