The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-16
With Tailoring Voice and Tear fuI Eyes He Bids His PeO-
 pie the Final Goodbye
CONGREGATION IS MOVED
 AND TEARS FREELY SHED
My Prayer Is," Said the Doctor, "That We May Meet Some Day in Our Heavenly Fathers
 House."

The Rev. Dr. J. P. McFerrin concluded his. pastorate of the First Methodist church last night. He preached both morning and evening to large congTega- tions.
 Thousands were present at the night service and the capacity of the building was taxed to accommodate those who attended to hear pr. MeFerrin's farewell sermon Many stood during the entire service.
 It was very evident that the thought of Its being the last time the pastor would address the congregation seemed to stir up within him feeling of deep and tender emotion. It was equally evident that the same tender feeling affected the audience, as unrestrained tears were visible on the faces of many, All seemed to be laboring under a great strain. The feeling of a real loss, the passing into another field of the man who. by his love and devotion had made an indelable im- pression on their minds, who had won his way to the very depths of their hearts, was much for them to bear.
 Throughout the whole discourse. Dr. McFerrin betrayed his inmost feelings, and try as he would it seemed impossible for him to conceal his emotion. At times his voice faltered and was scarcely audi ble. and when at the close of This dls- almost broke down.
 pr. MeFerrin's Goodbye.
 ''For the first time in my life" said the doctor in trembling voice, 'I say good bye. I never like to use that word and will not if can help It. especially when it comes to a time like this. especially when the relations have been as mine have been while pastor of the First Meth odist church of Birmingham.
 This Is the severest trial of my life, and the only consolation I can find is in the thought that we shall one day meet in our Fathers house. where there is no goodbye, no tears; and that thought brings to my soul peace and joy. I leave you with but simple prayer and that Is that God may bless you and give you peace and at last grant that we may all meet in our Heavenly Fathers home"
 Dr. McFerrins concluding words were uttered in low, tender tone.
 The Climax.
 The climax came when the choir com menced the old familiar hymn, God be with you tlll we meet again." With feelings beyond his control, and tears coursing down his cheeks, the doctor sadly left the rostrum and disappeared down the private stairway into his study.
 Dr. McFerrin was. by no means. the only one affected by the scene; every face in the vast audience was wrapt in sorrow, and hundreds followed the good minister to shake his hand and bid him the last goodbye In answer to them all the pastor could only say, with choked utterances, God bless you, God bless you.
 Dr. McFerrin's discourse last night could hardly be termed a "farwell ser mon," in the strict sense of the word. He took for his theme Heaven and commenced his discourse by making com parison between this life and the great hereafter as we viewed it.
 Life Uncertain.
 This life" said pr. McFerrin, Ifs shiftless and uncertain. shadowy as, the skies and full of sin, of sorrow and tribulation. What Is in store for men to- morrow? sorrow, trouble. Are we going to a friends house, are we anticipating some great joy? Are we expecting the lavish hand of the world to pour upon us It's riches today?
 Have we friends Houses? Money? Some of us have perhaps, but what will we have tomorrow? And the next day? and next? To how many of us will there be any tomorrow? There may be some of us but none know what the day will bring forth.
 Dr. McFerrin then referred to the joys and sorrows of this life, but asked how many would be here one hundred years from now. "Trains will riIn," he said, "and bring their freight; carriages and cars will ply our streets. ships will ar- rive and depart but others will move along our town and others worship in our pews. We shall be far away, off in the land of Zion, and our bodies will be sleeping in the graveyard OCT the hill" Life's FraiIty. The doctor then dwelt on the frailty of human nature. the uncertainty of life. How we realized there was nothing estab- lished, nothing permanent for us. He then went on to say how all men, civilized and uncivilized had a hope of a future life, incidently mentioning that even the Indian had something within him to point the way to his happy hunting grounds.
 In speaking of heaven, the speaker re- marked that it was a place, a locality; something definite, not visionary. He did not, know where heaven was, or even think 1t necessary to know. He could not even describe it. It may be a second part of Gods vast universe but to him it was sufficient for him to know there was a heaven, and that It. was a place where there wa& no sorrow, no sin, no tears and place where the words goodbye were forever unknown. It was place of glory, place of joy, a progressive place where all could ex- perience the full benefits according to their capacity to enjoy. A Place of Glory. "It .s a place." Dr. McFerrin said,