Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-13
DR.. NRVILLB'S
FAREWELL.
Heart of Gold Yields Up
Its Precious Contents.
MESSAGE or CHRISTIAN LOVE.

MESSAGE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE
What the Pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of YorkvilIe Told His Con.
sresation on the Dissolution Of q
/ Long and Faithful Pastorate-Hs
Would Have His People Strive To.
ward Perfect Christian Unity In the
Assurance That Gods Blessing.
Must Follow.
At the request Of THE ENQUIRER
Rev. DR.. w. g. Neville, has furnished
the full text Of the farewell sermon
he preached to his congregation on the
first Sunday in January. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be
perfect, be of good comfort, be Of one
mind, live in peace; and the God OF
of love and peace shall be with you"
2 Cor. Kill, II.
BY the act Of Bethel presbytery at
it's recent meeting, the pastoral rela-
ton which has existed for more than
eleven years between this church and
myself is this day dissolved. This Is
a very sacred relation. 1t is not to
be established, nor to be dissolved, ex-
cept as indicated by the providence
Of God. If the providence Of God in
dicates that a minister should remain
in the same field for twenty-five years,
no agency has the right to move that
man until his work there Is done;
and, If the providence Of God indicates
that a preacher ought to leave his
field in six months after he has set
tied there. no agency has the right to
keep him there beyond this time.
Christ is the Head Of the church
and the only Head Of the church,
and, 1t Is our duty to obey His
will, so far as we can know this
will as 1t is revealed to us in the
Word Of God. and in the providence
Of God. 1t is difficult often to inter-
pref the providence Of God and to
know what Gods will Is. Hence we
are liable to make mistakes; but this
does not invalidate the position which
we occupy.
Believing that these are the truths
taught us In the word Of God con-
cerning the pastorate, I profess to
have been led by the providence Of
God in the Isteps which I have taken
to have the pastoral relation dissolv-
ed. 1t may be that I have made a
mistake In the matter: but, hope not,
since the relation has been dissolved.
have tried to do my whole duty, al
though the steps which l have taken
have caused my heart many a pang.
trust that God will control and over
rule the whole matter, so that his
name will be glorifled and the welfare
of all interested may be enhanced.
It Is needless for me to say that the
relation between this church and my
self has been a pleasant one to me.
I have found in this church and COM
munity some Of the best and. truest
friends I have ever had. 1t Is hard
to break up these relations. But we
must remember that while they ap-
pear to be broken, really they are not.
Though friends may be separated by
long distances as to their bodies, yet
their hearts can be Joined together
In the most intimate relationships Of
true friendship. Thank God, distances
cannot break up the ties Of true
friendship.
when We asunder part,
It gives US inward pain;
But We shall still be joined In heart,
And hope to meet again"
trust that the dissolution Of the
relation which Is now drawing to
close will not be the cause Of your
thinking any the less Of me. l Will
20 away from this place entertaining
the very kindest feelings for each and
all of you. ask that you all Will re-
ciprocate these feelings towards me.
II would be sad thing indeed to me to
know that any one in this community
cherished any but the kindest feelings
towards me for any thing I have done,
or left undone, while I have been In
YOUR midst. l have made mistakes,
MANY of them; but they have all been
mistakes Of the head and not OF the
heart God knows my heart, and am
nrofoundly thankful that He is to be
nv final Judge. II any thing has
transpired since I have been living IN
this community with which l nave
been connected that has been unpleas-
ant to YOU and for which you have
blamed me. let me beseech you to bury
Il today, and remember 1t no more
forever. While the separation Is IN
many respects a sad one, let US en-
tertain the most kindly feelings for
each other. Let us bear each other In
the arms of our faith and prayers be-
fore our Heavenly Fathers throne.
Let us bear one another's burdens and
so fulfil the law Of Christ.
Our work together which has been
so pleasant and harmonious, and 1
trust profitable. is drawing to a close.
7 expect soon to be In another field OF
labor, and you expect soon to have
another pastor. 1t is sad to say, Fare
well. After we have worked together
and taken counsel together for more
than eleven years, it is hard to say,
cood-bye. It is a great trial for me
TO take my leave Of you. After hav-
ing received so many Of you into the
church. after having baptized so many
of YOUR dear children, after having Of
ficiated at the marriage Of so many
Of your young people. after having
buried so many of your precious dead
aftar having sYmpathiZed with you In