The Cairo bulletin., 1906-11-18
FAREWELL SERMON
BY Rev. Roland On Reslgnine His
Charge As Rector of the Church
of the, Redeemer of Cairo.

What Of the night.
There are two occasions which occur
in every Priests rec orship that stand
ont most prominently and ra'se most
momentous questionings in his mind.
They are--lst. When he enters first
upon his duties of the parish. 2d.
When he finis hes his work as rector
and is about to surrender it into
other hands.
When Pliest, with conscientious
desire to fulfill his duties, enters upon
new cure of souls he does 50 with
fear and with many questionines Of
heart, Others have been before him
If they have failed or have not accom-
pli he'd all that should be--why should
he? He tries TO look into the future,
he feels the respon Utility of-what?
No to make the church a financial
success. Mt to secure only material
gains. Not to become a social figure
MOI to gain personal popularity. But
The thought which mistakenly presses
itself upon him Is
II am Gods Priest God has sent me
here to save the souls Of those in this
parish and to minister 70 their spiri-
tual needs
The souls-there is hi vocation
the cure of souls. What the soul
means its value. In his hands and Of
him God VIII require and to God he
must give an account And there Is
his responsibility Not TO be a man
Ipleaser-not to fear men-but to be a
God pleaser and to pray oft in the
words If ST Paul, THAT utterance
may he given unto me that / may
open my mouth boldly To make known
the mystery of the Gospel for which
| am an ambassador in bonds, that
therein may speak boldly as | ought
to speak"
/ And so he begins his work-to save
souls. Then there comes the time
when he is to give up that work to
some one else-onlq too often he |
knows not whom it will be, And then |
comes the other question Waterman
what Of the night? What of the futu { |
for hose who are TO 90 on in the bat
tie for that which is right and true
that which is pure ana holy. What arc
to be the words OF cheer that he
leaves behind him. Ny dear people
lei them be words of cheer of com
fort, consolation and glorious in
spration to carry On the work of the
Kingdom of God here earth AS our
hearts in doubt and fear, ask what OF
the night--What Of the future | say
10 you, take no anxious thought for
the things Of the morrow. for the NOR
row will take thought Of the things
of Itself
First | say to you, that God is in
his Holy Church, and God will watch
over and care for II ana rrustrare thr
evil That men attempt. God loves His
Church. Let us never forget II.
Storms have ragged about il, from its
early history, and yet-Like an
Angels voice sounds the words-God
watching over Israel slumbers not nor
sleeps And God watching over His
Holy Church, the Body of His Blessed
Son. slumbers not nor sleeps
And SO in the sure knowledge that
the God of Hosts is with us, that II
in HIS Church. there is but one thing
for Christians to do As God gave the
Church, SO God gave to the Church
His Faith. The Christian must Goa
niue steadtast in those things where.
in he has been instructed and hap
liz d. In his fasting in hi Commu.-
ions, in his Confessions, in all things
which the Church of God teac hes so
should the Christian soul practice un
til The end. He must keep faith.
OF what did St Peter most glory?
or his Aposlleship? of his ability to
preach? OF his authority in the early
Church? OF his journeys. and CONVEX.
sions 10 The cause of Christ?
Not SO. As | have often told you,
when the moment came for that
valiant soldier of Christ to make his
battle with death, how that grand
spirit exalted in that it had not been
a traitor to the cause Of the Faith Of
Jesu Christ, For | am now ready to
be offered he said. And the time of
m, departure is at hand Il have
fought a good fglt. have finished
my course. have kept thu Faith
Glory he did. In the fight he Tough
Glory he did, in the course he had
frishcd-but above all-was that
great glory. Il have kept the Faith"
s. must we When the time of our de
parture, tle time of our death IS at
hand
And so, dear people. want 10 speak
words of cheer and hope TO You today.
The Church is the body Of our Lord. !
As we tsy 10 look into The future Jet /
as never forget that. As our eve. .
strain and the cry arises. Watchmau-
What Of the night. let our answer be ,
that God is watching over IsacI. God {
is in the Heavens His Holy Spirit il !
in His Church. and an you have 10 do
70 be watchfgi Faithful unto death G
so that all you do Is to the
Glory of Col
Fight your fight. finish Your clur-e. Z