Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-13
WATERVILLE.
LAST ADDRESS
By Rev. {. |. Marsh Of
Congregational Church.
Cordial God-spsod Given Depart
ing Pastor By Pensioners.
All Denominations Join In Showing
Esteem For Him.

Rev. Edward L. Marsh the retiring
pastor Of the First CONGREGATIONAL
church of this city, was given a COR
dial 'God-spcCd" by the citizens Of
Waterville Sunday. In his home
church q large audience listened to his
farewell sermon in the morning and in
the evening vast throng, which
crowded the First Baptist church to it's
DOORS listened to his words Of parting
counsel The testimonial to the
popularity and esteem in which Mr..
Marsh is held i'll The community was
spontaneous and sincere and could not
but be qualification to the recipient.
At the Congregational church in the
morning, three children were baptized.
u members were received into the
church by profession Of faith, ana five
by letter. Sixteen adults among the
new members were baptized The
right hand Of fellowship was then ex-
tended to the new members.
Mr.. Marsh took as his text
Ephesians v,3O; For We Are Mem
bcrs of His Body"
He announced "Thc Mission of the
Church as his subject. Christ is the
head of the church, the church is the
BODY of Christ. How strange that it
should have been Gods policy TO carry
out his purposes through mon. This
greatly dignities man and enhances
human living. The most monumental
fact TO prove that Christ is in the
world is the history of the church.
THE body gives completeness to The
head, and the head glorifies the body
Throughout the whole history of the
church we find that Christ is the head
Of the church.
The speaker analysed tho power OF
Christ. "Why did the teaching Of Christ
impress the Jews? Because his teaching
was different from that of the scrihcs
arg nharisocs. Christ was an impressive
teacher because he had a message.
Another source Of power always in
Him was His labOrs of love and SYM
patty. IT was the newest. the strangcsi
phenomenon on the face Of the earth. II
drew the people to Him.
Another source Of his power was
that He always had a passion for right
"puSn"SS. What does the word passion
moan? To bear. to suffer, to endure
What Goes the word sympathy" mean:
I" bear to suffer. to endure with
''of all the characteristics Of these. Of
, three only can | speak: First. His
bright Few message; second, His sym.
l'athy; ana last. His passion for right
rousnesS.
eff these made tic Head Influential
they must certainly make the body in
fiuencnal. Jesus WIS the most mar
VelouS teacher i'll the world. He simply
said: Test what have said
in the second place. the church must
i" born in sympathy AMI warm love
The lay has long gone by when tht
minister who remains in his study OF
goes his round Of calls is the ideal min
lister. God lift our churches into Il posi-,
ton of influence and power"
In farewell. the speaker said he thanked
members Of other churches in his congrc-
Cation for their attendance. He had no
message for his own members that woul,
draw tears. His ministry in Waterville
had done more for him than words could
measure. III" thanked them for cor
dial. Joyous reception in the homes of his
/ Pensioners.
He was thankful for every opportunity
he had had to help a boy or Il girl, Il
man or a woman, to a knowledge of Je-
suS Christ. He was glad that the 10
years ministry had not passed without
something left behind that God woull
bless. For the church in Watcrville he
should have only thoughts tender and
loving and afrectionate.