Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-22

his greatest Joy and glory. He says
that the little church among the Thes-
salonians was his greatest glory and
his joy. I wonder what Paul would say
OF the First church of Los Angelesf
You will not blame me when apply
his words and say that 1t has been my
greatest glory and JOY.
II have had eight churches and every
one has been finer than, the last, from
the little church in the prairie grass
built by my own hands, every one has
been better than I deserved. l have
never had a misunderstanding in one
of my churches through thirty long
years, My churches have been on the
sliding scale, and this Is the blossom
of them all, the contamination. /
would not have been elected general
superintendent but for you. I would
never have been fit for the office IL 1t
had not been for the spiritual work
of this church. believe God brought
me here by that mystic way little UNI
derstood and has brought me here
among \godly people. I dare not trust
my feelings today. l can only quote
Paul and say you have been my glory
and my joy. Not only this church,
but the whole city has been kind to
me-. I am debtor to the whole city.
What do you think when man Is
compelled to break UP and tear him.
self away from a church and city
like that? That Is what Paul did and
what am doing now.
Expresses Thanks
ct have come to the parting of the
ways--honored far above my ability.
You may hear 1t in the years to come
/ am not worthy of the least of all the
church and the people have done. l
am a common man, an ordinary, aver
age man. bow my head In humility,
but lift 1t again and say l am God
man, I have been Gods man for many
years, but more so in these later years,
and now / know that he leadeth me.
/ will never doubt again; lead tnou me
on.
$50 I break these ties because must.
I am under orders and go out to 90
my best to save the lost souls OF the
world. II you could get Paurs point
of view you wouldn't envy any preacn-
er any honor that he is given. II ne
has not done his full duty there Is
blood of lost souls and damned spirits
wailing through all eternity on him.
At have often been asked why tear
myself to pieces in preaching, using
up all my strengthr-have been told
that l would get just as much pay and
preserve myself more. I am not here
for pay, for that is not my business.
You will understand why the preacher
God when he has Paurs thought and
It is a question of blood upon his
hands. 80.
st am come to the parting word. II
have wronged any SOUL have not
done 1t willingly. but II unknown, !
will do anything on earth to make II
right. IF I owe a man a dollar. iel
him come to me the coming week. l
apologize If I have hindered d living
soul from coming to Its God.
.The gospel must always be the love
story. and am a lover myself.
have the happiest home and the dear
est wife. and know what love story
is. but / know nothing that can COM
pare with the love story OF our LORD.
TO the dear old First church want
to say that the best part OF your ca
reer is ahead in the days to come. l
want to make a request of you and
that is that you will welcome DR..
Locke. my successor, as you welcomed
me. Don't let him come into a con-
gregation of mourners, mourning TOT
departed brother. When go, go
for good. am to be a wanderer BOT
thirty years I have been attacneo 70
a church and feel that cannot go
without asking your prayers. want
to feel that there Is a church praying
for me, and I naturally cling TO the
last and the best.
Bids Friends Farewell
ssNow / close the book. am done.
The angel of the backward glance VIII
close the book and place It In the
archives never to be opened until IN
the white light of the Judgment day.
when I am sure a few withered flowers
will fall from it's pages and those VIII
be forget-me-nots from the Fist
church Of Los Angeles"
In closing Bishop Mcintyre paid an
eloquent tribute to all the church Of
hcials and as a last act of his pas
torate he extended the call for people
TO start on the Christian life. This
was answered by a large number OF
| people.
Throwing himself into the large pull,
nit chair Bishop Mcintyre wept and
sobbed like a little child while the choir
and congregation softly sang God BE
with You Till We Meet Again." and
at the close the bishop, trembling and
| in q voice broken by sobs, pronounced
| the last words of the benedictton.
All through the church people could
| he heard sobbing and at the close OF
| the service many hundreds OF people
with tears streaming over their faces
went up to the pulpit platform end ex-
tended the last good by to one OF the
r,ost popular pastors that Los Angeles
has ever known.