The Penn's Grove record., 1908-10-23
PENIS GRQXE~N. j., FRIDAY, OCTOBER %, 1908,

me to this noble. church with it's null
titude of devoted and loyal people.
am deeply grateful to you all for yuua
love and patience, for your ndeli,y
and your prayers. l wish L coulo
have served you better. In the aIdu-
Gus, though happy, labors OF snls
great parish l have been assureqI Vi
your earnest and sympathetic sup
port. Without your constant cooper
alton / should have utterly failed'
thank you tenderly for your generous
sympathy, for during these hve years
my greatest sorrows have come TO me-
There was a happy tri~-unionate OF us!
my. saihted father; my only broshers
and myself. My father was a com.
rade and c~ongenial companion t. hii
boys. All Unexpectedly, in the MORN.
was stricken, and in a few hour1tne
eminent young lawyer stood bfiore
the Great Judge. ".
1t was a deadening blow: MY
father, advancing in years, bent un'
der the Christening. Though it whit.
ened his locks, it divinely b~righyeNed
his faith. 1t was your distinguished
honor to know my father anNhear
him preach. His last sermon was
preached in this pulpit, his last .ublid
prayer was offered at these hoy al
tars. He used to sit beside me here,
and love me into better service. Oc-
casionally, when I tsged bin to 90 50,
he would visit the other churches aid
listen to my brilliant confreres, VINO
are widely known for their eminence
and eloquence; and, then, with a lar-
ent's fond indulgence and -eyAAhxa-
gance, he would say, "My son,none
of these men breaches betteT than
you" / smiled at the fictiot but
nevertheless my fathers opinif was
more to me than any Others I'D his
loving presence furnished II and
inspiration to my work; and zen, in
that parsonage in the very SD low of
the sanctuary, his soul assembled to
meet his Lord, the noblest Ind most
exquisite Christahg entleman whom
God ever made, snded his earthly pill
grfmage. In ry greatt sorrow you
sustained me with your hspd9r pray
ers and sympathy. But the lld world
has been pretty lonesome to me since
the going away of these two dear
men.
l leave yop reluctantly, but I turn
my face again to the sunset shore
with happy expectations. Many
friends await u corning. Nine
years ago tits very week I laid the
cornerstone pf that beautiful church;
and a piece If my heart went into the
copper box. I want your prayers that
my ministrythere may be faithful and
fruitful.
A sincere slnd hearty welcome to
my successor DR.. Henderson and his
family, will Se a token of true love
and loyalty t. me. He is most wor-
thy of your highest confidence and es-
TEEN. He ha, won many trophies, is
a man who has been tried and not
found wanting. He is a stalwart;
rugged in boly, vigorous in mind
and large of aeart. He is capable,
resourceful, victorious. God bless
him and you, ind make his coming
the most notable passionate in the
eventful historyof this church.
And, now, once more, 1 thank you
one and all-tle trustees, the stew
ards, the class LEADERS, the Sunday
school, the presiding elders, the dea-
conesses, the sexton, the Fpworth
League. the Nap's . e2C~ tho
missionary societies, the organ.
and choirs, the ushers, the childre
who have loved me, the young people
who have listened to me, the older
people who have prayed for me; all
who have in any way helped in these
five memorable years of my life, l
thank you with all my heart and pray
for you. To the members of other
and those who have attend
ed upon my ministry who were not
members of this church, 1 would say,
you have gladdened and encouraged
my heart by your presence and kindly
words; and I thank you, one and all,
again and again. Remember when
you come to California Ishall be there
to warmly welcome YOU to my church
and to my home.