Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-26
DR., GRUVER BIDS
FAREWELL TO HIS
CONGREGATION HERE
Touching Worsd To Folks OF
LIST u. B. Church.

undergoing such an incident in their
life to imagine the feelings OF Rev.
Dr. w. +. Gruver, for more than IL
years pastor Of First United Breth-
rem church, when he babe farewell
To his congregation Sunday morn
ing. DR.. GrtIver was recently trans !
ferred by Virginia conference to the
United Brethren church at Harris-
onburR. Va. Sunday morning he set
himself resolutely to the nerve rack
ing tank of delivering Il farewell SER
mon to tho Martinsburg people. A.
large congregation was present and
frequently many gave way to their
emotions. 1t was solemn and i'm
pressive affair. DR.. Gruver said IN
part: Il
81 bring you Just II very simple
message, interviewer with some mat
tiers of interest to the local church
and city, and our relationships, sug-
gcsted by passage of scripture
found in Acts 20:82 and now,
brethren, commend you to God. and
to the word of His grace, which Ii
able to build you up. and to give
YOU an inheritance amopG all OF
lhem which are sanctitfed.' Il
Chose Of you who are Bible STUD
dents can very easily locate the set-I
] ling of this scripture. Paul was on
his missionary journey and was on
the return part of that journey
which occupied four years, threol
years which had been spent in Ephe-
sus, where Paul organized strong
church. At the time the words OF
text we're uttered, Paul was on
his return to Antioch, and stopped
for a little while to deliver his final
message to the Ephesians. Paul was
very much concerned for them His
was an anxious care respecting
! those whom he had won for Christ
and organized into a church. He
commends them to the care OF the
loving heavenly Father, practically
committing them to God He directs
| Them to look up to God through the
| eve of faith and prayer. Then prays
God to look down upon them with
favor and helpfulness. Paul has
very definitely committed himself to
God, he had Laid himself unselfsh-
~ upon the altar Of service for God:
he then committed them as his spirit.
al children to God. 1t was some-
what akin to one Of those scenes
which TRANSFERRED when Jesus Christ
was upon the cross, when looking
over the crowd Jesus saw his mother
and he was in the agonies of physi.
cal death but was thoughtful enough
to commend his mother to the care
and keeping of John and also com.
mended John to the care of his
mother This scene out of which
the text grows has been similarly
repeated many times both in the
church and in family life.
you may have been participant
in some such family scene as this
church scene here. So ! am sure
You will not think it strange if
. now, as one who has been your pas.
/ or, commend all of you to God. 1
ave been with you. lived among
You for the last tWenty-four and one
/ H1lf years in weakness and much
'n&ioty, J have lived with you; I
, have gone in and out among you:
! have preached to you. have held
before you high standards OF Chris
tIan life. A IS you well know and
VIII testify, if necessary, | have stood
''i'1Inpl"i 'aIIsIy lor Cne church as
~ ,''i'I1 'n9tltuIioh ana SECOND 10
i ,15 ,'iiese - DC lle Nhrlstlan nome.
,' W. Piayeu our prayers togeth'
~, -, HIYe ~ Hlpa'il@eu WIN you IN
%, lue Ieiatlo,s Whlch you nave
''' yoUIsoh' II was my privilege
''''' hod' 70 Iead many OF you to
i'2Il ana take many OF you into
'Iiui'H' united many OF you
10y m'trimony' ! baptized your
gh ! nave buried your prec'
@ oedd' J nave trled SO hard to
~ every one OF you IN every way
PIE nave tired to be an ex-