The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-11-01
Rev. J. A. Long Closes Pas
torate At Vine St. Church
Of Christ
LARGE CONCOURSE IS
PRESENT TO HEAR HIM
Tribute To Departing Minis
ter Is Paid By Three Of
His Fellow Workers

A congregation all but greater than
the seating capacity of the church
was at the Vine street Church of
Christ on Sunday evening to hear the
words of the final sermon the Rev. j.
A. Long was to deliver as the pastor
of that congregation before leaving
| for a new field of labor at Whining
ton. While the congregation was,
for the most part, made up. OF men,
bers of the Vine street church and Of
the denomination of which it is a
part. there were present also no in
considerable number of members Of
sister churches and denomination,
among whom is to be found strong
feeling of friendship and respect for
the departing minister. Representa-.
tives of the brethren in the ministry
came also and gave testimony Of the
universal regard and kindly feeling
held in this community for Mr.. Long
The imminence of the parting soon
to come was dominant thought In
every part of the services held at the
Vine street church on Sunday. II
found voice in the Sunday school, II
the morning service, in the meeting
of the Christian EndeavOr society ant
it found it's climax at the evening ser
vice to which the friends of the church
and the minister came their heart.
filled with sorrow and aching for thu
pain of the word of parting and sep
aration that soon must come.
"The Finality of Jesus" was the sub
ject of the last sermon Mr.. Long gav'
as pastor of the Mt. Vernon congre
CATION. Before beginning this clos
ling discouse of his ministry here MI
] Long speaking for himself and hi
family addressed to the congregato
few words of thanks and of apprt
citation not only for the many kin
things said and done for them in n
cent days and weeks but in all tn
time that they have been here
SelNc Lhc ihC otiSOL h>
are leaving without the least bit {
friction or of feeling and take wit
them the kindliest feeling for ever
member of the congregation. In
like degree this regard Is given
2 the people of this city and county
other churches and denomination
| of ,x,hN
opportunity to express their regr
" and sorrow. These kindly expression
have come even from members of Il
Catholic faith and of the Jewish fait
mt. Vernon is and will be like hon
: to u.s." said Mr.. Long with an evide
effort to repress his feeling and EN-
!. tion. "This is like leaving HON
= And like the boy who leaves home,
: want to come back to you often"
re The scripture that was the occasit
p. for the sermon thought was that a
II count in Matthew'S gospel that tel
Il. of John the Baptist, imprisoned
Herod, sending two of his followe
to Jesus to ask of Him Art thou
that should come, or do we look I
another?" A picture was drawn
John languishing in prison, all b
despairing over an apparently lo
cause. John had lived the simple Il
T apart from the haunts Of men a
- their vices. He had come forth as t
Forerunner and as such had proclai
ed Jesus as the Lamb of God.
W. The reply of Jesus to the inqui
L. was a direction to return and tell
'r' the things they had seen and heal
'e' Our civilization, continued the min
sr' ter, will rise or fall as it is build
''e upon Him. We are rapidly enteri
III an age that recognizes the inspir
|