Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-13
from the Annual Sermon
Preached by Rev. j. ID. Pope, Of the
Baptist Church, st. Paul, Oct. Sd,

Extracts from the Annual sermon
Preached by Rev. J. ID. Pope, OF tn.
Baptist Church, st. Paul, Oct. Sd
1858. .. e.. .J ...a-.lt Z e.. - -
Though nearly four weeks have elapse,
since the delivery of this able sermon, w
take pleasure in inserting the following mer
skeleton of it. 1t was an eloquent and inter
esting discourse, containing historical matte
interesting to many outside of that Denomi
nation We are glad to learn that it will b.
published in fun: -,11 e.
Text-Acts XII, 26-And it came to pass
that whole year they assembled themselves
with the Church, and taught much people.
This language was applied to Barnabas ani
Saul, in relation to their labors in the Church
at Antioch Three events mark the periot
and invest it with especial interest. " e.
l.. The application of the term Of " Chris
tians" to the decples of Christ.
2. The conversion and call to the ministry
Of Saul of Tarsus.
3. The preaching of the Gospel to the Gen
tiles. --s--..s =,
As the Church at Jerusalem was the cen
tire of operation to the Jews, so that at Anti
och was designed by Providence to send the
Gospel to the Heather. Hence it was of high
importance that this Church should receive
such instruction as would best fit it for a
model missionary church. No two men were
better qualified to impart such instruction
than Paul and Barnabas-the former teach
ing and establishing them in the great doc
trines and principles of Christianity, and the
latter infusing the spirit Of faith and of the
Holy Ghost. Many souls were added to the
Lord. "And it came to pass" &c. A year
in the lives Of two such men as Barnabas and
Pauli x
A year in the history of such a Church as
that at Antioch x '
From what is here indicated we are able te
primitive churches.
l. They were composed of such persons
and such only as voluntarily received and
obeyed the Gospel.
2. They were all independent, selfgovern-
ing bodies, whose only tribunal was the law
Of Christ, their Head and Leader.
g. They were accustomed to assemble to-
gether for stated worship and instruction. i
4. They were so arranged as to contemplate
the work of missions, and their members were
richly imbued with the missionary spirit
A year in the life of any man is often a
period of great Importance.
But a whole year with Christian Church
embraces interests of far wider application.
We are briefly to review the changes of the
past year as they relate to the affairs of this
church.
The services of public recognition were held
on the last day Of the year 1919. The church
was organized with - members on the day
previous. Only Z of these resided in St.
Paul. During the first two years the meet
ings were he'd in School House The town
at that time probably. contained from 500 to
600 Inhabitants Baptism was administered
to the first candidate in April 1851, probably
the first in the Mississippi above the Iowa
line The present house of worship was
opened the following November. The first
sermon preached in it was in connection with
the funeral services of its Pastor. His place
was filled in the following spring Since then
the church has had three different pastors
Of its early trials and struggles much may
never be known except by a few. 1t has al
ways had true friends at home and abroad.
Many earnest prayer have gone up for its
prosperity. That those prayers were offered
in faith, and have been answered, is evident
from the records of the past year. To many
the events of the year bear peculiar interest.
They must ever look back upon them with
the most profound emotions.
1. In enumeratin9 9some of the leading fea-
lures of these events our first remark is, that
with many the past year has been one of great
0nriety and seoere trials. *
Some have been distressed as never before
in their acorldly business.
Some have been called to part with their
most dear and intimate friends. X X
Others have experienced conflicts with fears
and doubts in relation to the Christian life and
the path of duty.
2. The past year with this church has also
been year of the Divine favor and great
spiritual enjoyment
The present pastor arrived here in August,
1857. Early in the fall there was an evident
increase of interest in the congregation. The
first of November one young man was bap-
TIED This was felt to be an earnest of rich
ingathering. February first was observed
as day of Fasting and Prayer. The cloud
ering, then broke and shed down the grace of
God like the morning dcws on the mown grass
This was followed with the most happy results.
Great union and joy filled the hearts of Chris
tians, and sinners were awakened and con-
verted. From that time the house was opened
for worship nearly one hundred days in sue
ccssiOn.
Baptisms were of frequent occurrence and
of a most deeply interesting character, the
people collecting in large numbers anxious to
witness them. On one occasion group of
Sioux Indians were present. The mercury
stood at 10 below zero. Four or five differ
erent languages were then spoken at the wa
ter's side.
One year ago the church numbered in re-
atty about seventy members. There have
been added by baptism forty two, and by let
ter and experience thirty. The present num-
Der is one hundred and forty. During the
year, about two hundred sermons have been
preached, one hundred and fifty by the pastor.
lie has preached about one hundred and cigh-
ty here and elsewhere during the year.
The church has held one hundred and
twenty meetings for conference and prayer.
1t also has a well conducted and hOurishing
Sabbath School.
3. The past year has been one Of great and
practical lessons with the church.
God has taught the folly of dependence on
worldly possessions. He has shown his will
lingness to honor and bless the ordinary
means of grace. He has indicated the degree
of encouragement we may take for the fu-
ture.
The last part of the sermon was taken up
in laying down a platform for the year to
come.
l. In reference to pastoral visits, social re-
lations, and public ministratiOns.
. The nec,lniarv wants of the church and
the raising of funds to sustain the cause Of
Christ; and attendance on the public religious
services.
The Copy RightiCongress at Brussels.
At the sitting of the International Copy
Right Congress, held in Brussels, on the 2sth
ult., Mr. Frederick Cozzens, representative of
the Society of Literary Men of New York,
begged permission to present to the meeting
his colleague, Mr.. Henri Hotze, and made a
speech IN English! Mr. Romberg, the gene
raj secretary translated this speech in a