The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-13
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
RELIGIOUS.



The services at the Fourth Presbyterian
than usually interesting, both morning and
afternoon. At the morning service, n large
congregation assembled, brought together,
many ofthem, by the announcement, through
the city press, that the pastor, Rev. John
G. Smith, d. D., would, at that time, preach
his thirtieth anniversary sermon. To those
Of our citizens familiar with the eminent
services Of DR.. Smith, the announcement
possessed peculiar interest, and 1t Is not sur
prisipg that they were present In large num-
bers to hear the retrospective discourse OF n
faithful minister, who, for the past thirty
years, has been SO Identified with the church
history ofthe capital Of the nation.
DR.. Smith Is In some respects a remarkable
man. Possessing talents Of high order In
his sacred calling, he has evinced much
business tact In temporal affairs Of the
church, and to his indomitable energy and
untiring industry lie due much Of the success
OF many Of the Presbyterian churches In this
city. He has taken lively interest In the
work Of church extension In Washington In
years gone by, and has done nobly In his
self-imposed labor. As to his work during
the war, We need hardly refer. II Is well
known. At all times, In season and out of
season, he was found at the hospitals located
in and about the city, preaching the Word of
God and ministering to the wants Of the sick
and wounded soldiers who were brought
here. There arc hundreds OF the nations
defenders" all over this country who love
and honor his name, and have cause to re-
member with gratitude his actions toward
them while sick and wounded In hospital
during the dark days Of the rebellion.
In the pulpit with DR.. Smith yesterday was
Rev. VIM. McLain, for many years well
known In this city rs secretary of the Amerl-
can Colonization Society. Mr.. McI.ain was
present at the installation Of DR.. Smith, as
pastor Of the Fourth church, and delivered
one OF the charges on that occasion, to
which circumstance the preacher alluded In
the course Of the discourse yesterday. The
hymns for the service were APPLY chosen and
beautifully rendered by the choir of the
church.
THE SERMON.
And will very gladly spend and be spent
Tor you; though the more abundAntly love
you the less be loved."-2d Corinthians, xiIl5
Ben-hadad, king of Syria, sent threaten
Ing message TO Ahab, the King Of Israel,
who, In answer, sent him these words. sTell
him, let not him that grdeth on his harness
boast himself rs he that taketh IL OIL"
This advice and warning should be studied
by All classes, In all relations, and from this
receive lessons OF wisdom. Better in all
cases to report what has been done than 10
make some high,soundlng proclamation and
programme for the uncertain future. With.
out some knowledge of Paul our text might
seem as mere promise of affection and of
good intentions; but the future tense used
here Ia simply to record the past and TO indi- |
cate the future OF love and effort for those |
whom Paul had already served with zeal
and energy. Hisrecord was known to them
wntten, indeed, In their memory and on
their hearts. He had special interest in the
church at Corinth for many rea .ons. and
wrote to the Corinthians tr0 cplstles, which
we have among our inspired writings, while
10 other churches he has written but ON, cx
ccpt the church at Thessalonica. The Cor
inthians could well appreciate the affection
ana anxiety OF this Apostle, for he had been
with and labored among them most earn
estly, continuously and efficiently.
The text Is not a mere promise but the
stateheht OF his devout purpose, sustained
py MS ihoors and conscientious for them
raul was an apostle. He had seen the Lord
and had received commission from Him. He
was inspired and had gifts necessary and
peculiar to his office and the work given him
TO do. In making reports of himself and
MS labors, he had, Of course, TO speak often
OF himself, and he, consequently, did moi
escape tine insinuation that he was a boaster.
PROUD, and q vain egotlst, who exalted him.
sen, whiie ne talked only OF his Lord and
IosS eI-ist corinthians, 18th chap, 9th and
lOth verses: "For / am the least Of The
apostles, that am not meet 10 be called nm
apostle, because prosecuted the Church of |
Tod But, by the grace Of God, I am what
am and his grace, which was bestowed
upon me, was not In vain but / laborcd
more abundantly than they ali; vet not I, |
but the grace Of God which was with mo -
1t 10 eminently right and proper tha, in
my place l should make record of divine
grace which has sustained me for thirty |
years In the American co pital, kent me oIivc |
ana given me strength to fulfil my mission
up 10 this hour. ''''''
Ny call is dated the 10th of September.
Ioov' and on the 9Th Of the same month |
was installed by the presbytery of the Dis.
trict OF Columbia In the small frame build. |
ing directly opposite to this church ediace. |
The house OF worship, by contract, was one
story high, fifteen feet to the caves, and forty
oy nfy feet In dimensions. In that house 1
ente,ed upon my work In this city, and there |
continued until the Goth of June 1911 tbe !
day OF dedication of this ediGce. he dimcn.
sions or which when built were sIxty.one NV
eighty feet. In 1860 the front was buIf
with the tower, and the church was extended
back, making Its whole length one hundred
leet, the depth Of the entire lot. The little
wnite ehufch opposite, except the pulpit and
pews, was sold for 81 ZOO, In notes OF sJO
each, at one, two, three, four, and Ave vears,
ms lot, on which Is our present house of
worship, eighty feet front by one hundred
ieet deep, was purchased at twenty-five cents .
per loot. Some years afterwards the side .
lions.
From the records If the church session the !
hgures show that In these thirty years The
NUMBER OF communicates added were /. 1872
OF deaths and dlsmisslons were $50; the total
number now In communion Is 600. or this
uumDer three were In the organization of the
church, and twenty-seVen remain of the adj.
I R made In the ministry Of Revs. j. y.
'orIh ana Mason Noble, my predcces-
sots: during the thirty years, ] have baD-
rted o77 Infants and $50 adults total, SOT, |
+, nc marriages during that time at which / {
nave oinciated have been COZ. Ny Passionate.
~ before stated, began In 1889. BY the cen, {
20 90, o. lst0 the population Of this city was
100 ne census OF 1857 shows that the
population then was 100, O52
These figures indicate the Increase of Don. /
1lation In Washington. The great and cor. {
esponding improvements everywhere seen I
. the number and style OF buildings are In {
proof OF the enterprise Of our citizens, and !
y worthy OF all commentator In this par u
Iacuiar. The past few years may be onlytLc .
~ nss o. the future growth and prosperity Il
:. oul Guy. inc number Of church edacea O
erected, and the superior architectural styIo c
sre also proof that our citizens are thought. o
Iul In this essential OF material aud spiritual
O
Thirty years In the same city, pastor of c
he same church, occupying the same rented c
yelling house, are items which do not often Z
ppear In the history of a preacher Of the 5
osPel In these times Of change, and cspe. !
Tally In the great national centre of this {
rand young republic. To rue, indeed, il IL c
L.arvelols, and cannot be OF man or the will ]
man, but Of God. ] accepted the call Of }
US Fourth church, and entered upon my 4
titles With one great purpose, viz; TO preach u
lnst erucided, and to know nothing among I
"a outside OF my ministry. Beyond this x
a no thoughts Of any particular time to b
main or OF the time 10 leave. In other pl
70, when intimations were made by letter pr
u might be called TO another city and