Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-09
The Old Year and the New.
Abstroct Of Sermon by r. N. Webster
Dec. 20. 1872.

look forward. "'Tis greatly wise t,
talk with our best hours, and ask then
what report they bare to heaven, ant
how they might have born more wei
come news"
Various indeed are the reports which
during the last year, have gone heaven
ward, from the various persons and va
rious lives of this congregation. | can
not doubt that many of these reports
have honored and pleased have salts
fed, our Father. Icannot doubt that
many of them have grieved him. For
there has been self-denial but there has
been self-pleasing also; there has beer
faith and hope and charity, but there
has been unbelief, dependency, and
selfshness. [ should like to know
which sort of reports out-numbered the
other. Which do you think those
that gladden., or those that grieve oun
Father. For my own part-if the wish
be father to the thought, so be it, u
think the former sort have numbered
the more.
At least, as have gone about among
the members Of this church during the
year, [ have seen much more to admire
than TO condemn much more that is
beautiful than bad, and to me there Is
very much more that appears hopeful
than appears discouraging.
In the beginning Of the year, some
special meetings were held, in connec-
ton with the week of prayer, which
were means of grace to many, and a
very special blessing to a few At the
close Of those meetings, twelve united
with the church, every one of whom is
in good repute among us all to-day.
During the year we have parted with
four members: James Smith, who uni
ted with the church at Ripon; Kate
Compton, now Mrs. Townsend, who
Joins the NJ. E. church with her hus-
baud, at their new home Mrs. Gard
ner, who is at Necedah, not as vet con-
nccted with another church aud one
Of our number, Ebert Clark, has gone
to Paradise.
We have gained, during the year,
members. We number now So. four OF
whom are at present away from US, to
wit: Paul Arnidsee, who is working at
Wausau; Henry Searles, who is with
his friends in Adams Co.; Mrs. VIM.
Ward, who has moved farther down the
river, but not near to any church; and
Freddie Webster, who is at school at
Ripon.
During the year, the young people
Monday evening prayer meeting has
been one Of our successes. Sometimes.
it has numbered 80; often less than 10:
but, though not large in numbers, it
has been a valuable help to some of our
young people, who by it have become
more familiar with the Bible, more es-
tablished in the truth, and more thor
oughly furnished unto good words and
works. | believe it would be a much
greater success, had we proper room
to meet in.
The regular Wednesday evening meet
ing has furnished, each week, an oppor-
tunity for Christian conference and in
quiry and prayer. Not so many have
attended as during the previou. year,
though [ believe this is not owing to a
greater lack of the spirit Of prayer.
Many of our regular attendants have
been sick; many praying mothers have
been kept at home during the year, to
look after the new responsibilities which
God has given them. 1t is well worthy
of remark, that if * the promise is un-
to us and to our children" and if the
children of Christians are born within
the church, according to the orthodox
notion Of the "Abrahamic covenant, y
then II have been added, during the
year, to our church by virtue of their
being born into our church families
God help US so to regard these children,
that we may watch for them and train
them up IN the church Of Jesus Christ.
The Sabbath School connected with
the church has fourished during the
year, with varying history. The reg
ular teachers meeting on Friday even
ing has been we'll attended by the teach
ers and others. There has been better
teaching than during the previous year.
We owe many thanks to God for our
Superintendent, and not a few to the
Superintendent himself.
The congregation attending the reg
ular services of the church has averag-