The Morning herald., 1875-11-08
AKNIvERsAKY at WEST CxUROH.

ANNxVERSARY AT WEST CAURCI
THE MORNING, AFTERNOON AND RvEl
-"." .r'jf ING's kxERCIsEs. .'t
Yesterday morning large number {
perfons assembled ut the West Church
Eighth and Washington streets, to rsnde
heartfelt prayers and thanks to God for thei
deliverance from the trouble which threat
ened to deprive them of house in whic
to worship Christ.
| Rev. Mr.. Otis, pastsr of the church, con
Quoted the services, taking, for his text
the words, "The Lord has done great thingI
for US; whereof We are glad" Mr.. OTIS
during his sermon, spoke Of the sutferin:
of the children of Israel, and compared
their bondage with that of his congregation
saying that, too have been in captivity
not, indeed, driven away into exile as they
were; but imprisoned and brought into ser.
vitude in our church-home. That most to
be dreaded OF all church captors, the mas
ter debt, had seized upon us and led US
away into captivity; and we were compelled
to serve out miserable and mourntul term
OF bondage in that worst of all slavery, the
slavery Of debt. As church we know what
the servitude of debt means what it is to
have burdens almost heavier than we could
lit; what 1t is to make brick without straw
and what is to have relentless task masters
we have had an experience that we will
never forget. Debt is dreadful thing, and
there are no debts so burdensome, so hard
to bear, so discouraging, so crippling to
usefulness, as church debts. From this
bondage are we now delivered. The money
for the payment of our church debt has
been raised and is now on deposit in the
bank. Thus we are delivered from the cap
tivity under which we have toiled and
groaned for 50 long period. We are eman-
cipated from bondage. 1t is true that there
is mortgage debt still on the church, but
we are, henceforth, masters of the situation,
and we will see to it that the mortgage debt,
still remaining, shall never again bring us
into captivity. In this deliverance the Lord
has done great things for us; whereof We
are glad. There are, to-day, gladness and
joy and Thanksgiving in all our hearts. Is
it any wonder that we begin the worship
this morning, singing "Praise God from
whom all blessings 1ow."
This is, indeed, srevt blessing, and it
has come to US from the Lord. We come
to-day into our sanctuary with gladness
In our souls, icy teaming in our faces.
and songs of Thanksgiving swelling in
our hearts and bursting from our lips.
And. praising Col, we say to one
another, "The Lord.hath done great
things for us; whereof we are glad" A.
some OF the great things that the Lord has
done for the church since the beginning OF
his pastorate, Mr.. Otis stated, II have been
pastor of the church now for two years and
five months, and during that time the con-
gregation has raised for all purposes $685.
7s6, or nearly an average of one thousand
dollars per month and all this money,
with the exception of about s. 900 or $4,000,
has been raised by contributions from the
congregation Of this church. In the emer
gency from which We have just been deliv-
cred, outsiders, representing all denomina-
tlons, have come up most generously and
literally to our aid. Alou5 $4,000 of the
$lO,5Oe just raised, were contributed bv
those not members of the West church con-
gregation." In this connection he spoke Of
the gratitude Of the church for this manifes-
tstion Of Christian sympathy and help. He
spoke of the enthusiastic and efficient labors
OF the ladies of the congregation, and the
children Of the Sabbath School, in raising
contributions. He alluded most touchjnply
to the manner in which he had been pressed |
to accept aid, and though he knew many
had not only deprived themselves of the lux
uries, but even some of the nece essities of |
life. Mr.. Otis said: "Though knew this, |
yet as 1t was for the cause of Christ, with |
willing hand, but aching heart accepted it,
l know that it was given in all willingness.
and should the reward not come here, there
is consolation that God knows of the good
work, and will give reward in Heaven,
more dear, more precious, and more lasting
than can come on earth.
In the afternoon the Sabbath School cele-
brated it's 9TH anniversary. The following
is the programme:
Opening Hymn.-"Bless the Lord, O Ny
Soul"
Prayer.
Hymn.-Infant School.
Annual Report, in Memoriam.
Concert Exercise e.-"The Rock of Ages,u
Introduction.
Responsive Recitation, Ps. xcv: 1-6,
School.
The Safe Foundation.-2d Sam. iii so,
Matt. xvi IS, Matt. vii "a, 25.
Hymn" Stand on the Rock"
The Fountain of Living Waters.-Ex.
xvii: 6, Numb, Xxx: z, 8, Ps. cxiv: 7, 8, Is.
llviii: 20, 81, LIST Cor. x: 1, 4. {
Hymn. -"Flowing Rock" !
The Sure Defence.-Ps. xciv: 2s, I'd Sam.
xii: 2, 3, Ps. lxii: 12.
Hymn.-"The Rock of Salvation" {
The Lord Our Righteousness. s.-Deut
xxi: 4, 1st Sam. ii: 2, Is. xxi: 1.2. t
Hymn.-"The Everlasting Rock" r
The Lord Our Deliverer.-Ps. xviii: l.,
xxi: 2, 3, Ts: xiii: 8, II, Ps. Xxi: 1,2.
Hymn.-"TheR Rock that is Higher than
;" '''"'
The Lord Our Comforter.-Ps. xxAii: 5,
5. IL: 10, II, Ex. xiii: 81, %.
Hymn.-"The Sheltering Rock"
In conclusion, addresses were made by r
ev. Mr.. Otis, and others, when the choir {
ang Crock of Ages" and the company