The daily gazette., 1875-11-08
SECUNDEDI TION
Vest Presbyterian Church
THE FLOATING DEBT sECURED-DR
OTIS CoNGRATULAToRY SERMON

THE FLOATING DEBT sECURED-DR. |
OTIS CONGRATULATIONS SERMON |
AT the West Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning the pastor, Rev. }
NJ. =. OTIS, made the welcome an
nouucement that the floating debt Of
the church, which had recently caused
the congregation so much trouble had
been nearly all subscribed, and would
be cancelled In n few days.
After the opening services, DIR. Otis
stated that the announcement in Sa-
turday's papers to the effect that the
money to cancel the floating debt was
in bank was slightly premature Nearly
all the money had been subscribed but
when the subscriptions were all paid,
there would still be deficit of $500,
exclusive of the official costs, which
would run the deficit up to about 800
He hoped by next Sunday to make the
positive announcement that the entire
amount was raised, and said that
a praise meeting would be held next
Sunday night, when the services will
have a special reference to the i'm
proved financial condition of the
church.
This morning, said the Doctor, we
meet with feelings ofjoy and gratitude
at the prospect of speedy establish
ment OF the church on firm financial
basis, knowing that it will be retaiAcd
asa house of worship and of praise to
God.
DIR. OTIS then announced as his text
the l26th Psalm, particularly the third
verse, which is as follows:
The Lord hath done great things
for us, whereof we arc glad
Mr.. Otis first reviewed the historical
, connections of this Psalm, which was
first sung by the children OF Israel,
when released from theirgeventv years
captivity in Babylon. During theil
captivity they had hung their untun-
ed and unstrung harps on the willow:
by the river, for they could not sing
But when Gcd sent them deliverer il
, the person of Cyrus, who allowed then
to return to their loved Jerusalem
/. tnen they sang this joyous song as they
: returned to Canaan, and the hills and
t wales OF Judea echoed with songs o
Ipraise at their deliverence.
In the course of the sermon tn,
= church, in its debt burdened condition
n was compared with the captive chill
s dren of Israel, with the same feeling:
C of Joy, and thanksgiving at the pros
e poet of freedom.
Referring to the condition of tn,
. church. DR.. Otis said the necessar,
!. money had been raised by persistent
" hard prayerful efforts, and the kind
a ness of friends whom the Lord raiset
up in the hour of need. A mortgag
debt still existed, but it would neve
be allowed to cypress and gain tn
e mastery of the congregation as tn
% floating debt had done.
a During DR.. Otis pastorate of twent
le nine months, the church has raised fo
4. all purposes $28, ,936, or nearly 81 ,00
o. per month. OF this amount abou
81, 900 had been subscribed during tn
recent emergency by persons outsid
~. the church and denomination. The ba
IN ancc was raised in thechurch by sma
'h continuous contributions. During II
y same pastorate 142 persons hay
II. been added to the membership of Il
church.
of In conclusion, DR.. OTIS said Il
~ friends of the church would continl
~ to work, and hoped, with proper effo
- to pay current expenses and the inte
est on the bonded debt, and eventual
d, create a sinking fund which would
3 time pay of the entire debt on Il
church.
re He earnestly and sincerely thankt
T. all who had rendered assistance in ar
d.. way.