The New York herald., 1876-11-27
A NEW CHURCH.

OPENING SERVICES IN THE GRACE BAPTIST
CHURCH. FIFTY-THIRD sTREET-sErTING UP
THE srANDARD-sERMoN BY THE REV. j.
SPENCER KESNARD.
rhc Rev. J. Spencer Kennard having resigned the
pastorate OF tho Pilgrim Baptist church, on Thirty
third street, one hundred or moro members OF tho
gregaion, under the leadership of MIR. RandeIl and
Rev. H. $. Day, also severed thoir with that
pace Of worship at the Same time asking their old
minister form u church further up town. The
invitation accepted by Mr.. Kcnnard. and the
handsome Fitythird street. Seventh
avenue, hereafter to be known as the Grace Baptist
church. was purchased for the of the consro-
vation. Tho opening services wcro held yesterday
morning under the most encouraging auspices
Notwithstanding tho forbdding character OF
the weather therc hardly a vacant,
and upon every face seemed TO rest the
smile Of satisfaction and contentment The pulpit
was handsomely dccked with flowers, and the rever-
end gentleman visbiy affected BY the signs or
encouragement upon every hand. His was
Psalms, Xxx, SIN the name OF God We will set
up our banners" The Church of Christ, said Mr..
Kcnnard, is distinctly church militant Its life is
long campaign oil conquest and defence The sub
jugaion OF rebel world and the universal establish
:ent the kingdom OF Christ arc essential points OF
its work. To take advanced positions and hold them,
20 from strength to strength TO add victory 10
tory should It's history there Is very much
land be possessed tho Church Is able TO- 60 Up
and take IT. Nowhere does the usurpcr hold a
defiant front than here in New York Here his seat
Here by many deadly fascination, he holds captive
"A multitude ui SOUS Tor whom Christ died. But here
also tho church Is and the Gospel. Aud the light is
gong on with varying success. We arc hore this
morning 10 inaus uralc u new movement IN the great
campaign
SETTING UP THE STANDARD.
Our watchword s:-"in The name of our God will
the bauncrsy Well We read the song the Church
the oiden time: "Hc brought into his banquet
ing hall ana his banner me Love- 90 II is
God has led uto this house, where He spreads the
festival OF grace, anu here above shali float thc ban
ner OF divine love. Here VIII we SIT down under HIS
shadow His fruit shall be taste. 1t
shall be JOY proclaim His love- aud TO taste and
that the urd good. But this the banner Tor the
tent; We also aud chiefly set up banners ior the HELD
We up the banner OF Gospel snd Truth. We spread
forth the Word OF The Iord, the supreme power Of
conquest over mems hearts aud Tor extending the Ro-
dcciuers kinguom Says David. the warrior:-.srhou
hast gwen banner TO them that lear Thee, that IL may
be displayed because oil the truth"
The banner oi the Gospel IL is inscribed with the
name OF Emmanuel. Il Is adorned with the image OF
the Crucncd. Here The Gospel is TO be proclaimed;
oh, blessed, inspired Wordi Here the trumpet is to
sound, proclaming parion TO each rebel sinner. This
place Will soon bc hlcd with cxpeciant and happy
worshippcrs and We humbly believe tnat, While We
in ialthiulness shall minister tho words, attending
angels shall bear the records that hearts have sub
mtted 10 the authority ~ the truth and been
qu.rcd by tnc Cross which is suI as ever the WIS.,
and the power oi God To every that believeth
The minister then glanced the doctrines be
preached aud maintained In the new church, the dis
tnguishins doctrines, he said OF the Baptist aith
faith received b. l,s000C0 OF the best people OF
TINS land.
THE SIGNAL OF BATTLE
The setting up the banners Is tho signal OF battle
Wherever The standards oil jehovah are displayed, and
the sword OF the sprii unshcathed there the valley
OF decisivH The dark egons OF the pit aud the Illus
armies Of heaven draw near, not idle spec
taors but sympathetic allies wlth the other
parties to the contest Here the demands OF Gods
law and the claims OF His Gospel both dispia, ed .nd
brought 10 bear mans conscience will and heart,
unoeef anu rebellion Of the sons OF men, There is
clash arms, roll OF artillery. but none the less
there stern and bitter struggle because IL rs silent
And all how momcnious the issues OF that battle.
Not tne OF empires, but The destiny of
immortal spirits hang suspended on the success
iaiure OF our banners. la setting UP our banners
erect standard oi social morals which IS mmuabie,
luminous aud divine. and VIC challenge men to advance
To that standard and range themselves beneath ITS
battalions Of the vruous, champions OF the Eternal
Rlgnt \ gospel church is IKE Gibraltar. Nowhere
can the banners o Gods tfu.i &c unluflcd but they
upif With thcn the whole life oi q community, and
become also warning check TO the awiessncss 8 and
sccaiariy OF the ungoJy. It's JOY salvation which
nils US with the determination TO set these stand
ards or banners Wherever these cnsigns move for
they carry the peaceful victories OF grace with
them. The standard OF the cross carries joy with IT.
The upitcd voice OF It's trumpcs rs sasva:on tho
is salvation.
| THE FORTY HOURS DEVOTION.
A most cdifying spectacle witnessed yesterday
at the hapast ten O'Clock mass in the Church OF ST.