The New York herald., 1876-09-25
ST. JOHNS PARISH.

ANNIVERSARY SERMON By REV. J. g. PYcoTr.
Tho services yesterday at St. Johns parish were Of
an exceedingly interesting character, II being tho
scmi-ccntcnnial anniversary or Its organization. The
rector, Mr. Pycott, was assisted by Rev. Dr. Jacob w.
Diler rector OF ST. Luke's; Rev Mr. Nichols assist
ant minister OF the parish, and Rev. Henry A. Spaford
The following selections beautifully executed by
the choir:-Proccssional hymn las, Hymnal venre
chant Gregorian; re Deum, Clarke, Whitfield in X;
Jubatc, Clarke, Whitfield In r. Hymns 20 and 1871,
Hymnal; 0Gertory, anthem, .Lord OF all power aud
might" Communion hymn 2o3. Hymnai; sanctus,
Cooper Gloria In Excclsis. old chant; Rccessional
AT, HymnaL
After the customary preliminary ritual service OF
the Episcopal Church the rector selected his text from
Lcviticus XIV, TO- ll:-"And yc shall hallow the CT
tcth year proclaim liberty throughout all tho land
unto all the Inhabitants thereof; jubilee shall that
hfeth year be unto you," aud sad;--ffty years!
What varied experiences generally characterize this
period OF years In the lives OF men How such lapse
OF time Is 0iled with disappontments, griefs Joys,
confident expectations and failures All start out In
Lille expecting the TO ehine all the time As ad-
vance We find that lie 10 not always coudlcss but has
lis sombre experiences anu its winter, TOO As We up
proach the ifcth year rencctlons are generally
sad, ms we look back the past
How many painful moments do wo discover
We look bncK over tho years that have marked
our history during that space of time II
solemn time allowed TO stand and look back
ntteth Dlrthday. inc organizations OF whatever
character they may be, whether secular religious
como into lie with assurances and expectations. Az
they como iu life there is much the record OF
failures and defeats Thore are the Joys the sorrows
and defeats which are the same the world over. This
Is true peculiar sense Of the organization OF the
Church The living God. In the OF any church
yoa shall find failures that have followed imprudcnt
schemes and ventures The truly Christian heart VIII
&c. w,,n m sarnestness snai render INTO tho
der for all these nifty years OF Christian enjoy aud
succcssY Beloved under the kindly bcncnccnco of
Aftsr
anniversary, and as some OF the congrcgation
are strangers TO It's history l think IT
best TO give you brief sketch OF the church up tho
present day. Al the time OF It's organization there
WIS but one other Episcopal church IN Brooklyn, ana
that was ST. AIMS The rector here gave history Of
the church. which Is ms fOll0ws-The irst rector Of
tho church was Rev. Evan N. johnson, who entered
into such charge September "a, 1926, and continued
until July, lS47 He followed by The Rev. Samuel
Roosevelt Johnson. who occupied the pulpit Tor about
three years. when he went to take the proessorshp in
tho General theological Seminary. Rev Thomas I.
Guion followed, succeeded him and commenced his
abors the LIST OF February 1853 and continued for the
period OF ten years, when no died The pulpit was
filled temporarily by Rev. George W. Nichols and Row
Henry A. Spniord, both of whom were present. In
1863 the Row George y. Seymour became rector. and
become professor OF ccclesiasica history N the Gen
era Theological Seminary In 1867 the Rev Alexander
burgess. D. d., took charge ana continued until
ship OF Chrst's church IN Springfield, Mass. In
December, 1862 Rev. Robert 4. Terry was called and
occupied the pulpit until February, 1874 when no
signed, aud the pulpit called the present rector, Rev.
Mr. Pycotl There had been 9 200 admitted inio tho
church. O36 marriages aud l, 800 burlas These
be estimated, said MT Pycot; but how can We es-
tho good donc 10 the poor and suffering, tho
noedy aud dcpressedY The eternal ages alone will
untold this page OF our history. Who shall estimate
tho number OF souls brought TO acknowledge
Christ the one saviour OF the world THIS. too,
will only known that day when ctornal
secrets uro revealed As we stand to-day, with nfiy
years OF parochul experience behind u.s. let Us earn
estIy thank God for the Of the and takc
age for the to Under God the luture OF st.
Johns will DO what we have the beraty and the de-
votop TO make It. This, beloved, IL no time Tor de-
preston little moro Of scli-aenial and shall
this parish relieved from Its gloom and enrolled among
those 10 whom IL Is our pride 10 belong Some OF tbOse
dear little of whom have sacrcdly marked
with tho OF Christ that font may he herr
join IN the songs with which the centennial annIve-
sary OF 81. JOINS will be celebrated. To-day ask
IS resting upon US give, pray you, with deep
OF your responsibility, aud acknowledge
that multitude OF those ''gone beiore'
rejoicing in your gifts. IL Is said Napoleon tho
Great, when ho FIRST the large encampnent Of
soldiers the banks OF tue Nile, addressed his men
and told them that pyramids OF departed soldiers
were witnessing their valor, and urged them 10 be
tho voice oi this man How ~ nerved them Tor
the most heroic nctoni This hitcth anniversary OF
this little parish how much EOre impressive Is the
aud the great host pt witnesses Multtudes of
anRcls IN bright array look down on this memorial.
From the summit of tho pyramids forty generations
looked down upon Napoeons army. but from the
ancient and imp posing pyramids OF heaven
they say, Stand nrmly and sacrediy by the trust
posed upon you and still more earnestly and sacrcdly
docs say, ''.ie faithful death and will
give thce crown OF lfe."