The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-15

from Heaven for forty years; Whlle tnc
children of Israel were in the wilderness,
ctl.sed oil The day they entered Caiidan,
where they could purchase the corn of
the land. And yet we are oh tempted, in
our work for souls, to wait for God to
work miracles /; wheteos He now brings
10 pass His purposes OF good to our souls
and to Ills Church on earth, not without
our intervention, but in and by us,
through our prayers, and efforts, and
skill, and our diligent uso of all the
means within our reach. We all act
upon this truth in secular business. No
one expects success without work, and
the employment of various means and
agencies. Only we think that in grace
the law is different, whereas the same
principle holds in nature and in grace.
"Without God We can do nothing. With
out our cooperation God will, ordina-
rily, do nothing" The true incentive
is, "Work, for it is God which worketh
in you" Show your faith in Him by
prayerful and diligent adoption of all
kinds of means to attain spiritual ends.
1.-THE children of this world are here
wiser than the children of light"
Worldly men, in order to do their work
in the present age, seize the latest inven-
tions, make use Of the most improved
instruments in war and in peace, know
ing that if they use Old and imperfect
weapons they will be left behind in the
race. And not only thus in the affairs Of
men, but throughout all nature the prin-
ciple is illustrated. No power in nature
can accomplish work for the use Of
man, unless between that power and the
work to be done you interposo some me-
dunn or machine by which you apply
the power to the work; and in proper
ton to the simplicity, adaptation and
perfection of that machine, the power in
nature is efficient. Whether it be human
power, or water power. or those mighty
agents, steam and electricity, they are
wasted and lost until you have invented
some medium or machine by which to
apply the power to the work. Now, it is
the same in the sphere of grace as in ma
ture, in the work of the Church as in the
work of the world. The Almighty
Spiritual power of God works through
means which we are to employ to bring
about spiritual effects. What are our
Sabbaths, and sanctuaries, and Sunday
schools, and musical instruments, and
religious libraries, and all our methods
of church Association and church work,
but means of grace which God has appoint
ed or permitted in His kingdom, that in
and through them the power of God may
reach human souls. If wo christians
are wise we will pray and trust in God
no less, and feel that all effort is useless
without Him, and at the same time null
tiply and enlarge and vary the means
and agencies we employ. We will retain
all that is good in the past, and gladly
accept whatever of good the young life
of the present has to oiler, so that "by
all means we might save some" May
this new church be the embodiment OF
all that is new, living and progressive !;
may it's light shine not for itselq alone,
but to bless others. For as tho great
English dramatist says
Heaven doth with us, as We with torches do
Not light them for themselves; for il our virtues
Did not 60 forth of us 'twere ell alike
AS If We had them not" Shakespeare.
"Nlay thine eyes, o Lord, be opened
towards this house, night and day."
Beneath its roof vouchsafe 10 show
How God may dwell with man below"
May many souls be born again within
its hallowed courts, and let the genera
tions to come eXclaim, "Surely the Lord
is in this place; this is none other than
the house of God, and this is the gate OF
Heaven"
At tho conclusion of Mr.. Gadsden's
address, which was much admired by
all present, Rev. j. L. Carlisle, Grand
Chaplain, was introduced, and spoke in
substance as follows:
Friends and Brethren of the Presbyterian
Congregation: I heartily and sincerely
congratulate you on this occasion. am
truly glad that you have been able to
begin, so auspiciously, the work of
building q new house of worship, to
take the place of the old but honored
one that stands yonder.
1 can only add, that offer my earnest
PRAYER to God for Els blessing on your
new house. May it be place where
God will dwell, and where many souls
will find everlasting life. While may
differ from you in some matters of opin-
ion, yet we can all unite on the central
doctrine of faith in the only Redeemer,
and in laboring for the success of His
cause.-The conquest of the world. May
the blessing OF God be with you.
The benediction was then pronounced
by the Grand Chaplain, after which the
Masons were reformed in procession
and, headed by the Palmetto Band, re-
turned to the place whence they set out,
while the large crowd that had assem-
bled to witness the performance of the
solemn and impressive rites dispersed,
some going to their homes while others
repaired to the public Square fer the
transaction of business.
Thus closed the proceedings of a most
interesting and instructive occasion,
many pleasant memories of which will
long remain fresh in the minds Of those
who were present.