The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-04

owen his vile ana young daughters
Martha aud Mary, James B. Jordan
his wife, daughter Katie and son
Sammey, Emerson Roberts and n.
Il. Scovel. All seemed deeply i'm.
pressed with the service and reioiced
with grateful hearts tor the blessed
privilege Of meeting together for
Divine worship in this new settle
ment.
Sunday March 4 1S77.- The
school house being nearly completed
Divine services were tor the first
time held in it this day, Revs. Leet
and Mahan presiding. 1t was an
occasion OF thanksgiving and rejoic-
ing. The congregation numbered
nearly 70.
March IL, lS77.-Our first Sun
day school was organized this day,
commencing with five teachers and
forty scholars"
will not read the list OF names OF
teachers and scholars that follows.
These incidents in the origin Of this
town were the seed corn out of which
this gathering has grown. They
were the promise and prophecy Of
the history OF this settlement. And
they suggest the thoughts to which |
invite your attention "ZHe UaIue of
a Christian church to u conenaataaity."
lst. 1t eXerts a wholesome and
powerful Influence upon the intellect
ual life OF community. Christianity
acts upon tie minds of men because
it comes from the Infinite mind. 1t
demands thought, and incites thought
because 1T eInbodies divine thought;
the worlds best thinking has sprung
up in its pathway. Like the sun in the
heavens, its course has been marked
by intellectual light and life. When
John Bunyan first came under its
sway he was only a Bedtorushire
tinker, but it made him the very
prince of allegoris,s. Had he never
felt the power OF the gospel lie " opld-
nave nved and died tinker. 1t
found GARY nothing but a cobbler..
1t made him one of TIE great leaders
OF modern missions.
Indeed there can be no true and
Symmetrical system ot education if
Christianity is ignored. In the first
place only part OF The man is edu-
Gated. His moral nature is neg
lected. But this has powerful in.
tiuence upon his mental faculties also.
The various departments OF our. be.
| ing are 30 in,erlaced That one cannot
be neglected without impoverishing
the rest. The highest development
is symmetrical.
Again, to lea, e Christianity out of
education is to leave oul Iundamen.
tai part of truth.
/: Religion furnishes to US the only
early history OF our race. Moses,
not HerodUtus, Is The Father of
History" The books OF job antedate
by centuries Homer's poems. The
Bible gives us the tinai cause OF all
things Ignore thls BOOK aud all
educational system wcuiu be like
Mohameds cUtfin-wiLhuul solid
| OASIS on Wnlcn 10 rest.
The church bS 1t, n.nl>trles and
influence, by It's treetnce and power,
is an intellectual stlmulant No man
can be under Its teachings from year
to year and remain All ignorant per
son. He Will be made to think and
compelled to learn.
We boast OF our common school
system, but to John Knox is due the
credit OF inauguraung the plan, when
he sought TO establish a school in
connection with every church.
End. A Christian church is promo
tive OF the best tl pes OF social lii, and
culture.
Christianity is in its spirit intensely
social. Its spirit Of sympathy and
love, OF self sacrifice and benehcence
create the strongest social ties and
stimulate to heaithiul social devel-
opment. 1T admits OF no aristocracy.
There are no JOsephs or Benianlns
III its hOusenold All, rich ana poor,
LEARNED ami ignorant, high and low,
meet together and the Lord is The
maker Ot them all.
Let community gather 1or His
worship in ole place, let them sympa-
thize with tie suffering, rehe,e The
needy and comfort the sorrowing.
and there will be found among such