Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-16
OLD StPEDES' CHURCa.
The 1881 Anniversary sunday =
An Interesting Trinity Sermon b.,
Rev. j. w. Ashton-Fundapeu
Doctrine,

OH tne southern wall, IN figures wreathsd
from buds and blossoms, were the dates
1893 and 1881.
The name of the church "Den Treifal-
dighet Kirka," on silken Sunday school
banner, was all that reminded the audi
ence of yesterday of the language in
which for half century or more the
original Wilmingtonians worshipped
within these walls, language which has
been as etfectually buried and forgotten
by their descendants as if it had never
existed. Tie last Swedish rector, Rev.
Lawrence Girelius, preached his farewell
sermon on May Sth, 1871, and returned
with his family to his native land; but
long before that the English language had
crowded out the Swedish aud the more
recent Dutch of the early settlers.
The silver communion SET presented to
the church by Swedish miners during the
pastorate of the Rev. Mr.. Borck, over $50
years ago, was used again yesterday, as is
the custom at every anniversary. 1t com
prises a paten, wafer box and chalce OF
antique design, simple and devoid OF
characterization.
The singing was an important feature
of the occasion. William I. Parry was
organist and the choir was composed OF
Mr.. G. b. Rhoads, tenor, DIR. Howard
ogle, bass, Miss Addie Common, Soprano
aud Miss Virgiu Common, contralto. The
selections rendered were ..
Anthem, 1.-THE Lord Ia in His Holy Temple"
QUO Lob.
''Venite" and "Glora" ............D Or. Boyce.
Deum -,;..'''..,.......'..,. hotzGhmar'
IJubiiate Dec, ....,...........;,:....,A ldneh.
Litany hymn, 53. Spanish chant.
t..
n b. Warren.
selves, A'' ha. NO. Y " 5 JAWS
''sursum' and San tus, ......N, b. Warren.
Gloria in ENcelsis,' ...........,a,: pld chant
''Nunc Dlnlitts, '.......s........N, Ii. w alter.
Rev. j. w. Ashton, of Philadelphia,
ntticiated and preached the anniversary
sermon, from Luke X: Al, AZ +: Martha,
Martha, thou art careful and troubled
about many things but one thing is
needtul and Mary hath chosen that good
part, which shall not be taken away FROM
her.
His sermon WAS essentially Trinity
sermon and not at all historical; for h.
said in opening that, coming here a
stranger, lie could not attempt to speak
about matters of church history more
familiar to the congregation than to him
self. Our Saviour, lie said did hot blame
Martha for having many things TO do ;
much less did he lind fault with Martha
for her attention to him he was too
much of a gentleman for that; but he
blamed her for that distraction of mind
which led her to place herself in the
attitude of an attendant upon him, rather
than that Of a disciple. Martha's fault
was that she male more of Jesus as a
person, as a man, than as representative
Of Deity, as tod manifest in the flesh ;
him Of more as master and teacher than
as the Messiah and Christ.
We have here a representative of a
very large number who are careful and
| anxious about many things while neglect
full OF advantages which they enjoy fur
| spiritual culture or moral power, who are
much concerned about the sacrauents and
ceremonials OF the church while they do
not fully improve their opportunities for
| spiritual instruction. Less excitement
aud more deep religious fervor is what VT.
| want to-day in the church. Let MS love
those things more and more which bring
| Christ nearer to us and us nearer to
Christ.
1
ieets OF church teaching, are often the
| subjects OF profound perpleAity and
earnest inquiry to many Christians.
Take tor example the doctrine we empla-
size this Sundav-that of the blessed
trinity. Who can tell how many are
this merning concerned and almost dis
tracted because they cannot have q
logical explanation and verbal definition
Of this ductrinel 1t is not a subject fol-
logical explanation and verbal definitions
1t is a mystery which will never be UNI
raveled " lille we possess our present lin
tied powers and finite minds. Partial
deans may be enjoyed now, for trinity ii
essential to the adaptations OF the human
heart, and we cannot conceive OF UNITY
without trinity; but, we only see a littl'
Of the reflected light. We do not see til,
reality; we do not see any reality unit
We see God.
We cannot fathom this mystery. 1t il
said Of st. Augustine that he was walk
mi one day by the sea shore lneditatinl
mon the Trinity, when he saw 4 littl
child digging holes in the sand and ilint
th. with water which it carried in it
hands from the surf.
"What are you doing ?" asked TIL
saint.
"Emptying the ocean into these holes,
replied the child.
mot more vain," unused st. Angus
tine, ethan for me to try TO empty III
Divine mind into my own.
pur Church is the one Protestant bod
which holds up most constantly an'
prominent the doctrine of the i"l
trinity; it is the very corner stone oil on
/ .,litices of public worship; on every pag
# our church services book will be tnnh
! illusions to the Holy Trinity. What "
a want when we contemplate the Trinity
1 simply faith; that faith which under
stands when the Master saith "He tina
| hath seen Me hath seen the Father"
;. One thing is still needful, "the goo
:. mart" our feeding on the bread of lif'
. BE not weary in we'll doing, this is
> effect sitting at Jesus feet. 1t is til
q hustling about many things when thel
!, is but one thing neelful, that Chris
4 condemns. 1t is being anxious, unhapp,
' iiscontented, unbelieving; it is forge
/, ting that Christ says: Let not yol
n hearts be troubled; " believe in Go'
b .lieve also in Me-"
- This ia A day sacred to the history
a the church of Tod universal it is da
4 sacred in the history of this parish an
!. NAV it prove to be day sacred in II
q history Of each individual soul who wo
ships in this temple of the living Go
n Nav it be birthday when he shall pa
v from the kingdom of darkness into Il
ic kingdom of light and when he shi
m know that the Sun of Righteousness
re though for while it may be eclipsed
10 the darkness and sorrows of earth, W
!. at last break forth in all the etfulgence
re- the eternal glory that il promised to
n. saints OF God.
is After the sermon, the communion
or administered.
IN At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the Su
day schools of Trinity parish held tn
r. anniversary exercises in the Old Swed
to Church. -...
Ia.