Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-04-20
Interesting Statistics in an Anniversary
Sermon.

Interesting Statistics in an Anniversar!
Sermon.
Last Sunday was beautiful day ant
all our churches were well filled.
I In the Episcopal church the rector
Rev. W. @. Hullihen. awaited himself O.
the fact shat it was the 18th anniversary
I of his rectorship, to present some stats
tics which will be Interesting to our read
els. Taking for his text part of 9th verst
Phil. 1st: "Stand fast in one spirit, with
one mind, striving together for the faitt
of the Gospel" he dwelt at some length
upon las he expressed it) congregational
duties, which embraced and unified those
of the Individual Christian.
He reminded his hearers of important
differences between private and public
worship, which many persons practically
forget, at least, said he, that is the cbarl-
table construction to place upon the man.
ner in which not few take part in pub
lie worshlp-when the minister is volclng
forth what ought to be the prayers OF the
congregation, at the conclusion of each
prayer, so far as many individuals are
rred, there seems to be none that
answereth nor any that regardeth. but
each one wrapped in the anguish, lit may
BEL of his own need. or the importantly
of his individual petitions, the lips move
only in inaudible whispers, instead of
earnest, ringing and hearty responses as
from one mouth and one heart. In order
that the injunctions uttered by our Lord
with such deep emphasis and divinely-
human insistence, that his disciples Glove
one another" should not be dissipated in
to empty generality and pious phrase, ne
cessity p laid upon each one, not to be so
very expansive and world wide in his sym
pathies as to overlook his own congrega-
ton. While everything approaching big
otry and prejudice is to be avoided, there
ought to be cultivated an esprit de corps
in each congregation, for it to accomplish
its God appointed mission.
The rector brought out In the course of
his remarks the congregational aspect in
Baptism and the Lords Supper, and in
this connection stated that during the IL
years 30S persons had been baptized, and
Of these 81 were adults. The number con-
irmed was 1874. The constancy of the
females to their vows was here as else
where proverbial. He was thankful to say
that falling away fromthe faith was quite
rare indeed am ong the large number of
m alac uho had hnnn c0nfirma1
Of the As males who were commu-
nicants II years ago, there were now only
"a. exactly one-fourth OF the present mum
Der of male commandments; and of the $50
communicates, male and female, then on
the roll. there are now, by removal and
death, only IS left. Of the 2O3 funerals
attended, 81 were our communicates.
He had endeavored in all these years to
inculcate the idea that giving of our means
was very important part of public wor-
ship what we gave was an offering to the
Lord. Such giving bad been called lost
art of Divine worship-this was as nee
essary to be enforced and the habit cult
waited, as anything else in the Christian
life. He was glad to Say that he thought
he noticed Improvement in every case with
which he was acquainted, in this Chris
tian grace, and "liberality" was indeed a
grace, "a gift of God," and therefore to
be prayed for and diligently cultivated-a
hard struggle, per haps, with some, but he
thought he noticed that the mercury in
this spiritual thermometer had been ris-
ing perceptibly, yet with some it stayed
provoklngly near the freezing point-with
others, it lowered delightedly around
summer heat, :" these welcomed every op-
portunity to bestow their gifts with a
glad mind and willing heart. And when
our readers are reminded that, since the
war, this cong egation like most others in
the South, has not among its members one
wealthy person, they will perceive that the
amount given has been conspleuousy lib
eral.
Mr.. H. stated that aoithsn the parish not
including regular expenses, 500, 929 81 had
been contributed. and for this they had to
show, first of all, church unincumbered
by cent of debt "a condition of affairs
which as the rector remarked year or so
age, was the first time for IS years this could
be said)-a beautiful chapel, costing $10,-
600; a handsome rectory, and Sunday
School for coored people, paid for, were
some of the fruits. Outside the parish for
such objects as Diocesan work Foreign and
and Domestic Missions, &C., &C.. $12,-
221 IS. Total, including regular expenses,
$64,7441S.
The rector at the conclusion of his SER
mon, read paper be had prepared. which
contemplates some enlargement of the
church, if approved by the vestry and con-
gregation, and sufficient amount be raised
by the sale of new pews-(we understand
the idea being to put in about three rows,
making eighteen pews in all.l
The present building, although very at
tractive IN some respects, is manifestly
susceptible of great improyement-its very
remarkable. breadth compared with its
length, gives it the singular appearance
that the chancel is at the side instead of
the end of the church. A little enloDga-
ton to the structure. ard proportionate
increase in width of chancel will go far
towards restoring the fautless proportions
OF the original building, as planned by
Johns, the architect, who, We are inform
ed (by the way), used the same drawings
from which he constructed the English
church at Jerusal, m.
RECEPTION TO DIR. STRICKLER IN
GEORGIA.-A letter from Rev. N. X
Smith in the christian Observer" gives
an interesting account of reception giver