National Republican., 1883-06-18

IL being tho tenth anniversary of his pastor
ate. The doctor gave brief but interesting
account of the progress of the church, and
preached an exceedingly interesting sermon,
taking his text from Hebrews, eleventh chap
ter, thrty-fourth verse, "Out of weakness
were made strong"
The speaker said These memorable words
como from that brilliant chapter Of the He
brows which set forth tho grand achievements
of the saints of old These saints are set be-
fore us in almost every form, and their noble
work comes gloriously to an admiring sight.
Two things especially deserve attention.
the one the instrument used in their spiritual
service, /. O., faith the other, the result which
followed its use, as the fruit thereof was
strength.
1. BY faith it Is not meant that the pa
triachs wrought mighty deeds by their own
power. Whom scriptures speak of faith they
speak indeed of mans, but of somewhat out
of tho good man, brought into exercise
through quality mado vital in man by
divine energy acting upon man. Faith is the
hand of man laid upon the arm of God not
that the hand itself is mighty, but that tho
power which comes to il is almighty. This
was the instrument of the patriachs-by its
use they out of weakness were made strong"
2. Thore were made strong. This strength
was no earthly product. Some other power
wrought this result. They wero made
strong in the soul, their unlawful appetitcs
were conquered. Clear apprehensions of
truth were given, resistant will was put in
them. And 80, out of weakness, they wero
made strong.
All this is manifest (1) in the personal life
of the olden saints, aud (2) in the history of
Gods church, under the old covenant, in tho
Exodus and in tho now in the wonderful
growth Of the church, from its simple begin
ming in the Jerusalem chamber and tho
frightened company Of the apostles.
This church on q small scale Is another
illustration of the same principle. 1t is
thirteen years ago since ii began in the cot
tagc meetings held by Dr. Hall, of Trinity
church, Brooklyn, then rector of Epiphany,
in this city. Subsequent to this DIR. Vaughan
Lewis. the brilliant and generous rector of
st. Johns, secured lot aud small chapel
In 1873, ten years ago last Friday, began
my ministry. Weakness was the marked
feature of tho undertaking, but through
faith we have been made strong.
The work Of building a church came from
Bishop Pinckney, and the clergy of:Washing-
ton assembled in 1874 in the lecture room of
the Church of the Ascension. Not only did
they carry on the work, but gave all along
generous contributions. Not only were
moneys collected here, but / solicited sub
scriptions in all the middle states and in
New England.
At the beginning Of my own ministry here
the number of families connected with the
church were ID, now there are 100. Then
the total contributions were SIG year, now
they amount to between $1,000 and
$1,000. Then communion aims were
$40 or $l1 year, now they
amount to sos or $50. Then holy
communions for years numbered 6,kow they
reach to %, Then the communicates were
4S; now they number 225. Then baptisms
for years were or 3 now they number from
10 to 25. Then confirmations were infre.
quent; now they range from is to "a per an
mum. The average is Is. The total number
of baptisms for my ten years is $50; confirm
ees, $50. Then the property belonging to
this congregation was nothing. They did not
own the chapel in which they worshiped.
Now they own this church, valued at $4,000
and the adjacent lot, worth $500.
The sermon closed with an exhortation to
humility and lowly mindedness. We have,
said DR.. Crummell, been Gods agents for the
appearing of this fabric, but we owe this
church to the providental favor of ono cove
nant, God-to God be the glory. mot unto
us, not unto us, but unto Thy name give the
praise" But right beside this sense of un-
worthiness cultivate the largest ventures of
faith. Plan great things in the future for
God. We need an orphanage for this church,
house for an industrial school, building
for Sunday school, lectures, and social meet
ings; and here, too, is the debt still remain
| ing and to be paid. tHttN
By faith you can do all these things through
God working in and through you. And then
| the outcome of ull self-remuneratiou and your
faith will be wondrous strength, as the gift
Of God to your souls. your families your
church, and the world. Arise, shine for
thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord
is risen upon thee"