The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-09-22
ANNIVERSARY SERMON,

Rev. p A. Studdiford, d. D., in the
First Presbyterian Church of Lambert
vile, September 9Th, the occasion being
the anniyersaryiof the twentieth year Of
his pastorate. The first part of the SER
mon appeared last week.
pass on now to speak of the spiritual
| welfare of this Church during the past
twenty years. After came here 1t soon
became manifest that the death of your
pastor, who had so long labored here, was
to be followed by blessed work of the
Spirit. The interest in the prayer meet.
ings began to increase, and no surer indi-
cation could there be of the Holy Spirit S
presence. There we're some faithful ones
praying that God would still further bless
the ministry now closed in death. Their
prayers were answered. The Church was
revived and strengthened. Many who
had been careless were brought to living
faithin Christ. Many were gathered from
the Sabbath Schools. Parents saw their
ycarning desires gratified in the, CONVEX
sion of their children. Over ninety were
in few months received into full com
munion. Here may say that, in dwell
ing on the prominent facts in my twenty
years pastorate, it is not my intention to
tell what have done, nor what you have
done, but what God has done, as He has
been working in and by you.
No marked displays of the Holy Spirit $
power were witnessed for several years,
although there were constant accessions
to the membership of the Church. In
the Winter and Spring, however, of 1874,
there were cheering tokens for good
Gently, like the dew, the Spirit descend
cd /; the plants OF heavenly grace no
longer dropping, lifted up their heads
the garden of the Lord once more became
fruitful rejoicing the hearts of God S
people and filling their mouths with songs
of praise. About ninety professed their
faith in Christ. There was one promi-
nent feature Of that revival and that was
the active participation ON the part of so
many of the male members in the long
series of prayer meetings which were
held. The good effect Of this new order
OF things was felt for long while In our
stated weekly services. They were con-
Quoted with greater spirit and interest
than l had ever known In the history of
the Church. Before this these meetings
were led by the pastor, but then the sys-
tenn of leaders in rotation was adopted,
and committees we're appointed to have
the general supervision of this and other
prayer meetings. Another feature of
this woik of grace was the abundant use
that was made of sacred song in the
special services. There was novelty in
it, and the hymns in simple manner set
forth the offers of the Gospel, SO that they
came home to the heart and conscience
with much directness OF effect. Judged
| L.. AZ ~ -.
there was not much to commend In them,
yet because they presented the Gospel in
its simplicity they served good purpose.
Still another feature of that revival was
it's vital influence among our German
brethren. This resulted in the establish
ment of the German Prayer Meeting,
which was kept up with much interest
for long while. am sorry-yery sorry
that 1t had to be discontinued, owing to
deaths and removals. There were so fow
left to conduct the meeting, it was impos-
sibe to sustain it. During the interval
between the great awakening Of 1874 and
the still greater one of last Spring there
were repeated accessons to the number
of full communicates, although not MS
many as we could desire.
The religious interest we have so lately
|
you can readily anticipate anything that
can be said about it. Unlike the revival
of 1874, there was much stress laid upon
simple, earnest Gospel preaching, and
proportionably less on the service of sacred
song, Yet must not be misunderstood
Our singers did very acceptable and eff
4 fective work and added intellectually &c
the interest of the meetings yet wha
they did was not so prominent aud alb
sorbing a feature of this awakening as IL
that Of 1874. The Gospel certainly wa
presented with great simplicity aud di
Tectness by DIR. Wills aud other brethren
who assisted me, so that think that tn,
hearers got clear and definite conception
Of the Gospel. This is u very importan
matter. For | find so often, in certain
quarters, that preaching which is though
to be so very fine is not seldom, according
to my judgment, vague and indeflnite--a
any rate, not as direct and explicit as i
might be.
The recent religious interest was es
! pecially characterized by the very large
accession from our Sabbath Schools, anG
particularly from Christian households
In some instances nearly all the children
were gathered in. This was q matter o.
great rejoicing, for it is becoming more
and more evident that the children in ou
Sabbath Schools, and especially of belev
ing families, must be trained as tho dis
ciples of Christ and be taught that theil
Saviour expects them to yield their young
hearts to Him. the doctrine of Christian
nurture, or Of bringing up the children in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord
is attracting more attention nowadays
than formerly. The counsels of our Di
rectory for Worship, think, will be more
and more needed and the children of be.
levers will be more faithfully treated NJ
the children of the covenant, entitled tc
the loving watch and care of the Church
As our Young Peoples Prayer Meeting
formerly known as the Young Mems
Prayer Meeting its rise 10 q revival
of many years ago, so this last awakening
has given origin to the Young Peoples
Association, which, trust, will result in
great good to not only all It's members
but also to the Church.
We have had ia all these years much to
be thankful for Ia the continued prosperity
of our Sabbath Schools We have had
well qualified and faithful superintend
ents and teachers, and think may ven
ture to say that the Word of God has
been as faithfully aud thoroughly taught
as in any school In our land. know this
is affirming a great deal, nevertheless il ID
my conviction. IL is due to faithful su.
perintendents and teachers to say this
1t is a noble work, In which Sabbath
School teachers are engaged, and IL they
would appreciate II more and more, and
seek the conversion of the children under
| their charge, even now 10 their young
days, we should see multitudes Of you'll