Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-06-24

| preached here, said the cloud is lifting
and the bright rays of Gods blessing are
shining once again, as of yore. on the
work in this dear old church Howwould
the blessed ones who sleep outside these
walls and beneath this floor rejoice, could
| they know (and am not prepared to say
that they do not know that this mouse of
| their building and love is being used ms
| they intended, has been rescued from
dilnpidation and ruin; that the sacri-
| legiOua and shameless have no longer
place here, MS once, some half century
! ago, they had Irreverent words and
deeds are not allowed here, nor does the
rgiddy laugh or profane oath ring around
its venerated walls. The vandal
stops not here, but passes on, and
! no more arc the stones and monuments of
the pious dead defaced or disturbed.
Neither do thorns and thistles, nor rank
weeds grow .,oyer their quiet resting
places, as once they did; nor do rompfng
children make playground of Gods
acre here.' And now, to-day, can truly
say the cloud has lifted, God be praised
Our work here has been blessed. l have
hoped, and longed, and prayed that ii
might be Just what it now is. 1 have
loved the work in this old church, let
who may sny to the contrary. My heart
has been in it. My strength has been
given to il and all that have done here
has been'done conscientiously and accord
ing to my best judgment, and God has been
graciously pleased to grant me ,at the close
of my ministry here, at the end of my
work in this old church, that should see
my hearts desire realized and the Old
Swedes Church and congregation of faith
full worshipers established upon firm
and lasting foundation, and placed where |
they, of right, belong, among the churches |
md congregations of the diocese; and |
shall ever look back with grateful thanks |
to God that He has granted that this |
should be accomplished under my rector |
ship. God has not forgotten this place,
where He has set His name. Before this /
very altar stood and knelt 1888 years ago /
that godly man, my reverend brother and /
predecessor, Erick Biork, the earnest, |
Jealous, enterprising rector and builder |
of this church, proclaiming the good news /
of salvation and distributing the bread of |
life to then living congregation. Be-
fore him and around him sat to hear and /
knelt to pray many devout and humble
Christian, the ancestors of some of you
who hear me now. Where are they, pas
tor and people2 He, recalled to his ma
tive land, has long gone to his rest, but,
being dead, he yet speaketh. They, many
of them, lie outside, at rest under the
shadows Of the walls their willing hands
erected and which they loved so well,
sleeping in hope, awaiting the call to life
again, when they and we shall stand be-
fore the throne, to be judged according
to the works done in the body. High
and low, rich and poor, are all together
there. God is no respocter of persons.
"For tho poor mans friend is the church
of Christ,
From birth to his funeral day;
She makes him the Lords In hor surpllced
arms,
And singeth his burial lay.
And ever the bells in the green churchyard
Are tolling to tell ye this
Go pray in the church, while pray ye can,
That so ye may sleep in bliss"
AT the close OF the address collection
was taken, Harry Rheade singing the Of
fertory solo. During the service several
hymns were nicely sung by the choir and
The anniversary exercises
We're followed by communion service.
There were no services at Trinity chapel
Sunday, many members of that congre
CATION being in attendance at the services
in Old Swedes church.