Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-04-24
THE SEMI CENTENNIAL OF
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
AT LEXINGTON. MO.
A LARGE ATTENDANCE INTEREST
ING AND AFFECTING SERVICES.

ING AND AFFECTING SERVICES.
An Able and Scholarly Address by
Elder Geo. Plattenburg. An Elk
cellent Historical Sketch by
Jno. E. Bascom, Esq.
"reminiscences by Elder T. P. Haley
and Others.
The Semi Centennial of the organization of
the Christian church oil this city was ceiebra-
ted Il at the handsome and commodious church
building on South street, last Saturday, the re-
ltgious services continuing over to Sunday.
At the hour announced Tor the opening of the
exercises the capaciOus auditorium was well
filled. The meeting was called TO order by Jno.
S, Blackwell, ESD, who moved that Elder Il.
P. Haley, a former pastor and who is much
esteemed by the membership in this county, be
elected Chairman. which was done by n utani-
nous vote. Mr.. Blackwell was made secretary.
Elder Haley began the days proceedings by
delivering a brief address on the rise and prog
ress of the Christian church.
Elder j. H. Hughes read from the l04th Psalm,
and from the Sh chapter of Romans. and offer
ed up an earnest and eloquent prayer. The
hymns sung were the l98th. l92d and 63ith.
The chairman read q letter from Elder Alex
ander Proctor, Of Independence, regretting his
inability to be present, and also reported verbal
regrets from Elders Taylor and Edgar, former
pastors.
The principal address OF the day was then de-
livered by Elder Geo. Piattenburg, a former
pastor Of this church, who wherever he gees
retains his popularity here. Mr.. Plattenburg
Ia q most clever and genial gentleman, of rare
conversational gifts. and has many friends out
| side of his church. He is In addition u student
and thinker, and one of the most scholarly men
of his religious body. HIS address will be
found printed, in full. on our first page.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Plattenburg's ad-
dress, which was listened to with marked inter-
| est and attention throughout, Elder Haley sup
| plem ented 1t with a few remarks, the spirit of
which was that there exists At this day In the
religious world a strong tendency toward unity
in the Church OF Christ, at which he rejoiced.
A mott IN was made that the executive con-
mittee of the occasion be requested to have Mr..
Plattenburg's address printed. which was unan-
imOuSly agreed to.
The dinner hour having arrived an adjourn
ment was had to the basement, where an elegant
repsst was spread upon \ number of tables. An
abundance of the good things of life, skillfully
prepared and artistically disposed graced the
board, and the flavor Of the viands was height
ened by the grace and politeness OF the lady
members OF the congregation who acted the
part of walters.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Succeeding The midday meal there was an
hours pleasant converse, when the congrega-
ton again assembled in the church. The ser
vices were begun with the 695th hymn, beyond
This Land of Parting" The 6Sith hymn wa-
also sung, "Let us Anew Our Journey Pursuc,''
alter which Mr.. Haley,iE aconversatlonal man
ner, devoted a nall hour to some remarks upon
the desirabllity OF e~nlisting the young and the
women more actively in church work. He ad-
vocated calling upon the young men, and even
children, to lead in prayer, to talk in the church
and that it was proper and desirable for woman
as well as man to tell publicly her religious IeeI-
ings and experiences. He said there were bibli-
cal and physiological reasons why women could
not be preachers Of The gospel, but none wi Y
they should not mOdestly speak in church upon
proper OCCASIONS. He illustrated the influence
that even a few words might have by adduclng
the response OF an earnest. Christian woman
when asked upon Il certain occasion to SLY
'-A 1"S S'hn6h oni" ltoS LIZ
LORD, o my soul: and all that is within Me
bless His holy name" These words, thus
spoken, the speaker said, produced a great ter
effect upon the congregation than all that had
been previously uttered by preacher or people,
He believed that the bringing IN Of The Young &c
active church work was the best means of keen.
ing them within its pale. lie spoke oil his nins
years. p%astorate here; oil the old friends, NOR,
numerous now at Machprlah Than in the paws,
OF the sanity Mountjoy So recently deceased
OF the responsibility placed in Our hands to-da,
by our better equipment for the work. IL. hello
that the world was growing better; the church
was growing better; many Of The appalling sIns
Of primitive Christian times could not nov
even be mentioned. lie closed with IN exhor
tatiOn to make the best possible use o. all OF
our glorious opportunities.
Elder Plattenburg led in prayer, when Their,
WAS sung in a very feeling and touching man,
ner the following beautiful song:
Time speeds away, away. away,
Another hour, another day;
Another month, another year,
Drops from us like the leaflets scar,
Drops ike the llfe-blood IRON )ur hearts;
Inc rose-bloom from the cheek departs.
The tresses from the temples fall,
The eyes grow dim anu strange to all.
Time speeds away, away, away,
Like torrents in u stormy day;
He undermines the st ltcIy tower,
OprOOts the tree and snaps The flower,
Inen sweeps from our distracted breast
The friends that loved the friends that blest.
Then leaves us weeping on the shore
10 which they can return no more,
Time speeds away, away, away.
No eagle through the skies OF day,
No winds along the hills can flee,
So swiftly or so smooth as he,
Like fiery steeds from stage to stage,
He bears us on from age to age,
Then plunges in the fearful sea,
OF lathOmless eternity.
Mr., Jno. E. Bascom then read his paper on
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AT LEXINGTON.
The Christian church at Lexington, Mo, wa,
with his family, had removed to this place from
Mayslick. Mason county, Kentucky, brineln,
with them letters from the church at that place
one of the first, If not the very first, organiZa
tons In the west. OF what was then called '.Th,
Reformation" The organization, when effect
ed, contained twenty MEMBERS, who signed IN,
following declaration, drawn up by Levi Van.
, Camp. admirable alike for its brevity and com
prehensiveness:
w whose names are hereunto subscribed
having first given ourselves to the Lord b,
obeying the gospel, being fellow citizens of TN
saints and Of the household of God. built upon
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the Chief corner stone. now agree to liv,
together rs a church and TO take the word OF tn,
Lord rs our only rule Of faith and practice.D
Lew VanCamp WAS chosen lis first elder, and
} Geo. w. Marquis its first deacon OF the mem.
1 beers VINO composed the original organization
but three are known to be living, namely: JOIN
s. Porter, America and Abigail VanCamp.
AT the close Of the year 1886. this little banC
had Increased to thirty -nIne. all of whom Qht
nineteen addeh) were received by letter iron
churches in kentucky The first persons receiy.
: ed into fellowship OF the church by inn ersioI
were Gideon FiOurnOy, in August. and Dr. NJ.
w. FlOurnOy IN September, lStS. and the first
death IN the membership was that oil John L.
Waidell, which occurred IN August 1889. In
November, 1889, Thos. N. Gaines, then IL young
man, and his wife, arrived in Lexington and
presenting letters were receive ed into
and in December following Brother Gaines was
Ordained rs an evangelist by lasting, pray or
and imposition of the hands OF the elirrship -
On the same day that Brother Games was or
dhined Hiram Bledsoe anu wife were received
into the church by letter. These two brethren
We're destined TO WELD Il great influence IN favor
OF primitive Christianity. not only in LeXlns-
ton but throughout Lafayette and adjoining
Counties. Brother Bledsoe AS elder Of The
church aud Brother Gaines as its Evangelist.
AT the beginning of the year lSl0 the Christian
Church at Lexington contained about sixty M III,
bers. "a larE" majority of whom having heei
members OF the church IN Kentucky were
familiar with the preaching. teaching and
writings of Thomas Campbell, Alexander
Scott anu others OF the early preachers, which
together with the general intelligence OF iii,
membership and Its large acquaintance with In,
teachmss of scripture, placed 1t IN The fore
front II the churches In Missouri, which /
main Gained for Il long time.
As Its age and membership Increased. and it.
ability and liber atty grew. the church at Lex
ington became well and favorable known to III,
brotherhood throughout the United states, rs