Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-05-31
BRIDGETON, N j., THURSDAY. MAY 81. 1888.
ENLARGlNG.
Congregational Meeting at the
M. E. Church.

Owing to the stormy weather Friday
night, the congregational meeting held
in Commerce street NJ. E. Church, was
not largely attended. 1t had been an
nounced that Rev. Mr.. Hewitt, of Mill
vile, and Rev. Mr.. Dilks, of Atlantic
City, would address the meeting, and
they were both present.
About eight o'clock, the services of
the church were commenced. Rev.
Mr.. Dilks prayed, and the choir sang
a beautiful anthem. Rev. G. G. Stang
er, the pastor of the church, then an
nounced the object of the meeting,
and introduced the speaker of the
evening, Rev. Mr.. Hewitt.
| That gentleman was glad to be with
the people in that Church. and glad to
meet the ministerial brethren who
were there. He could not forbear ask
ing the indulgence of his audience
while he gave a little boyish recollec-
tion Of the lives spent in their native
towns by Rev. Mr.. Stanger and him
SELF
He then delivered a plain practical
address appropriate to the occasion.
He told of the reverence in which the
Church was held by the Romanists,
and the reason of their bowling to it
was because they felt that God was
there, and he was present last night,
because he believed in higher sense
than they, that God was in the Church
He spoke of the endearment of the
Church to even those who did not pro-
fess to be Christians. And while we
might cease to love that which in the
past might have seemed very dear to
us, we could not forget our church, Of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church has two features of work
and to this end, the existence of the
church is due. First the conversion
of the people, and right here the speak
er wanted to pause on the word con-
version. There has been feeling grow
ing throughout the world, which was
entirely wrong, in reference to the
word. Conversion he urged was a
complete and entire change, whereby
the ]hearti is. tnrned from ths, tYpslIdl+ slIdl+, Of +
stone to fountain of christian love.
He was so glad that all people rich and
poor could find this same change in a
convrsion. The young and old alike
were'permitt9d to taste the fruits of
the Bible. The second feature of the
church was culture and training OF a
christian character. This work was
as Of much Importance and more
difficult than the work of conversion.
The young Christians, coming in from
the world, want to be reared up in
true christian graces. They wanted
to be nurtured and cultured as the
vine or seed. He bewailed the fact
that there were so many deaths in
spiritual infancy.
He was thankful to God of the ap-
pliances of the church for the work.
The home, the first branch, the sun
day school, the class room, and the
pulpit. The church is well equipped
for the developing of Christians.
If the above is the work of the
church how should we go about to
perform them, he asked. There were
many lines Of the work for us to take
hold God, he said, proposes to make
us the instruments by which the work
will be accomplished. We are partners
with God himself in this great work
of the worlds salvation.
| First, then, we must provide ample
accommodation for our people. If
every man, woman and child, this in
city, should, on some nice clear Sun
| day take notion to attend church,
he doubted very much if there would
be seating capacity for them. Many
churches he knew which could barely
accommodate its own members should
they all attend. He thought under
such circumstances it was rather
! singular for Christians and ministers
to plead with the sinners and invite
them to the churches and then not be
able to accommodate them should
they put in an appearance.
! And then he wanted the churches at
tractive. In his opinion we don't
keep pace with the age we are living
| In. Inc young demand attractions
and we as church must present
these attractions. If the speaker
could have his way he would make
the church attractive if money would
do it. If flowers added to the beauty
of the scene, if music would fill the air
| with delight, if electric lights would
add to the brilliancy of the scene, he
advocated them. He did not want
the theatres, the gambling dens, and
the saloons, to contain all of the at
fractions. He then spoke of the per
sonal work that devolved upon each
of the members of the church, and
called upon them to give even there
mite, and by SO doing Gods blessings
would be upon them, and the pro
posed work readily accomplished.
Mr.. Stanger then announced that
the Trustees had decided to rebuild
the chapel, and wanted from 81 ,ON0 to
1,20O for the work. To do this they
proposed to offer shares of five cents
! each for one year and as som as Hua