Telegram-herald., 1888-09-24
SECOhD-ST. CHURCH
FIRST ssRMoNoF THslRNEw PASTOR
Rev y W Reed Frssehss . Splsadid Ser
Lasn u His COsErsKstion 10 This
City-~Upsn this Rock WIN
Bald NY Church"

NsdflY every seat II TIE second STREET n.
L. church was occupied yesterday morning
70 hs,es 90 the sermon Of the newly
appointed pastor. Rev. J. w. Reid short
syn )psis Of which is given below. Mr.
Reid said there was undoubtedly more or
less OF the spirit Of curiosity n the congre-
gauon. which would prevent them listen
Ing with the proper spirit, and he hsd some
OF tae man-iearing spirit, which would pre-
vent him from preaching in an exactly
natural manner but as they were there 10
contend with sin in al forms. and as these
feelings of curiosity and fear were q mild
form of sin, II the audience would try TO
overcome their curiosity be would DO MS
utmost 10 lsy aside hi8 fsar He choss for
his text Matthew. XVI. IS. Upon this Rock
I VIII Build Ny Church" Ar. Reid said:
IN order 10 refresh your mind upon the CIR
cumstances which called forth these words
from Christ you will remember that
Christ came to CesaIea Philippi and asked
hls disciples, Whom DO men say that the
son OF man is?" They told him that some
said he was John the Baptist, and some
Elias and others Jeremlas, or one OF the
prophets, but when Christ asked, Whom
DO you say l ann" Simon Peter said,
Thou ART Chnst the Son Of the living
God Then Christ said, Blessed art thou.
Simon Bari OnA: because hesn and blood
hath not revealed II 10 thee, but my Father
who is in heaven.
And | say 10 thee: that thou art Peter;
and upon To is rock | will build my church.
The mere fac. that q religion should exist
IN this world so full Of hurry and worry
and iret and world where the great idea is
10 perpetuate life, is subject worthy of
study. In word where we are taught
that self-preservation is the first law Of
nature why should a religion come In and
persist in being perpetusted when all other
things OF earth crumble and Iuin. notwith
standing the cOntumely and scorn. Not
withstAnding all the opposition 1t has met
with. religion still persists in staying here
II is planted in the economy Of things.
This explains the first idea OF religion a.
all. 1t Is set in the constitution OF things.
What is il that impels men TO give for the
support Of the church dollars which they
may need for bread What is il that in
duces men 10 give their lives TO the preach
ing of his vord2 There is nothing binding.
! might 90 down on Cansl-st. and hang out
i shingle and practice law. and get rich and
build house and do ell these things.
i've while ali the dynastes Of earth have
gone down. Religion seems eternal. 1t Is
not on ephemeral e1istence.in the mind OF
man. The idea of the church is older than
America, older than any nation, unless We
except China. / should as much expect tO
see the heavens crumole aud fall, and IN 2
sun dim his lustre, as TO see the religion of
Christ 20 down.
There are three elements that occur 10
my mind which are the strength of the
church and enter into its foundation. | will
aliude 20 them IN their order. First, the
idea Of Christs personality. Let no Cne
forget this for one moment. When Christ
asked whom do you say that am. Simon
said, Thou art Christ the son OF the living
God. Second comes the personality II the
believer. Peter recognizes the personality
Of Christ a. the son of God. and upon this
recognition Of Christ has the church been
built This is the rock upon which the
church has been built.
The church of God is composed Of the
most enlightened people of the world.
could not stand here aud teach nonsense.
The minister aust talk along the lines of
reason aad common sense.
We are affected by the ca anges that are
going on about Us but our per
sonslity as believers is not changed.
Sometimes men get cross a. the
minlsier-O. my, Sometimes they don t
ike what the preacher ssys-O. my some
times they don'. ike the sing ng-O. NV
Sometimes some Ona sags something o.
some one reports that some one hss said
something and this some one is mad-O,
my Sometimes men do not pay their
pledges, and they DO not ike TO be re-
minded Of ito. my
But YOU know aud I know that. though
We are affected and changed by these
changes about us. We never lOse our per
soBality az believers in Christ.
These are the rocks upon which Christ
has built his church. but where IL the
cement by which these rocks are united
What sinds ta. personality Of Christ 70 ths
personality o. the believer 70 IL the verd
OF God. This q the cement which holds
these ROCKS n their places 80 frmlv Oh,
how ieaE it has taken for the great struct-
IRE n the church 20 be reared 20 "a pres
snt grandeur. What an inheritance for Bs