Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
rHn GERMAN BAprIsr Oh URoH .

Tho Rev. George N. GuentIher Greets
Bis Now Flock at Fifth and Wni-
nut Streets-A synopsis OF Ath tn-
troduct0ry Ser mon.
The German Baptists, who had been
without pastor since the departure OF
the Rev. ii. w. Cell to another field OF
labor, were all In their pews Sunday
morning when their new shepherd, the
Rev. George Fl. Guenther, recently OF
Mynonck, ILL.,, appeared TO preach his
Introductory sermon. The new pastor is
a stranger to but few Of his Wilmington
flock, since he supplied the same pulpit
for several months during temporary
absence of Mr.. Cell, seven years ago.
The exercises were opened by oongre-
gational singing of the oontiding hymn OF
greeting, beginning, "Waechter z,on's,
tritt i'm CLAUDE" which tribute of esteem
and reliance was given out by Mr.. Gatta.
Mr.. Guenther took for his text PauPs
greeting to the Ephesians "Grece be
with you, and peace from God the Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ" Paul, said
the speaker, was accustomed, in meeting
his fellow Christians Of the infant church,
and in bidding them farewell, to invoke
the outpouring of grace upon them. And
we OF the church Otto. day need the same
grace, need it constantly and in contin-
ually infiowipg supply. The supply OF
Divine grace which went with US through
Yesterday will not eufiioe for to-day; we
need and should pray for fresh supply.
We want the grace that not only keeps
as from drifting away from but draws us
nearer to God and to the fulhlment OF
our Christian responsibilities.
Furthermore, let us not forget the need
OF divine grace ia the mutual relation
ship of pastor and congregation; to bring
pastor and people closer together and en-
able them to know each other better and
to bear with each others shortcomings
and imperfeotions. Preachers often fail
to do the full measure of good they are
capable Of doing BECAUSE of lack Of
this reciprocity. They are not under
stood by their charges or they do not
understand their people as we'll as they
should. Each pastor has his individual
characteristics; each congregation has its
peculisrities. The people of the Viii.
minqton church differ in some respects
from those OF other churches. 1t is nat.
ural that they should. Let pastor and
people pray for grace to comprehend and
grow helpful 70 each other. He, the
preacher, had come to Wilmington be.
cause, after prsyerful consideration, il
was Impressed upon him that it was the
Lords will he should come hither, that il
was here the Lord had work for him tc
do. lie came to do this work as we'll al
he could and to labor for the glory o.
God, not for self or the praise OF men
BE knew his own weak points, and h'
sorrowed over them and prayed for grac'
to overcome them, and he would ask IL
advance the torbearance and prayers o
his new flock.
After grace, in the apostolic benedic
tion. comes peace. Peace is concord
unification, strength. 1t is so in earthi.
things; it is more bountifully so in heav
emily things, Coneordant BONE sat upol
her hiils and defied the world; discordan
Rome toppled and fell. Let us striy
earnestly after q full measure Of this uni
flying peace; let US appeal to the suprem
source of peace, that the church may b
! kept clear of all that may lead to misun
Outstanding. discord, dissension; that in
s.ead of yielding to weakening inh1
t eueee it may increase in strengt
. through the God-given harmony whic
/, shall go with it's members and pastor ou
into their daily lives, their workshop
!, and their business and social intercours
with each other and with the world.
!, After the services the Rev. Mr.. Guer
a Their took each one present by the hand
Q with words OF friendly greeting, as th
: congregation passed out