St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-07
PROVED TO Be POPULAR.
Anniversary of the Formation of the
Peoples Church.
REV. S. G. SMITHS IDEAS.
The Congregation Will Leave the Opera
House and Occupy an Edifice
Reared by Them.

The first anniversary OF the 0rganlZa-
ton of the Peoples church occurred
yesterday, and the congregation ad-
dressed by Rev. Samuel G. Smith was
the largest in the history of the associa-
tion. 1t inspired the pastor. and his
sermon was voted by all who heard it
scholarly and mastery composition.
Referring to the movement which re-
suited in the formation of the society
Mr.. Smith said:
One year ago we met for the first time
as church in=this place. Tothose who
were assembled there were announced
the principles of the Peoples church.
At that time | said, eve do not antag-
onize any of the Christian churches.
There is not one of them which does
not bear the honor of great achieve
ment." That position we have main
tanned. We have no idea that we could do
the religious work of this city, but we
do believe that we can Good crate in its
accomplishment; :; and there is no church
from the, Roman Catholic cathedral to
the Swedenborgian chapel that we do
not bid Godspeed in so far as it is doing
the Lords work. / said at that time of
our movement, ''it is not a revolt, but
an idea; not secession, but a feStora-
tion; not an interior church rebellion,
but renaissance apostolic principles
conformed in organization to what we
conceive to be the demands of modern
life. A year ago our church was an
idea, to-day it is an institution. When
wesS started we knew of less than seventy
five persons who
WOULD GO WITH US.
During the year more than 800 per-
sons have co-operated with us in the
various forms of our church work. We
haveTeceived members from six differ
ent denominations and from seven diff
ferent nationalities. We have received
into our body eigiIty-five on church
vows. We have raised during the year
for church purposes more than 10000.
We shall soon have completed a church
building easily seating $500 persons,
and in all its interior arrangements one
of the finest structures in America.
During this year we have dwelt to-
gether in peace. Though we have
sailed upon ecclesiastical waters where
there were no accurate charts, we have
not struck any hidden rocks. Though
QUE machinery was new and untrled,
there has not been in its working the
slightest friction. But, so think it was
on the day of PentecoSt, though in that
mixed company to owhom PeterpTeached
there were men of many nations and of
tpreyious religious affinities, the Par
hians and Medes, the dwelierS in Meso-
po1omia and the sojournerS from Rome,
had no trouble, because the masterful
spirit of the most high God fused them
into perfect unity. Our people do not
all agree in matters of opinion, some,
as the term goes, are more orthodox than
their pastor, and others
ARE MORE HERETO.
Our principles and our policy have in
them dangers. We can only continue
to work together in harmony, because
of an atmosphere of abounding charity.
Some ORGANIZATIONS may get along with
divisions and ouarrels; we can only get
along because we love one another. ]
feel sure that the. spirit of friendship,
reverence for each others liberty of
thought and desire to help, which have
characterized us during the past year,
will still continue. Our mutual joys
and sorrows, our common cares and
burdens. will unite us more profoundly
together as the years roll Oh. We have
passed out of the stage of experiment
and we are to continue in the years to
come as a permanent factor in
the moral and religious life of
this city. This fact, SO far from Civ
ing us a sense of personal qualification,
ought to bring and must bring with it a
profound sense of obligation; to whom
much is given, of him shall much be re-
auired. We face the future with
courage and hope. The next year we
have reasons to expect will yield large
fruit to our labers. May there come
upon us all an earnest desire to do
something this year to make somebody
better, wiser and happier than they
could be but for our loving influence.
So shall the Peoples church become
that for which your pastor longs and
prays, a faithful copy of the congre-
grations of the Primatiye Catholic
church, in so far as they were real ex
pressions of the life and will of the
Master.