Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-01-03
Anniversary Sermon.

Whitaker, Of the First bapllse
church Of this city, last Sunday
morning, the occasion being the
tbirty-first anniversary Of the organ
lzation Of which ne Is pastor. The
speaker introduced his sermon with
a few historical remarks. He said;
aTbirty and one years have passed
away since on the Goth Of December
1859 there met In this city Of Salem
q little handful Of Baptists to form
this church. There were nine
present, eight Of whom became the
constituent members Of the new
church, the ninth Mr.. @. p. Newell
OF Oregon City, being the moderator
Of the meeting. or these eight not
one remains to-day In the fellow
ship OF the church, nor am ] aware
that any are living except Mr.. and
Mrs. Adam Stevens, OF the Hayes
VILE chhroh. Since that time the
church has received $40 members
making total membership, were
all now 10 fellowship with us OF 5S7.
OF these, 800 have left US, some
having united with other churches
both far and near, some having been
dropped, aud many having Joined
the church triumphant, 81 that we
might say with Jacob, "Wlth my
staff passed over the Jordan aud
NOW am become two bands" The
present membership is 2lS. Tie
church has passed through many
viclssItudes Of fortune and has suffer
ed severely through the ravages OF
death. Well may remember the
old proverb, that "the King OF
Shadows loves a shining mark" as
we review the names OF those who
have gone from us. IL will be ten
years the first day Of Jaduary since
Albert Kinney passed away. His
name II all that need be mentioned
to those who knew him, and who
have long realized his loss. Others
have followed him who were promi-
nent In the counsels vf the church,
among whom may be mentioned
Deacon Berry, Deacon McNary,
Grandma Kinney, aud Others, "Of
whom the world was not worthy"
The first chapter Of Joshua aud
the second verse was chosen as an
appropriate text, the theme OF the
sermon being thus expressed, Gods
work goes on even though his
appointed leaders may fall. The
death OF Moses occurred at a time
when Israel's need OF him was
apparently greater than II had ever
been, yet here we have the COM
mand; "Moses my servant Ia dead,
now therefore arise, go over this
Jordan thou aud all this people into
the land which ! do give 10 them,
even 10 the children OF Israel" So
when Paul laid his head on the
block at Rome the gospel which be
preached went forward TIL Rome
herself became the center Of the
faith. Luther died but his voice
still echoes through the ages.
Wilbcrforce aud WendelI PHILLIPS
have passed away but the the cause
Of freedom goes on and shall go on
till the last manacle shall fall from
the wrists Of the last slave. A great
cause does not and cannot die.
Israel went on because her advance
was In the line Of Gods promises.
She had the deylne assurance be-
hind her aud the death OF Moses
could not stay her march. Israel
went on because ber advance was In !
the llne OF human progress, Her
importance was relative 10 the wei. |
fare Of the race. While she served |
the ends Of divine benlfioence
she prospered, and perished |
as nation only when her
pride aud siuhhorness made her Ob.
stlnsse. Anaqueduct Is important to
The great city which depends upon
u for water supply but Il is lmpor
tant because Of the water which Il
carries. The nation of Israel was the
channel Of Gods grace to men.
When she tailed 10 carry that grace
her end MAS near. 30 IL the church
the channel OF divine grace to-day
and II she fail 10 make good her
mission no human help eau save her.
While she IL doing Gods work she
cannot fail. Al hong as the progress
Of the church Is consistent with the
tFuesi progre@ of the race she viii
60 forward though thousand
Moses perish. When her prngrcss
fails of this, she too will fail. What
h true OF the church Ia true II every
righteous cause; les progress l. NJ.
snred while the progreas contributes
DO iho uplifting Of men. God's atll.
tude towards Moses should teach us
humility. However useful We may |
~ We aFe none OF us Indispensable. |
80 Moses seemed, but Israel went
forward when he had passei away. |
~ Il secmed With David, 10 with
Paul, and 70 Il ever soems with the
trueiy useful. We know of men
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