Bridgeton pioneer., 1892-02-11
$S,H2.SO RAISED.
OCUUpYzNGTHE
TOWN.

Wesley Memorial m. 4. Chureh
/ Dedicated Free of Debt by
Presiding Elder Dobbins.
( Wesley Memorial Church, hand
some structure in North Bridgeton,
has been dedicated, and now the pop
ular young pastor, John Gourley, and
the enthusiastic, faithful people of
the membership and congregation be-
gin the work of bringing people from
the world under more fay ora ble cppor-.
tunities, with more delightful quarters.
and with the grand satisfaction of
knowing that the cost has been pro-
vided for.
/ The day was not all that was.
hoped for. Nature was not lavish
In Its comfort, and yet the peo.
pie, eager, willing and determined took
up the work, and its finish was a sue
cessful completion of great under.
taking.
THE SERVICES.
4 The MORNING SERMON AND EvEN-
1 ING DEDICATION.
1 The first sermon of the dow was that
of the morning.
Central M. E Church had kindly of
fered their spacious temple for the
morning service and the warm invita-
ton was cheerfully accepted, and at
half past ten o'clock the large auditor
INN was filled with a CONGREGATION
gathered to enjoy these always delight
full services.
In the pulpit were presiding Elder
G.. L. Dobbins, Rev. John 8. Heisler
of Central NJ. E. Church. Rev. John
Gourley, of the Wesley Memorial
Church, and the speaker of the ccca-
sion, Rev. E. G Hancock a former pas
tor at Central but now OF Miilvilie.
Mr.. Hancock after being introduced
by the Presiding Elder, referred to his
former pastorate. Ten years have
passed since he came 10 Central
Charch, and seven have {, =. .ioce
be left. In the past Sc zen wears. all
had been accomplished that be had
fondly hoped for white ne was here.
The Fourth III. E.. the handsome Gen.
tral, and now the Wesley Memorial
Church, had been reared TO the glory
Of God. a e5t
His text was from Isaiah, SO Chap.
1st verse. Awake, Awake, put on
thy strengte, oh Zion 1t is impossi-
BILE in this limited space TO give an ad-
equate idea of the powerful sermon
preached by this man of God, suffice
for the purpose of this article, to
briefly place before the readers. the
theme he desired to impress upon his
hearers. Passing over the introduc-
tory, during which he spoke of the
wonderful prophecies of the writer of
the textconcerning Christ, which were
made 700 years before the birth of the
Nazarine, we bring h!:n g the two
great thoughts which underlle the
discourse. First, the Mission of the
church. Second, the strength of the
church.
The mission of the Church, he de-
clared, is to PROPAGATE and perpetuate
itself. Christ has proclaimed that the
Church is to be perpetuated, the man
ner of its perpetuation is left to itself.
First. the speaker said the first in
stincts of soul borni in Christ is to
bring some other person to God, and
thus perpetuate the church. 1t was
the direct command Of God before he
ascended on high, to go ye into all
the world, teach all the nations, bap.
tizing them in the name Of the Father.
Son and Holy Ghost"
The mission of the Church is to con-
serve the right of the people. 1t is
the great conservative power of the
world. 1t is to arbitrate in mems diff
ferences, and as the church assumes
its normal power, more and more will,
the sword be beaten into piow shares t
and the spear into pruning hooks. The
history of the world shows that the
SAuTOu Is ulOIC dAu uOkO dOJuotl1S bnc
differences between nations, and wars
are less frequenr. 1t arbitrates be-
tween employer and employees; be-
tween capital and labor.
The further mission of the Church
is to make men more perfect to take.
this world for Christ. 1t is to subject
and overpower those three great re-
ligious powers Pagan, Jewish and
Mohammedau.
The strength of the Church was ia
ken up. An element of Its strength is
entire separation from the world. An
other is faith, without which church
ls weak organization. Another ele-
ment Is the DiYine element, and an
other Is activity. The latter he
1welled upon as especially necessary.
He feared there was too little activity.
All nature is active and to success, SO
must be the Church His closing was
=