Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-29
EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY

OF DR.. Twitchell's Pastorare at
g. Dwight Place Church-"The Ideal |
Church., - "Reminiscences of His |
Pastorate.
Rev, DR.. J. E. Twitchell of Dwight Place |
church preached his eighth annual ser
mon, oommemorating the completion of
the eighth year of his pastorate before
large congregation yesterday morning
His subject was the "Ideal Church" and
he took for his text, "And the Lord added
to them day by day those that were being
saved" Acts ii, Al. He spoke a. follows:
1t may have occurred to you that to-day
ends the eighth year of our mutual work
and worship. This fact at least is in my
own mind and causes serious reflection.
If should make frank confession here
this morning 1t would be that I came to
you eight years ago with somewhat of fear
and trembling, conscious that 1t was no
small thing to leave a united, considerate
and affectionate people; Whose expressions
of confidence and warm appreciation were
hearty and assume the pastorate of another
people with whom there was no aoquaint-
ance, and whose peculiar wants and eX-
peotstions were all unknown.
In the providence of God, however, this
change was made, and We were brought
together and began our work. No full
record Of these years has been written, or
ever will be on earth; for the results of
Christian service are not complete until
the waves of influences have ceased their
flow on those hither shores. However
long or short the time may be allotted us
of God for association as pastor and peo-
pie, I, for one, shall never forget the last
Sunday of May, 1885, when parted with
the Boston church, or the frat Sunday of
June when you received me as teacher and
guide in spiritual things. Our mutual
at1inities and adaptations were all untried.
Whether this should be fit or misit re-
manned to be seen. How many months or
years We we're to abide in union was I'M
certain-is still uncertain-and this we are
willing to leave with Him who loves our
church better than we do or can, and who,
with an infinite tenderness, watches over
every toiler in his world wide vineyard.
It has seemed to most, If not all, of us
that divine hand led in both the peoples
| choice and the pastors decision; for in
this passionate, already heightened far be
| yond the average of pastorates, there has
been nothing to break or imperil our
| Christian harmony or cause our union to be
other than sweet aud sacred.
During these eight years we have been
favored with no season of what could bt
| called remarkable revival interest,"; mel
Their, on the other hand, have we ever beer
without cheering tokens of the presence
and power of God among us. leading souls
into the joy and liberty of new found
hope. Quietly and steadily We have gone
on, resorting to no methods of preach
ing or advertising which could be con
strued as designed to attract attention b,
their novelty. The plain old gospel ha
been preached, and you have seemed to b
satisfied with this-indeed TO have desired
no other. At every communion season
there have been added to our numbe
those, as we believe, who were beinI
saved. Many have gone from us to thei
rest and their reward in hesven-patient
precious ones, sancti6ed through suffering
| finishing their course with joy. These W
sadly miss. Many others, because of re
Christian fellowships, where we trust the
are both useful and rejoiceful. Many ais
have come to us who have increased GU
| strength and in whom we have been mad
glad. On the whole we have great reason
to bless God and BIZ of good courage.
But turn from this, our prosperou
past, which cannot now be changed, t
| speak of the 'Ideal Church" as illustrate
in the text and contents.
The writer, having told the story c
l those marvellous beginnings when til
!, promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled
sage: "Ths Lord added to them dali
, | those that were being saved"
You are familiar with the record of whs
Immediately preceded, P.ntecost ha
l come and gone-that ever memorable day
when tbs few disciples, ia obedience {
the command of their assembled Lord wer
all together and of one accord 10 one place
and when such divine influences com
upon them that they spoke with othe
than familiar tongues. Peter, you remeu
9 Der, had preached with unexpected powe
y fulfilled concerning Christ, bearing wi
$ ness to him "a the promised Messiah, an
n calling the people to repent.
n This infant church, however, must NJ
Is be conceived as formally organized, wit
officers, creeds and rituals. It was only
Is | company of Christian believers, called on
aud coming out, separating themsslvs
s from unbelievers, confessing their faith
n Jesus as the Messiah, and taking upo
themselves certain vows of loyalty to hi
and to each other.
u do not imagine that at the time
question any we'll defined organization hs
been effected; that any creed had bee
q formulated any covenant adopted; sn
i form of worship fixed upon.
al
Il No member, however ignorant or poo
or destitute of social standing, should ev
! be left to feel himself forsaken or forgo
/ | ten. Almost innumerable 30 called brotl
l.. | erhoods have been organized, because
!. this matter of personal concern each fl
the other, the church has grown sadly
y ficient.
:. would not intimate that christians,
It a class, are Indifferent regarding eae
others power and welfare. But from VIII
r We see and hear it is evident that genuir
q | christian fellowship finds not the EXPIRE
n sion which it ought to find, and possibly
o | not felt as it ought to be felt.
It In the ideal church members will kno
j. each other, will tenderly regard each othe
n will stand ready, serve each other In q
q ways of sympathy, encouragement az
O | personal defines when malignant
resting under suspicion. Instead
Q turning tho cold shoulder on hi
q who has met with misfortune,
b has gone astrsy, and is helpless in Il
l. midst of enemies writing for his ruin; il
. stead of being Suspicious, uncharitab
not condemning him who falls by the wa
Q the church will be ready with relief an
= rescue.
It So Membership in the ideal ohnrch will a
i | ways insure the exercise of magnanamit
t and meroifulness, of confidence and con
f passion, of patience and pity, of che,
|. and charity. He who comes into come
n ton with the ideal church will feel that l
f joins genuine brotherhood-so sacred
:, | to be his defense-not in wilful misdeed
i but in honest effort to be worthy of di
"a cipleship and fellowship.
= In this ideal church the Christian wi
8 not regard his strength as his owl
but as belonging to his wea
brother-will not regard his ha'
ing as his own, but as belonging to b
/ ignorant brother; not his joy as his owl
= but as belonging to his sorrowing brothe
not his home as his own, but as belongin
to his homeless brother; such Is the re-
+ brotherhood of the ideal church; and oil
. how much 1t mesnsl How genuine tt
}. fellowship ought to bel How rich in res
8 fulness, how all embracingl how unfeigne
: in every feature! Do I mistake when
: call this an essential characteristic of tn
ideal church, or whom suggest that poss
bly, here, more than elsewhere, the moder
church needs reconstruction, or rather
new conception-the infusing into 1t of
new spirit. Brethren leave to say ho
fully we have illustrated it, and once mol
the ideal church will be company of d,
vout and unwearying worshippers.
8 would be of exceeding interest for us I
Q know how worship was conducted by theS
? early Christians.