The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-06
HIS FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
Dr.. SChaelieT Pastor Of the Lutheran
Church Just a Year.

fer s Sermon-he Thanks All Who
Have Aided Him in the Years
Work-ProRress of the Church
During the Year and Work for the
Future.
Rev. w. C. Schaeffer, D. D., celebrated
his first anniversary as pastor Of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of the AS
cension yesterday.
The church was beautifully decorated
for the occasion. The altar and chancel
were adorned with palms and flowers by
Oelschig, and the congregation was
the largest that has been at the church
since Easter Sunday.
The music was a special feature. 1t
was a repetition, by request, of the music
of the Sunday before, with additions. The
organist, Prof. Warth. was accompanied
by Prof. Leon on the violin and Prof Lage
on the cello, and the choir, which always
furnishes excellent music for the Lutheran
church, was composed of Mrs. Outten,
soprano; Miss Muslin, alto; Mr. Reddick,
tenor, and Mr.. Drummond, bass.
DIR. sCHAEFFERs SERMON.
DR. Schaeffer took his text from L.
Samuel, 7-12: Thereto have the Lord
helped us" He seemed to have been in
spired by the occasion and his sermon
was characterized by his usual eloquent
aud forcible style. After the introduction
in which he referred to his having taken
up the work just year ago, he spoke of
the course Of the Lord during his life and
the care he exercised over his people
especially, during the Affections
which visited them; how he helped in
the work of the church. himself in
preaching the gospel and ministering to
his people, and the congregation in the
church work they had before them from
year to year. He spoke of how the church
had grown and developed during the past
year, having added 1856 members, and the
fact that the membership of communi-
cants numbered GIG. Considering the
stringent times the contributions for all
purposes he said had been most liberal,
and larger through the ordinary channels
than ever before in the history of the
church.
A DECIDED FORWARD MOVEMENT.
He spoke, too, of the spiritual life of the
church, and said that it had been quick
ened, that the congregations had steadily
increased during the year, and in all these
things he recognized Gods help, as it was
impossible for them to have done the
work through themselves alone The
church had made a decided forward
movement he said in adopting the free
pew system, and giving free and hearty
welcome to all classes and conditions of
people.
After some further remarks, in which
Gods help was recognized he stated that
from this very fact they had inspiration
for the future. What the members of the
church had done in the past had prepared
them for a larger usefulness in the future
as Christians, ana now they proposed, by
Gods help, to make greater progress in the
coming year than in the past. The same old
gospel of grace and mercy, he said, would
continue to be preached, and upon faith in
Jesus Christ they would build up here a
joyful and cheerful church. The message
of the Savior was one of joy to the world,
and in the midst of this busy age, when
men were battling with the anXieties,
cares and burdens of business, they
wanted to find a resting place He pro
posed to make the church joyful and
cheerful resting place for all classes.
WORK FOR THE FUTURE.
Next, it was desired to build sociable
and loving church. What the world
wants to-day, he said, is love. God
brought it from heaven and commanded
US to give it to the world. As members
of this church we are to love one another
as Christ loved us. We are to love others
for whom Christ died as he loved as. We
lllNtob lAoNC d obNluA CnuIOil, uG SdlQ, d
church abreast of the times Men do not
want to plow with Elijahs crooked stick,
nor go to battle with Saul's armor. The
age was one of steam and electricity, and
the church of Christ should be ahead OF
the time in utilizing all forces and laying
tribute to all methods and appliances or
derby and scriptural for the advancement
of Christ's kingdom.
AN EXPRESSION OF THANKS
In conclusion he thanked the officers OF
the church for what they had done for
himself and for the church. A
| year ago he said, he stood before them
and saw but few faces that he knew.
But in the large congregation before
him, he said he recognized almost every
| face. Then all were strangers, and now
all were his friends He thanked the
officers for their loyalty to the pastor
and fidelity to the church, and thanked
! the congregation for the ministerings
| of love, and the thoughtful attention to
! himself and family. He especially
! thanked the newspapers, who, he said
! by their words of encouragement had
helped him in his work, and closed with
! an appeal for increased devotion to the
! cause and to his congregation to have an
! eye on the blessed reward in the hands of
| the Master.
The work of the Lutheran church dur
| ing JHe year mas De6n most prosperous
and DR.. Schaeffer deserves the congratu-
lation of his entire congregation, who
have, by the way, given him their hearty
support. OF the GIG members 1876 have
been added to the church during the past
year, and through the various channels OF
the church over 81 900 has been contri
buted to various charitable purposes.
REV. sOMERFELT's MISSION.
The Lutheran church, of Norway
has sent Rev Ausgan Somerfelt
to spend the winter months
at the ports of Savannah, Charles
ton and Brunswick, and the summer
months at Quebec, to preach to the Nor
wegian sailors at these ports. He ar,
riyeu here from Christiania, Norway
last Thursday, and held services in the
chapel of the Port Society yesterday
morning at 1890. DR.. Schaeffer read his
credentials and introduced him into his
new field here. There were from rs
to 100 sailors present at the services
He comes not to supplant any of the port
chaplains but to supplement their work
and during the winter months will make
his headquarters in Savannah.