The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-09-29
ANNIVERSARY SERMON.
Brief History of the Presbyte-
rian Church, by DR..
Thompson.

versary of the Presbyterian church in
this city and the services were largely
attended by members and whi1om friends
of the organization who listened to the
able historical discourse delivered by the
/ pastor, and on request we reproduce the
same for the benefit of The GAZETTE
| readers. The sermon was based on a
| text which read:
Then Samuel took stone and set it between
Mizpeh and Shen and called the of it,
Ebenezer saying Hitherto hath the Lord helped
| us.''-I SAM, VII.I2.
The setting up of memorial stones was
one of the earliest methods adopted for
the purpose of recording interesting and
times consisted of a single block and
sometimes of heap of stones. They
generally received some significant name,
or were marked with brief inscription,
as in this case-Ebenezer, or the ''stone
of help" And we are reminded that it
was at Bethlehem where Jacob dreamed
| that ladder dream as his head lay upon
| the hard stone for pillow, and how in
set it up for memorial; then in another
place how this same Jacob, when he cov-
enanted with Laban, set up stone for a
memorial. And the story of the passage
of Jordan will never lose its interest, for
! it tells of Gods care for his children, and
| of those memorial stones taken from the
bed of the river and which they left on
the banks of the Jordan that the genera
tons after. them might know that the
| Lord had brought them over Jordan on
dry land.
Thus we learn in the text that Samuel
erected thankful memorial to the glory
| of God and for the encouragement of
Israel. If ever the peoples hearts should
lose the Impressions of this providence,
this stone would perhaps revive the re-
membrance of Gods great care and love-
| And the place where Samuel set it was
exactly the place where twenty years be-
fore Israel has experienced a great
battle And you will notice that the
reason Samuel gives for setting up this
H6ulOI1dl udlu Tic Lulu
helped u.s."
Rapidly we run backward over the
track of forty years till we touch the
24th day of the 9th month of 1858. On
that day of that somewhat remarkable
year this church was organized by Rev.
J. A. Hanna, and four members of the
Presbyterian church residing in the vi
cinity of Corvallis. Of the four original
members only one, Mrs Richard Irwin,
is living. The very circumstances of this
period are interesting. In the physical
world events were transpiring that were
/, deeply important. Science had just
began to take forward march and gain
some of her wonderful victories. Astron-
omy was enlarging her powers of vision
and increasing her stores of knowledge.
She had joined hands with the spectra-
scope and was finding what materials
made up the worlds. Geology was open
ing wider her eyes and telling us more
of the past history of the globe. Chem
istry and biology were taking fresh
breath for new life and progress. Art,
music, invention and discovery were pro-
claiming new triumphs and the whole
world was waking up. And, my friends,
1853 was year of more than ordinary
interest in this country. It was in that
year that President Pierce began his his
toric administration. The first corps oi
engineers were sent QUITO explore the
route for Pacific railroad, which was not
completed for sixteen years. This was
the year that the empire of Japan was
opened to the world, and during this
year also the second worlds fair was held
in the crytal palace in New York. You1
speaker well recalls this fair for he wa:
permitted to be there. The palace itsel
was marvel in architecture, built en-
tire1y of glass and iron. We shall neve,
;, forget specimens of art and manufacture
. tons of the world. And 1 believe from
. that crystal palace went forth the enter
prise and inventive genius that KEEP
growing and gaining strength year b,
J
? in the marvellous beauty and wonderful
magnifcence of the White City at Chi
|. cago. If the hour would allow shoul,
D like to invite you to read with me tn
story of achievement and progress tina
have marked the forty years since 1853
How science would come to the front
Steam would whistle her tune of triumph
l from a million mouths Heat wouls
. press forward to show her power. Ligh
would not wait to tell of her charmin,
4 attainments.' Electricity would turn o,
] her b1aring fires of light and power AMI
illuminate world of darkness and NOV
the most magnificent chariots Yes, ant
the very winds of heaven harnessed t,
do mans bidding would hold before yol
her winged trappings. And so the stor,
would read in every department of tn,
physical world. But we must hasten OF
to the record we wish to read of our hon
ored church. Here the minister real
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