The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-02
BISHOP OF SPOKANE.
The Fourth Anniversary of st.
Marks Celebrated.
..ra,or.sm AND CHRISTIANITY.
-. wallace Mating breaches HE
rlfrd Anniversary sermon 81 Flynn
..th Congregational Church.

Hst Marks church yesterday the serv-
- xere full o. especial interest on &C.
.<.,rt at It's being the fourth anniversary
= shs rsctorship Of Rev. ID. G. Garrett.
- b&oan his work In st. Marks July 1,
"a. Eight Rev. Dr.. Wells, bishop OF
e.aksns, vas present. and preached both
saruisg and evening. At the Ii o'clock
.s.vxsce the church was filed with con-
location that entered heartily and sym
ss.heficaIly into the service. With ex-
rni..te taste the chanceI and altar were
.akrasd with choice flowers and delicate
vines and ferns. The lecturn was . mass
:. beautifully arranged roses. Most devo-
son.l sss the singing. led by the large
- seli-frainsd choir. The odertory,
aHs shall Feed His Flock Like Shep-
Ard . from the Messiahl was sung with
~sest feeling By Miss Seldom. An un-
rs,allv large number stayed for the Holy
communion, the associations of the day
nskine Il specially impressive. The rec
- Rev. d. C. Garrett. made q brief adj
dress IN reference 10 the anniversary, re-
yiexing not so much the material gains
n the church as its spiritual growth.
II the four years the church re-
.ofts is7 baptisms. I9i confirmed,
n eommunicants received from other
nrishes; net increase of communicates
s.er all losses, go; present number. 424
Re rector told how pleasant it was TO
Hye With them on this anniversary
khop Wells, who as rector Of Trinity
<arch. Tacoma, had been such q good
k<nd OF ST. Marks and with whom the
resor Of st. Marks had had such friendly
nations.
Bishop Wells preached the sermon, TAX
ne a. ais text: ''And from the days of
John the Baptist until now the kingdom
ef heaven suffereth violence. and the vio-
iens take IL by force. Matt xi:i2 With
ont manuscript and with much freedom or
delivery and force Of utterance the bishop
preached . truly eloquent sermon. The
application of the theme to 81. Marks
parish and the kind and generous words
about the rector of st. Marks made pro-
found Impression. In the first place the
bishop spoks Of the ordinary interpreta-
ton OF the texf, the first impression being
that Of actual enmlty toward the Kingdom;
II Is overcome by the force Of its foes. The
contrast was drawn between John the
Baptist and the people of the generation
to whom John came. John, according 10
Chrisf, was the greatest man outside the
tingdom. while the people Of that genera
too were like children playing at life. ''sit-
ing in the markets and calling unto their
fsllows and saying We have piped unto
700, and ys have not danced; we have
moufned unto you. aud ye have not
lsmented." The religion of Jesus Christ
hno plaything, not a game. not q make
believe. What the text means then 10
Sat the entrance to the kingdom must
enme by effort. just a. Jesus said In am
cher place. using the same word: "The
hx and the prophets were until John;
Snce that time the kingdom Of God is
pmehed, and every man entereth vio-
naay into IT," Ii 10 something of the
~ thought that is expressed in the
uiestation. "Strivs (agonize II really
nnasl 20 enter in at the straight gate;"
nd, as Paul says. Eye have not resisted
INTO blood" The preacher illustrated the
rrinciple by the lives of the FIRST disciples
cf the Master and the martyrs Of the
shurch's early days. Indeed there il no
satrance into the higher life Of the soul
without this struggle which the spirit of
man must undergo. 1t is only by this
positive. aggressive. strong Kind of life
that the kingdom 10 attained. The bishop
pleaded for individual conservation. and
closed his sermon with u feeling applica-
ton 10 the relations between the rector of
DIST Marks and his congregation. The
sermon was listened 10 with rapt
attention, and ct the close of the service
many of the old friends Of Bishop Wells
and many who wished TO make his &C.
quainianee thronged about him.