The Washington times., 1894-06-18
FIVE YEARS OF GOOD WORK
Anniversary of st. Marks Lutheran
Church Celebrated.
REV. DIR. GETHOLD's SERMON
Eloquent Discourse on steadfastness in tho
faith-Music and Flowers Mark the Joy
business Of the Day-congrsgation from
Very Modest Beginning.

The fifth anniversary Of st. Marks Luth.
ersn Church In South Washington was duly
celebrated yesterday according to the pro-
gramme briefly outlined in THE TIMES.
The exercises proper began with the morn
ing service at II o'clock. The pastor, DR.. W.
H. Gethoid, Phi. D., preached sermon from
1st Corinthians, 10th chapter and 18th verse.
the theme being '.Steadfastness in the Faith"
He desired that "this council should stand
fast in the faith as an approval of what has
been done. st. Paul would not have asked
them to stand fast upon what was not scrip
turally true and correct This advice is to
love God supremely, because love is fulfill
ing of the law.
'I believe, said DIR. Gethold, ''that the time
will come when the love OF country will be-
come amalgamated throughout the world into
one brotherhood and so believe the time
will come when the inhabited worlds, eirclinS
in their spheres in yonder immensity ofspace,
and this earth of ours and all Of heaven will
be brought into oneness, with only one song
to sing. one anthem of praise falling from
every lip, and that Love TO God. We are
made to love God, but how ean we love Him
whom we cannot see or comprehend? |
would not want to love God could not see
and comprehend Humanity and divinity
are not in conflict and do not exclude. but
they involve each other. The only way to
love God Is through Jesust Christ, because ne
Is both human and divine.
CHRIST REVEALS GOD
We look up to tie dazzling throne Of omnip-
otence and are blinded as when we look into
the face Of the sun of nature; but we look on
Christ, the man Of Bethlehem, and God is re-
vealed. Save as an element of experience and
character is the chiefest command of God.
Above everything else He commands US to
love Him.
To stand fast in the faith is also an appeal
to realize and appreciate the power of the re-
hgion of Jesus Christ, for the kingdom of
God is not in word but in power Power is
relative term with u.s. and man needs religion
with power in it, because religion deals with
actual life. No true man finds any comfort
in the finely woven substitutes for religion.
Duty gives meaning to life and Its discharge
brings a rich harvest Of happiness out of an
unpromising soil
DR.. Gothold spoke Of the membership being
true and loyal to the doctrine and culture Of
the Lutheran Churth: spoke of the Augsburg
confession as not only the confession of 53 000,-
900 Lutherans in the world including the .0O0.-
900 in the United States, but the foundation
OF the thirty-nine articles of the Episcopal
Church and the foundation of the Westmin-
ster confession OF the Presbyterian Church,
and ofevery other biblical confession written
or compiled since its birth.
BE loyal to everything that is Lutheran"
said DIR. Gethold. ''for then you VI 1e con-
scientiously and devotedy loyal 10 every
requirement of Gods holy word, useful in
life and happy in the church triumphant
A statistical report of his five years pastor.
ate shows that DR.. Gethold from June IA,
1889, to June II, 1894, preached Ill regular
sermons, delivered 159 Wednesday evening
lectures, preached 81 funeral sermons, and
officiated at the baptism of 10 infants and
adults; made l, ,694 pastoral visits. 2.301 social
calls, and officated at 80 conversions. and
united p couples in marriage. During the
same period the church paid S22s.10 into the
synodical treasury The church now has 1I2
members, and the Sunday school numbers
upwards of 130. The cash value of the church
property is $4,000. upon which there is a
debt OF $500 that the congregation assumes,
RAPID PROGRESS OF The CHURCH.
1t Is believed that no other church in the
Marks. twas organized five years ago with
a membership of but fifteen. The most cor
dial relations exist between pastor and people.
A special quartette, composed of Miss Min
ME E. Fisher, soprano; Miss Blanche Reuck-
ert, alto; Mr.. George ". Zerbo. tenor, and
Mr.. Cornelius Eckhardt, bass. with Mrs.
Dodson as organist. furnished the music.
The voluntary was an appropriate anthem
entitled Hear Our Prayer" the remainder
Of the selections being those provided in the
liturgieal service.
The altar and chancel were beautifully dec
GRATED with flowers, contributed by the
church membership. huge figure five
formed OF pink and white carnation roses
was suspended below the stationary metal
crown in the arch above the chancel. This
was donated by a gentleman whose modesty
prevents the use of his name.
There was a large congregation present.
The exercises were concluded at the regu-
lar evening service.