The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-30
YHIRYIETH ANNIVERSARY

sermon by the Past1r-Addresse in the
 Evening.
 The thirtleth anniversary of the or ganization of Howard avenue Congrega' tional church was very appropriately commemorated yesterday. Large con- gregatlons were present and in the gatherings were not a few old familiar faces long absent, owing to residence elsewhere. In the morning the pastor, Rev. MT. Mutch, preached the anniver- sary sermon. The text was: He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne, as l also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne."-Rev. 3-21.
 In the discourse the pastor said:
 "The society of Christ aims to teach Christian wisdom. It is saying still in the words of the Holy One to the ange5 of the church in Laodicea: Because thous sayest, I am rich, and have got ten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and blind illu uihGu, I COullSGt IllGt u puy OL lllC gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe myself, and that the shame of thy n2kedness be not made manifest; and eye salve to anoint thine eyes, that thous mayest sec It is pointing the world to Him whose so- ciety is worth more than the society of princes and millionaires, and who says: Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me. That is what is meant by the society of Christ, and in that society there is hope. He that is wise will avail him- self of 1t.
 There is one exhortation in the mes sage to the church in Laodicea, which is much needed among the churches of to-day, and that is, with their wisdom to be zealous. The lack of Christian zeal kills fellowship, and neutralizes the enthusiasm, of it's noble society. The great cause is lost sight of, and it's advocates become like mercenary soldiers. Let us welcome anything that is according to wisdom, if it will awaken the zeal of the society of Christ. The city of Columbus where MT. Mills has | just completed a months campaign has awakened to a Christian zeal the like of which It has never experienced be- fore. We may well believe that here also there is to be an arousing of dor mant energies. If the society of Christ at O +b fI,J ia1 ct+r eyth 1 ing can stand between it and the throne of it's power. Righteousness shall be enthroned in the domain of individual life in the domain of the home and the church and the city and the state and | the world.
 For thirty years this church has been | striving to realize the Sacietyof Christ. 1 For hundreds of people it has trans l formed the way of the cross into a | way of glory, by the splendid fellow | ship of Christ and His followers which it has brought to that way. In this | eoodly company many have been en- 1 abled to strive and to overcome, and l are now sitting with the Father in His throne. Three of those who have 1 ministered in this pulpit are there; and
 they are now able to see eye to eye, and to feel how much more blessed is | tn society of the throne than the so- ciety of the cross. Let the victories | they achieved inspire us to more earn | est striving, that we also may over 1 come and sit with them in the Fathers
 throne of power. The cross is heavy
 upon us. In many ways we must be
 crucifed with Him. But with Him we are in good society. We are not alone when His Spirit helpeth cur infirni- ties. We are in a great army. We have noble cause. With a new zeal let us gird ourselves for the strife that | is yet before us ere we reach our place | in the Fathers throne"
 In the evening the exercises consisted of addresses by ex-Judge R. s. Pickett J. w. Townsend, Captain M. A. But
 ricks, Charles B. Foote, and Willis N | Butricks.
 Tomorrow evening, December 31
 there will be held a consecration meet ing and roll call.
 Following this there will be a social
 gathering, to which all are cordially in-
 vited to remain.
 Tomorrow evening-New Years eve should be the greatest social reunion
 which the church has experienced ir
 five years. The first half of the even
 ing will be given to brief words oi
 testimony and resolution. The second
 half of the evening will be devoted tc
 mere informal social intercourse. . |