The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-05-15
Dedication Banquet J..

\ Dedication Banquet.
If any one thought that the dedication
exercises of the Baptist church were
closed on Sunday night it was mis-
take. After the eyes had been pleased
with viewing the beauty of the church
and the ears had tingled with words OF
gospel truth and strains of thrilling mu.
sic, it seemed as if all had been done.
But the ladies-may fortune bless them
conceived the idea of feasting the in
ner man, which they did to perfection
at the dedication banquet given in the
parlors under the Sunday school rooms
OF. the new church, Wednesday evening.
| The guests entered the west door and
were received in the Sunday school
room by an agreeable committee of
ladies. After pleasant social converse
the banquet was announced, and the
company descended to the rooms below
which presented very inviting appear
ance. The tables were set with the
incest of linen and china, and decorated
with lilies of the valley and tleurs-de-
lys.
After the invocation by Rev. w. B.
Matteson, banquet of several courses
was partaken of which entitled the
ladies to the degree of M. C.-masters
of cooking. During the banquet the
Owosso mandolin club discoursed lively
and agreeable music.
j. w. Simmons, the POSTMASTER. re-
ferred to the ancient custom of crown
ing a series of events with a banquet,
and they were keeping up the custom
by GROWING with a banquet what had
certainly been great series of events,
and that, as on similar occasions so on
this one, the tongue would speak freely
around the festal board. He introduced
Stanley E. Parkill, who responded to
the toast. THE City and the Church."
Mr.. Parkill wished first to express his
thanks for the honor of addressing
them, although he feared his being on
the program was due to his having
served as assistant pastor to Mr.. Matte
son. In this respect he had changed
places with the pastor, who could now
listen and do as he pleased At such an
occasion fun should rule, but he would
be serious. The subject was broad
enough for a sermon extending to the
tenthly and, perhaps obvious enough to
the casual observer, but it could do no
hurt to reterate.
The individual holds a responsibility
for society whether churchmember or
not, but the public expects more of a
church member for the church stands
for the best efforts in political, intellec-
tual and spiritual life. The church has
relation to civil government, to local
politics. Would he have the church as
a church figure in modern politics? No,
churches had enough trouble of their
own, but as the church stood for the
greatest good to the greatest number, a
good churchman is necessarily a true
patriot and will not cast his influence
on the side of INSCRIPTIONS partisan
ship or become briber. The church
could help to remove the immoral ten
dency towards bribery prevalent today.
In city Of ten thousand people, 500
or even 200 voters acting individually
on the side of right government could
give that city pure gooernment These
voters by refusing to elect men who
would use their appointing power for the
benefit ofincompetent heelers and by in
sisting on civil service reform rules in
local politics could effect grand
change No one, for instance, would
be elected q member of the board of
health who could not distinguish be-
tween bull-frog and the bacillus of ty-
phoid fever.
The majority does not favor bad gov
eminent to good government, but indif-
ference is favorable to political rascal
ty. Not as church body but as church
men, individuals in society, they should
vote out incompetent men and visit con-
demnation on bribers. The church of
Christ is greatest where mans inhuman
ity is least, and it will still shoulder its
duty in the securing of political purifi-
cation. [Applause.l
After fine vocal solo, 'Life's Story"
by j. b. Mcintosh, Mr.. Simmons said
that one seeing our various churches
might suppose that they stood for very
separate interests, but really are one in
the great cause for which they were at
work, and introduced l.. Flickinger who
responded to the toast, MANY Folds.
but One Shepherd" in his usual happy
manner.
The topic uppermost in their minds
was the enterprise of the Baptist congre-
cation, in view of which he was almost
persuaded tobe a Baptist. He had
asked help for his response. but one had
told him to keep as far away from his
subject as he could, and another said
the less he knew about it the better.
Some one had said city is great be-
cause of its churches, its industries and
its great men, with all of which Owosso
is supplied. The true Baptist Is one
whose rule is, Thus said the Word"