The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-08-03
DR. BRE7GS GOOD WORK
Twentieth Anniversary Of His
Passionate at Bergen Re-
formed Church Yes
tarday.


Rev. Cornelius Brett, D.. D.. pastor
Of the Bergen Reformed Church on Ber-
gen avenue. celebrated his twentieth an
niversary as pastor Of that charch yes
terday.
The members Of the congregation Of
the Bergen Reformed Church comprise
some Of the wealthiest and most fash
enable residents on the Heights. and the
occasion brought many Of the par:shion-
srs IN from mountain and seashore to
congratulate Or. Brett upon his ami
versary.
The church at the morning service was
aensely crowded n the musical pros
granTne, which Was especially arranged
for the occasion BY Mr.. Louis r. Dress
g mas seldom II ever been equalled IN
this city.
Pr. Brett chose for bis sermon Genesis
XXI; IS, whiea was peculiarly appro-
pirate, the words reading: This twenty
years have been With thee" IN the
course Of his remarks he said
we nay not aIways have been unani-
NOUS ~ our views of church policy" he
SAD, but We have had no serious differ
eaces-nor the shadow OF q quarrel.
Lens p~astoEates have been a peculiar
eature of the Bergen Church. In calling
your pastor efter the prescribed form vou
expect the contrSet to be binding as the
marriage vow. Your history IS written in
ING mural tablets which adorn your SANG
flary. But one 81 your five pastors volun-
tarily severed his connection with This
shurcht and he said farewell thar ha
might go IN the mission field and train
gooaly copapany o9 ministers for the
enureh Of Christ in Japan.
TINS anniversary sermon must be per-
sonat. It .s reedless to say that | have
spent among YOU the best years Of my
rne ffTst eleven years of nay ministry,
divided EaSEeSn three churches wsre
envy preparatory. In Jersey City 1 nava
sounded my life work. God knows how
ray are YET g come These have been
Truly can I say, The lines have fallen
20 me ~ pleasant places. The temporaI
contract. as our church books cali III Won
nave discharged 80 well as 10 Tree me-
rom Hlaeh or the worldly care which is
me Ios Of 50 ministers. Health. the
greatest Of Gods gifts, has been enjoyed
py myself and household with hardly
an Interruption During all this time
nave had no serious Illness. ana the slight
tndlsposttiens to Witch all are subject
nave Kept me from my work not more
Shan three or four Sabbaths in all. Bv
your 1~nau3gences I nave been enabled NOT
only 70 enjoy my regular vacations. but
% revel in the delights Of travel at home
ana abrosd; Those happy weeks abroad
nave 5een devoted to your service as wei
a. my cwn pleasure; for the preacher is
always gathering material from reading
stuuy ana observation mat he may I'M
plsss the truth OF Goa upon the congre-
gaIoH committed 10 his charge.
1t would have been a miracle Of SER
wee II your pastor had not made many
mistakes. To err is human. No servant
q Sod Claims exemption from the mfr
mites of tho flesh, and no spirit IS 50
fully c5nsecretated as to be free from sin
bear unhesitatiag tribute TO the for
p~earance with Which you rave passed
over my faults. Your rebukes have beeu
all too few. perhans. far my own gssy5
10 form my y plans and 10 carry them
out without Interference. When needed
you have given your earnest co-operatson
and efficient Id and the cause has pres
pered under the smiles OF Heaven.
1T would have been strange. indeed. if
| had not marked a substantial growth
IN our beloved church, Cur city has been
steadily increasing in population, and gu,
avn immeaiate neighborhooa mas filed
up with Happy homes. walk along the
streets in wsnder al the changes which
have passed over this community
The Rev. DR.. Brett gavexSome church
STATISTICS. In 1875 there were two hundred
families and two hundred and eighty-ivA
members. Today the number Of families
5 three hundred and twenty-five. During
the twenty years of his pastorate DR..
Brett received on confession Of faith and
by letter eight hundred and one members
he mas baptized Eve hundred and eighty-
seven children and adults and GfFicjafad
at eight hundred funerals.
The occasica was one which Will long
be remembered BY the members of DR..
hearty CONGRATULATIONS which he received
gave evidence of the appreciation his
Parlsh.oners have for him Dr.. Brett IS
one OF the mcst popular ministers in the
city and the ministers of the different
churches sent their CONGRATULATIONS 10
the happy dominic.