Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-02
CHRIST VIEWED As THE ROCK
Dr., Barnit7 of Des Moines breaches on the
True Foundation"
CORNER STONE OF A NEW CHURCH LAID
Foundation of 81. Johns English
Lutheran Church at the Corner of
seventh and willow Avenues
IL Now Completed.

The corner stone OF ST. Johns English
Lutheran church was laid yesterday after
noon with impressive ceremonies. The new
building at the corner Of Seventh street
and Willow avenue has been finished up
to the first story the basement being Of
stone. temporary floor was built the
speakers addressing the congregation from
tho north end. where a platform had been
erected. Several hundred people were
gathered on Willow avenue and Seventh
street, who could not be seated
The services opened with an anthem by
the choir. followed by an invocation by
Rev T. L. Thickstun. After short song
service and a prayer by Rev. Mr.. Gerhardt
Of Lincoln. Judge Reed delivered an ad-
dress on the subject "The Relation OF the
Church aud the state" The main ad
dress OF tho afternoon was made by Rev.
$. b. Barnitz. u. d. Of Des Moines, on the
subject Christ the True Foundation TAX
ing for his text | Corinthians, X-i. He
said in part
I'm many parts Of the word Of God the
figure Of the rock Is used as the emblem OF
Christ /; is our purpose this afternoon
to set forth Christ as the true foundation.
First he is foundation rock 1t is very
important that the foundation of a building
gives way. the whole edfce is in danger.
The church of God is compared to an ediiice.
1t is called temple, a habitation of God
through the spirit The founsation or rock
upon which this church is built is Christ.
Holy men and prophets and apostles are
all stones In this superstruCture but Christ
alone is the foundation bearing all its mass
i've weight 'ie are built upon the founda-
tion OF the prophets which is Christ Be
hold l lay in you for a foundation a stone.
| 4 tried stone, a precious corner stone.
sure foundation. This is the stone that was
set at naught by the builders, which has
. become the chief head of the corner
Whether we consider the church OF God in
its militant state on earth or its triumphant
state in heaven Christ is the basis OF the
= whole Each and all OF Gods family spirit
, ually rests wholly upon Christ as the founda-
tion. So strong is 1t that most probably
myriads OF worlds are upheld by ii. and
millions Of living stones are built upon IT,
As a foundation II is laid deep in the earth.
r As corner stone 1t rises above the clouds
and catches the sunshine of Immortality.
The rock OF ages binds the whole building
in heaven and earth together.
ROCK OF REFREsHMENT.
/ Secondly Christ is a rock of refresh
, ment. PrCfgured by the smtten rock which
, yielded water 20 the famishing Israelites,
Christ Is the spiritual rock that followed
, them. The rock which Moses smotc was
in a dry and thirsty land. The prophet
4 tells US that Christ shall be a root out OF
p the dry land. The rock in the wilderness
could yield no water until smtten by
Moses But when struck by his magic wand
1t burst into a fountain.
80 also with the Rock OF Ages Christ
before His bosom was cleft availed nothing
, as sacrifice for sin. but so as his
body was stricken from hence flowed
streams that made glad the city OF God.
. 'Whosoever drInketh Of this water shall
not thirst. 1t shall be in him, springing
up into everlasting life
Third. Christ is rock of outlook.
Standing on this stone we behold the di-
vine glory and life and immortality are
brought to light. And Moses said | be-
seech ye show me thy glory, and God an
: swered, Thou canst not see my face, for no
man shall see my face and live. Behold
there is place by me. Thou shalt stand
upon rock and while my glory passes by
| will put thee in the cleft Of a rock and
will cover thee with my hand as ! pass
by Moses saw his glory and on descending
from Mount Sinai he was obliged to veil
his face for fear OF binding his people.
The Christian standing upon the Rock OF
Ages with open face AS in a glass behOlds
the glory OF the Lord and he is changed into
the same image from glory TO glory even
as by the sririt Of God. and we behold His
glory. the glory as of the only begotten
OF the Father, full OF grace and truth.
ROCK OF SECURITY.
Fourth, Christ is a rock of defense OF
all sources of security the rock seems to
Elelu tne surCSt. IN times OF danger the
people Of Palestine retired to them and
, found refuge. The Benjamnites felt them
: selves safe in the rock Rimmon. Sampson
kept garrison in the rock OF Ethon. David
: was secure in the rock of Maon EngedL
/ But Christ is the Christians rock Of pro-
lection and defense His foundation is in
! the holy mountains. They that trust in
Christ shall be as Mount Zion that cannot
be moved but abideth forever. When
storms OF trouble or distress arise when
, the dark clouds of dispair gather round.
then may the Christian hide in the cleft OF
, the rock and he need not fear.
These are the associations clustering
, around the Rock OF Ages"
STAND FIRM ON THE ROCK
The speaker then appealed to the congre-
CATION, saying: Have you been led to this
rock and are you sure your feet are fixed
upon 1t? Be steadfast immoyable. Have
your feet slipped? Retrace your steps or
by stumbling on this stone ii may grind
you to powder. Are You a distressed oner
Does the sigh OF contrition heave in your
heart? Do you say
Jesus lover of my soul.
Let me to Thy bosom fy?'
'He can dry the tear of sorrow and com
press the sigh of contrition. By faith stand
? upon the bending rocks OF Calvary See
your Savior die and may you feel the power
> OF His deFth Go to His rocky tomb and
see Him come forth and feel the power OF
His resurrection. Go to rocky Olivet and
see Him ascend, and ascend with Him in
acts OF faith desire and love. BY virtue of
> His death, resurrection and ascension may
, We all ascend.
And when the last trumpet shall sound
through the skies.
And the dead from the dust of the earth
! shall arise
With the millions, Wen join far above
yonder sky,
So praise the dear Rock that is higher
} than l."
Tho laying of the corner stone was done
after the conclusion of this address Rev.
G.. w. Snyder, pastor OF the church, and
tho congregation Joined in responsive read
Ing while the stone was being put in place.
Prayer was offered and the creed reci.ed
in concert. The corner stone has inscrip-
tions upon three sides. On the east side
are the words: "Woman's First Iowa Me
mortal" This is significant OF the fact that
the church is being erected partly by
$4,000 donation by the Women's Missionary
society OF the Lutheran church which was
! started in Iowa in 1875, Mrs. G. w. Snyder
5 being its first president. Since then the So
ciety has outgrown the limits OF the state
= and belongs to the general synod OF the
r United States. The corporate name "St.
} johns English Lutheran Church" appears
on the north side OF the stone, and on the
! west is the name OF the pastor, the current
year and the architects
The mementos placed in the tin box In
the stone consist OF a vast assortment OF