Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26
RECEIVED AWARM RECEPTION
Rev. Frederic F. Briggs at
Second Baptist Church.
GREETED BY A LARGE GATHERING
Preached His Inaugural Ser
mon Sunday.
delivered Delightful Discourse and Was
Heartily Congratulated by the Congrega-
tion-The People Pleased With the
Preacher-Biographicai Sketch OF fhe
New Pastor.

The Rev. Frederic f. Briggs, the
new pastor Of Second Baptist Church, :
formally assumed his charge Sunday.
He was given a hearty reception, and
at the conclusion of the sermon was
congratulated by the members of the
church and many other citizens who
were in the congregation. He has
already won the hearts of the people in
the church.
The Rev. Frederic Foye Briggs was
born on June 11th, 1867, at Kansas
City, Mo. He lived in Kansas City
but short time, when his father,
who was also minister, removed with
his family to Denver, Col. There his
father died when Frederic was years
old. He lived for some time in Denver
then again in Kansas City. His mother
then removed to Hiram, o. where
james A. Garfield, afterwards Presi
dent Of the United States, was presi
dent of college. At Hiram, Mrs.
Briggs was married to the Rev Frank
M. Ellis. d. D., now Of Brooklyn,
N. Y. Mr.. Briggs was a student for
four years at the Boston Latin School,
preparatory to entering the Johns Hop
kins University. He entered the uni
versity in 1888, and graduated with
honors in 1891. While attending COL
lege no was greatly Interested in
athletic sports. and was member of
the championship la crosse team in
1891, when Johns Hopkins won the
championship from Lehigh. He is
now a member of the Belmont Cricket
Club, and still retains in full his love
for outdoor sports and games. Prior
to entering college his health failed.
and in 1SS4-S5 he was in Utah, whera
he spent year on sheep ranch. HI
studied theology at the Grocer Theologi-
cal Seminary for three years, graduating
in 1894. While attending Grocer no
supplied the pulpit of the Landsdowne.
Pa, Baptist Church. After his gradu-
alton he was called to Beth Eden Bap.
tist Church in Philadelphia, in Oeto
ber, 1894, as the successor of DIR.
for IL months, when DIR. Tupper was
called as its pastor He was then asso-
ciate pastor OF First Church from
March of this year until November
18th, when he accepted the call OF
Second Baptist Church. He. was
married in May, 1895, to Miss Eleanor
Ashton Lewis Of Upland, Pa.
For his opening sermon, Dr. Briggs
took as his text James |, 2, 3 and.J,
ON the trial of faith which workeih
patience. He said that trial is to tho
Christian what hard service is 10 tiIe
soldier. No man ever became Il gronr
soldier by simply going on dress paradr
He needs an enemy to resist his J,ro-
gress before he will be ablo to display
the sterling qualities which go TO make
up good soldier. The very same thing
is true of the Christian who is strug-
Cling to attain Christlikeness. He is
like the traveller who has caught a
glimpse of some far-off mountain peals
and is determined TO reach its height.
He has caught the inspiration OF
beauty, and is determined to overcome
all TO reach the top and he rejoices in
the midst of difficulties
"There are Christians all about us
who seem to have caught the inspira-
tion of holiness. They have gazed upon
that matchless divine life, until they
feel the uplifting of it's power and they
welcome any and every means which
will lift themselves out of self into
Christ. The trying of faith adds to
our endurance. II our faith in God is
genuine, trial OF it will but make us
more steadfast and more secure En-
durance when completed brings per.
fection and perfection is Christlike-
ness How very careful we should be
that we do not mistake the means for
the end. The end is the strengthening
of character both in ourselves and in
others by imparting the result OF our
study, 1t is inGeed an excellent thing
to study the Bible. but the mere study
Of its text and contents is not enough,
it is not the end, il is but the means
to the end, which is character after
Cody SORT. Many people think that
faith is the chief END of Christians
life. when in reality it is but the con
dition OF salvation. Others think that
steadfastness and endurance and per-
severance are the highest ends Of
living, when in reality they are but
means TO something still higher. /"
Mr.. and Mrs. Briggs have taken up
their residence at No. 1918 West
Seventh street.