The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-22
THIRTY YEARS IN
The MINISTRY
Rev. DR.. Silnms Celebrates His
Fiftisth Birthday.
A SPECIAL SERMON SUNDAY
REVIEW OF LIFE AT Tho HALF
CENTURY MILESTONE.
AN ,NsP,RATiONFOR THE FUTURE

ADMINISTRATION FOR THE FUTURE
A Sc. of Resolutions Passed by His
Church Expressive of Its Love
For Him and Appreciation
of His Services.
To Rev. A. M. Simms, DID,, Pastor
Raleigh Baptist Tabernacle Church:
As members of the Tabernacle church
and congregation, permit us to extend to
YOU our heartiest congratulations upon
this your fftieth birthday.
We return thanks to our Heavenly
Father for His mercy and grace in this
preserving your life and bringing you in
health and strength to this holy Sab
bath day.
We acknowledge the goodness of God
in sending you to be the shepherd of this
fold, and take this occasion to express
to you our sincere love and confidence.
We pray God that your useful life may
long be spared and your health preserved
that you may continue your Chrlstllke
min;strations among us. In this prayer
we feel that the people Of our entire COM
munity most heartily unite, for no ser
want of Christ has ever been more devot-
ed, unselfsh and faithful than you have
been, and none has ever enjoyed more
general confidence and love.
The above resolution was Sunday
adopted unanimously by a rising vote by
the congregation of the Tabernacle Bap-
fist church. 1t was offered by Mr.. N. B.
Broughton at the conclusion of the ser
vices, and everyone present joined hearth
ly in wishing DR.. Simms long life of
health and prosperity and continue ton
of his work in Raleigh.
Sunday was DIR. Simms' fiftieth birth
day, and he preached a sermon appropri-
ate to the occasion, recounting Gods mer-
cies and blessings, reviewing briefly his
life, giving the convictions that had come
to him and looking forward to enlarged
work. Among other things, he said in
the course of his sermon:
Every life ought to have a review
day. This gives us boldness for future
operations. Every man will find many
mercies, many places where God has
blessed him, many dangers from which
he has been protected. Let us have
mercy3
Il. What have we done for God? Have
YOU brought cheer into single life
nerved a single soul for life's battle
strengthened and helped and encouraged?
If you have, it is no small thing. That
one act, who can tell its worth in the
world? It's the work of which an angel
may be proud and your life has not been
in vain.
90 What have you done with your OPP
portunities? Every man enjoys peculiar
exclusive opportunities. There are lives
that you alone of all humanity can touch,
can sway. And yet, do the best we can,
how imperfect is our work?
''3. What shall be our attitude toward
the future? Don't be discouraged, don't
be shelved. Look out toward the future
with higher aspirations, new resolves
and renewed efforts. ] know this is said
to be an age of young men, but that does
not mean that there is no longer any use
for the old men. They must train and
lead out the young men, their conserva-
tism is needed to mix with the bright
picture Of youth-to give the picture here
and there a calmer tone.
1.-The sweetest JOY of life comes from
Christian service-from ministering to
men and women in Jesus name. That
will stand forever. Every now and then
some one asks the question is life worth
living If it is going to be lived in selfish
ness? Mol II it is to be lived for others;
in doing well, in bringing light into 9th
er lives, lived in Christ's service, then it
is worth the living. / have known men
educated and polished to the highest pos
sible degree and yet they were the fiat
test failures and of all men most miser-
able. Then / have known sweet lives,
untutored, unlearned and yet there was
in it that which meets mans highest
need. Nan needs something more than
bread; man needs something more than
somebody to help him when he is hunt
ing for a job, something more than some
body to nurse him when he 10 sick. some
body to bury him when dead. There is
an everlasting crying in the soul for
something better, something higher and
more satisfying.
"God will honor the man who honors
Him. His work will stand-stand when
all else fails. This is the promise. Build
your life on Gods promises. The great
est need Of our nature is Jesus Christ
There is nothing so fills the soul with
melody and sweetness. He meets the
highest need. He gives food for the soul
ouells every fear, drives every cloud
away and lets life pass out OF the strug.
gle here with hallelujahs and shoutings.'
At might Rev. A. r. Love, Seminary
student, Q member OF the Tabernacle
preached very acceptable sermon on
+Grow in Grace"
At the First Baptist church DIR. Garter
baptized one candidate after the nights
sermon. For recent successive Sunday
nights. DIR. Garter has been preaching q
series of sermons on, first, what the Sa
viour said about the Father; second
about the Son; third. about the Holy
Ghost; and last Sunday night what He
said about faith