Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-16

1t was inevitable that these Efforts at that
time should awaken some hostilities, yet 1
am confident that no meth Ids were en-
ployed moons stent with true Christian
courtesy. But Professionalism and Roman
ism are separated as systems, by a dinrr
once which Is radical. Their Fundamental
uulikeuess must become more startingly
apparent with time, and the world has long
age justified Luther. But no bitterness
may be countenanced on either side TO
ward the other, and nothing is
in this sketch to cast reflections. Each
church must concede 10 the other the liber-
ty and respect which Christian love creates
and e~n)oins. But we loily turn on the light.
Professionalism attacks nothing but darK-
ness and sin, and nothing else can take ra-
tional offense at iC.
Among other means of creating and ex-
tending Protestant principles, Mr.. A. began
the publication OF a religious paper which
he named THE ACORN" hoping doubt
less that 1t might grow into a tall "a OF
the species Presbyterian in years after.
wards. 1 earnestly hope we shall succeed
In securing a copy OF this pioneer religious
sheet for deposit in the archives or the
church. Although the paper itself did not
survive its founders departure, yet the
stimulus given to the habit OF thinking and
rsas oning whether these things are So" In
respect TO the fundamentals Of faith, ia
ucNGT W0hOu u "
this region Emerson writes:
"One accent of the Holy Ghost,
The needless world has never lost"
And in the same reality, true spiritual
thought once awakened, the breath OF spir
ituai liberty once drawn, aud the soul can
never again be shackled by ecclesiastical
chains.
During the ten years OF his work here
onIy two men were found who could he
chosen to the off 20 of elder. One OF these,
Jose Y. Perea, has already been named.
and be proved a most loyal end trusty
man.. lie belonged to n OF the old.
veal by familles,' writes our historian,
land | first met him not many days after
reaching Las Vegas in $50. In his boyhoo5
he was sent to the east for edn alton, ara
while there in external contact will the
true teaching. OF the Gosp-i, those teach,
ings, through the operation OF the good
Spirit of God, were conveyed with saving
power to his heart, and he came back an
eDligh ened and regen-r-ted an. set fire..
with fhe liberty Of the Gospel" he served
with great efficiency al tnroush tni,
region, and on Sept. 5. 1880 was ordained
bv this Presbytery to the ministry. lie
now resides at Pujarito.
On the 7th of ID G. '73, a second elder was
ordained 10 the person of William A.. CLARK
ami be appears to have been outwardly
helpful to Mr.. A. and to have enjoyed his
full confidence, only, alas, to disappoint
him cruelty at last. He died in Phlladel-
phia, March A, II. 1t is only Tor the sax
of accurate Information that L here ana
Mr.. Annin's testim any: "Wm. A. CLARK,
an elder at one time, was a bad man.. IL
cost me a hard struggle to believe IL, but
letters were received from his "
sister after his death, left US no choice in
the matter. Ny daughter and myself lost
by him From this time on there
was no elder available for counsel or Eel,
Iowship; and when Mr. Amin left the heid
in 80. there w.s not one church officer In
the organization.
Toe only other important event recorded
OF this period Is the formation OF the
church of Ell Rito del Aqua Negra, June ",
'79, Previous 10 this time, all the Presby-
of the region had ben enrolled N
the membership of the Las Vegas churcn.
But on that date, twenty six members res
dent in that neighborhood were, OIL their
unanimous request, dismissed from
our church to form the new organization,
wholly Of native Mexican. ibis
church still exists In unusual pr 1speritV,
The strongest Protestant Mexican church
in New Mexico, and probably tue most
PROSPEROUS native settlement In material
Rnt the end of this ministry was draw
ingn near. On the 4th of July, 1873. the
santa Fe railroad, haying completed It's
line 10 this point, ran the first train into
Vegas. INC the new order had begun.
N w clements came toto the church, not
Nbolly to its peace, and Mr. AMIN was
5000 forced from the field he nad SO Ialtn-
fully held and served with such heroic pa.
,isnce persistence. energ AID intelligent
constellation sness. "lu 1880" he writes, "a
Mr. who was at on- time (.t'er my leav.
an elder of the church. and who mad
from Texas as a reformer, and Ut.
] Jackson. a sort Of Governor Gene al ives
OF the Mississippi, secured my NOV
On NAV LIST, 1880, Mr. Annin's ministry u
New Mexico closed, and he removed TO tn'
east, 5000 taking the pastorate al rotia,
Mo- which he still holds. One who has
known all the ministers of hi hurcn
" rites: al did not get very well acqualn'ed
with Mr.. Amin, as | was not at that time
a member of the church; but telt DIS re-
moyal more thar hat of any OF the resi-
because he had borne the burdens OF the
first pioneering in the field"
The character Of our first minister must
have Quite fully revealed itself already IN
This sketch. and needs but little comment
f,om me, a personal stranger to him. but
II was a character Of great worth. Cautlous
and never venturesome, yet he was ever
readv for action Humble and unassuming,
he aver seems to have ''esteeDed others
natter than himself" Honest as daylight,
he was by consequence trustfut OF oe4srs.
honesty, often to his own und ing. how
great the shock to him when ne 'Ouau ma
man would be dishonest with Goo, anu
wonld deliberately ''lle to the Holy tnost''
In amntv vows and hollow professions
nsrhaps few of us can fully realizs. he
was fearless with the courage OF grea'
and profound convictions; a tnoroush.
going t%heologian of the old scnoo'' ye'
broadly charltsbl in his Judgment OF o.nei
men aud creeds. or this cnurcn ne "ino,,
III will. I also confidently believe, ever
cbarish n large aud liberal spirit towards
ali laborers for God and for Christ, tne
snirit of that Master who SAID: one Is
,pur Nastar ey en- Christ, and all ye are
brethren.U Again in regard to ecclesias-
tical assumptions ha says: 'Ine .rue
cburch2 | will tell you whicn tue .Iu. !.
church is. 1t is the church in whicn Cnrlu
dwelis nv his spirit; and the truest cnurcn
- that which has the largest measure OF
Christie presence and grace, which exert
he largest measure OF Christ's power Iol
,ha conversion OF the world, when raoiates
most %abundantly the light and love OF
Jasus. the Son of God" No better plat,
yorm for church unity could De devlsea
Than this utterancs, spoken twenty yeai,
coo In this town. To all this we must no
ssss,II 70 add the glowing, evangelistit
farvor which made this man Wiling u
sscriice ali that he had, and to undertak'
The most unpromising work, il ne m,gn
III man TO the salvation that is Ia Jesu
christ. 10 such men lives the power o
Odd for the worlds REDEMPTION, Tor tney
Are the temple OF the Holy spirit. -.
rejoice greatly that TINS fecuI ,tien .
nna Who still lives to pursue his ministry IL
his world. Aud thn' the rusl OF 4 ne =
the hurry of our life's daily struggle ma
maize ms too forgetful Of those who nav
laid the foundations of our church i,ae' H.
once we will stop and acknowle ige o9l
grateful debt of loving honor to the QUIZ
er of our beloved Presbyterian cnurcn, an IN
viii how in revereut union with nim III OIL
rraver for the church he loved: and ~,
pprsasr dSsira and prayer are that tut