The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-07
RECEPTION DAY.
The NJ. Il. Church Decorated-An Inter-
esting Meeting-A Splendid SER
mon by Mr.. Custer.

Inc N. r.. Shurch Decorated-An Inter-
esting Meeting-A Splendid SER
mon by Mr.. custer.
Reception day was a very interesting
affair in the NJ. f. church yesterday.
The ladies of the church had decorated
the pulpit platform appropriately with
emblems and cut flowers and pot
plants for the occasion, and the SER
mon preached before the rite of bap-
tism was administered and members
taken into full connection was from the
text, John 21-22: What is that to thee?
follow thou me-" Peter was like many
to-day. He was anxious to know about
the other apostles and asked Christ to
tell him, but he was told to follow the
Master himself and not TO worry about
the others. The great question is how
to follow Christ so that the greatest
amount of good will be accomplished
and the kingdom of God extended most.
LII we follow Christ very closely we
shall see our loved ones and neighbors
coming soon and asking the way of
life. When | learned to swim a boy
hesitated in crossing the stream and /
almost gave up trying because of his
want of courage, but as soon as he
mustered up courage enough | tried
too and crossed over in safety. In fol-
lowing Christ be sure to go only where
He leads and where He is not welcome
do not you go If you would have eter-
nal life and the joys of religion while
here. We are ofttimes told that we
cannot serve God and Mammon at the
same time. This is true because the
heavenly, spiritual and eternal things
belong TO one plane high above the
transient and the passing worldly. and
one can no more be going downward
and upward at one and the same~time
than he can live in both these Abrdi-
tions and on both these planes at the
same time. One or the other must be
given UP. Ii you would be blessed of
God, honor Christ and believe that He
is true and not a deceiyer. Either
Christ has come from death and is the
Son of God, or there is no hope, we are
yet in our sins. liz lie ever said any
thing IL was that He is divine, Il am
the way, the truth and the life" Il
and my Father are one" "He that
hath the Son hath life" He that hath
not the Son shall never see life Il
have power to lay down my life and
| have power to take it again." II am
the door" mo one knoweth the Faith
er but the Son" and hundreds of other
passages, all proving that Christ has
power to forgive sins and that He Is
divine If He be not the divine one,
then there is no use in trying 10 wor-
ship God. All who have ever been con-
verified by consciousness OF salvation
have been converted when Christ has
been preached as the Son or God, and
no one has ever felt anything higher
In the higher life excepting through
the name of Christ. for the Bible says,
There Is no other name whereby we
can be saved
BE sure begin working for God IL
you would strong, and not backslide.
Read good papers; they will cost you
only about 5 cents a week. Read the
Bible much and pray. Judge not. for
you Will narrow down If you go to
judging, and ii Is not the spirit that
will help you TO lead a Christian life,
We are so apt 10 Judge others by our
own experience, and thus warp our
selves. So live that every day will be
filled with sunshine and with gladness.
So live that no matter what may come
YOU are safe In the arms of God and
your home over on the other side is
sure prepared by Him who said. Il so
to prepare place for you and If / go
| will come again. that where | am.
there you may be also" There you
may have the best eompanionship in
this great universe of God. There you
may enjoy all the light and happiness
possible and find that all things have
worked out for your good, remembering
forever the good you have done and
the sheaNes you have earnered. Look
To Jesus and he will carry you through,
and you may find in each member here
a helper and one who will do all he
can for you, remembering that when
he was but a week old in this life he
walked not as rapidly heavenward as
now, and thus may you be strong,
happy and joyous Christians.
A large number came forward at the
close of the sermon and formed in line
for the baptismal service, and taking
the hand of fellowship of the church