The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-02
NEW MEMBERS
RECEIVED
Formal Union Of Two
Methodist Churches.
TRINITY AND CHESTNUT ST.
About Two Hun1red Added to the
Trinity Membership.
ELDER BASS PREACHED SERMON

At the morning service ip Trinity M.
X. Church yesterday the members OF the
Chestnut Street Nj. 4. CLurcn, about 200
in number. were formally received into
the Trinity Society. The congregation
that gathered To witness the interesting
ceremony was large one, completely fill
ing the church.
Rev. James M. Taber. the pastor, con /.
Quoted the opening services and Rev. A.
J. Coultas, the new associate pastor. read
the list OF names OF the members Of the
Chestnut Street Church who were join
ing Trinity Church. There were lSl full
mem bers ana 10 probationers. these were
greeted by the pastors and o.iiciary OF the
Trinity Church, at the altar. The con-
Rregation rose and sang II Love Thy
Church, y God, during this service.
The coiG munion service was In charge
OF Il. Q. Bass, d.. presiding elder. He
was assisted by Kew. W. V. morrison, ID.
d.. and the two pastors OF the church.
Altar after altar was filled with commun
icants. lhe aisles were thronged. Ine
sunday schools, in the service following,
were pleasantly united during busy
hour. Over l50 scholars from the Chest
nut street school Joined. The capacity
of the audience cnapels and galleries was
taxed to accommodate the scnooL This
union makes Trinity one OF the largest
caurohes In the city.
In the evening the first preaching SER
Woe was held and tue lresiding tlaer DIR.
B ass delivered the discourse. His text
was the verse: But We have this treasure
In earthen vessels that the exlellcncy OF
the power may be Of doi, land not OF us.
The treasure referred 10 In tIe verse ne
said, was tie gospel of tho Son CT Col.
The truth In the Gospel made 1t treas
ure.
Where lost sinners were drifting without
a pilot or q chart only the Word uf God
solved their problems. 1t answered the
questions "who. whence, whither?' anu
stood unnpproachable In It's portrayal OF
the N oral condition OF this lace. Every
reader could find moro and more in IL
that concerned himself. 1t pointed every
one to an infaliibie physician Of tine SOUL
IL enabled tae person to face death with
out fear. 1t provided q way for the bad
man to become good and gave strength TO
the weak.
1t was boog OF precept and told how
10 live. Men might stumble over Bible MIS-
tory and. te dispused to oeuy the Word of
God, but at the same time one part was
hiWhys uuIHitOcu W uo GoOu. l0e gospel
code OF morals needed DO change. IL was
moral law fitted alike foi the slums and
the sanctuary. Wers its precspts followed
locks and bolts would not be needed and
virtue and innocence would be safe at
any tine ana anywhere.
1t was also u treasure In It's promises.
Infirmities ana trials were inevitable on
earth. The gospel was as good In storms
as In sunshine and enabled one to stand
fast In integrity and iRith. Nowhere else
were such promises given as In toe Bible.
Ihe scholars, scieni 5sts, disc overers, in
ventors had done great service to the
world, but let them Iroduca new and
improved gospel ;let item give something
up to date, something better adapted to
|. these days or intelligence. They would
not accept the challenge. There was no
new gospel needed.
Perishing men were chosen to preach
the everlasting gospel. Why were not
angels chosenf Why did not tho saints
return to preacn itf Having once made
the journey, what perfect guides they
would be. But the large part of the
preachers OF the gospel were all plain,
common men. Though called of Gou,
yet they were working out their own sal
walton with fear and trembling. They
were encouraging others, yet they had
their own Land TO hand conflicts with the
powers OF darkness.
Why was this ministry entrusted To men
who at best were imperfect. That the
excsllency of the power might 10 OF God.
Had superhuman beings been called the
Rlory would hava been ascribsd to the
preacher. God had chosen whom. He saw
fit