The times., 1899-12-04
PASTORS GOLDEN JUBILEE
Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the
Rev. J. G. Butler, D. D.
The Congregation of Luther Place
Memorial Church Congratulate
Him Upon His Many Years of
Faithful Services - The Exercises
20 BE Concluded Next sunday.


The congregation Of Luther Place Memo
rial Church yesterday morning inaugurated
a golden jubilee celebration in hoHer of
their pastor, the Rev Dr. J. G. Butler, he
having completed fifty years continuous
service in the city of Washington as a
minister. The celebration will last until
Wednesday. and next Sunday there will be
some special concluding services,
Dr.. Butler, through his long and active
service, is one Of the best known clergy
men in this city, and his friends are as
numerous outside OF his church as within
it, When he first came to this city in
1919. he was identified with ST. Paurs
Church, at Eleventh and H Streets north
west He remained there as the pastor
until March, 1873, when he took charge
OF Memorial Chapel, from which came the
present Luther Place Memorial Church.
This house Of worship was projected in
1866. The cornerstone was laid in 1879.
and the congregation was organized in
Memorial Chapel in 1873. In June 1874,
the church was dedicated and Dr. Butler
became the pastor. The towers of t-e
handsome edifice were not finished until
1888. The statue OF Martin Luther that
stands in front of the church at the juno
tion Of Vermont Avenue and Fourteenth
Street, was unveiled in 1854, aud the Luth-
eran Free Eye. Ear. and Throat Iufrmary
was established in 1882.
Yesterday morning the church was
crowded by congregation that was eager
10 congratulate DR.. Butler on his long and
faithful service. The floral decorations in
the church were magnificent, the pulpit
being very nearly hidden from view by
palms and chrysantbemums. Besides the
members of the congregation, there were
also present the boys and girls who are
inmates Of the Protestant Orphan Asylum
Within the chaneel rail were the Rev. Dr..
/. u. Kuhns, OF this city; the Rev DR..
Milton Valentine, President OF the Theo-
logical Seminary at Gettysburg: the Rev.
Or. Luther Z. Albert, Of Trinity Church
Philadelphia who is the only surviving
classmate of Dr.. Butler, and who has bssn
pastor CT Trinity Church since 1851, and
the Rev DR.. Butler. DR.. Butler conduct
ed the devotional exercises. assisted by
Or. Kuhns, Dr. Valentine. and Dr.. Albert,
VINO preached the sermon.
In beginning the sermon DR.. Albert said
thai eight years ago DR.. Butler had preach
ed a sermon for him when he, DR.. Albert,
celebrated the fortieth year Of his pastorate
IN Trinity Church. Philadelphia. and at
that time he had promised DR.. Butler that
If both lived he would preach for him on
his hftieth anniversary. He was glad to be
able 10 perform this service. and thanked
God, in his providence, for sparing them
both.
Dr. Albert selected this text from
Psalms 126, verse 6:
Every Christian is a worker" said the
he fe nlf aa r~iFh ~oI q
and IS expected to use them. A true
Caristian labsTer realizes that he has work
TO dc for others and their salvation. No
one who has a proper view of the Scrip
lures can come to any other conclusion
than that the Church Of Christ is one grand
missionary organization The Church ot
Christ IS but a congregation OF faithful
men, and every man is therefore respon-
sible for q share Of the work
Dr. Albert said that unfortunately many
failacies had grown up with the Church,
one Ct which nas to regard the Church as
separate from those who compose il. An
other fallacy is that the whole Of church
work falls upon ministers. If this was
the case it would result in the apathy of all
others
Another prevalent mistake. he said, was
that If one contributed literally to the
financial work Of the Church II relieved
him from further responsibility.
The true Christian labOrer," said DR..
Albert. has nothing to do with these fall
l3cies. He feels that the Master has given
him some talents and that he must use
them for the welfare OF men. The true
church laboTer realizes that he can do
something and accomplish something, but
this could not be if he had no hope and
no love for his work. Without hope all
church work would be compulsory. The
true church labOrer believes in the power
Of personal contact with men to do good,
but there are many ways in which 10 do
good without coming in actual contact
with those to be helped. 1t may be done
by prayer, in the press, in correspondence,
by showing kindness to the poor. and
needy and distressed; but after all it is
the living man that has the greatest power
over men. Who has not noticed the diff
ference between the printed speech and
the speech as it falls from the lips?
The true churc hlabOreT is anxious for
the welfare Of others, and man who can,
in his heart, realize the true condition OF
sinners cannot but be anxious, and in his
efforts to do good to employ the best in
struments."
In closing his sermon DR.. Albert said of
DT. Butler:
For fifty years he has been a pastor
In this city His heart has been and is
filled with anxiety for his work When
he first came here the city was small and
its homes widely scattered. Many diff
culties confronted him, which looked to
him 10 be most serious but with his trust
In Cod aided by a noble band Of workers.
and fertile in resources he called every
thing TO him that might aid him In his
work, and, preaching continually Of the
church, Identifying himself with humane
interests IN the city, his influence extended
beyond his congregation and out into the
city. His name became a household word.
How small a space the history of his fifty
years OF work would occupy in print as
taken from the records OF the church but
if we could be told all OF the history at
tached to these records how great volume
IL would I'LL. 1 congratulate him on the
long administration that is granted TO but
few: I congratulate him on the kindly
feeling the people Of this city entertain
for him. congratulate him on his interest
in the work for humanity; l congratulate
him upon his present vig0r OF body and
mind which indicates further usefulness
fOr years 70 come, and for his love for the
master that has never failed him"
TWO DECADES OF LABOR.