Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-06


close of the first half century of the
church last Sunday evening. Yesterday
morning the. pastor delivered an excel
lent sermon upon the theme, Looking
Forward" the text being: "The Lord
shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in from this time forth" His
remarks, which were thoroughly APP
preciated by the congregation, were as
follows:
The concluding sevices of the fftieth
anniversary celebration of the Third
Presbyterian Church were held yester-
day and were largely attended by the
members of the congregation and their
friends. The ceremonies were very APP
propriate to the occasion, marking the
opening of the second half century, Of
the church.
'In this text we have the sure keep
ing power of God pledged. Here we
have the assurance that the defense
and guidance and benediction of Jeho-
yah shall rest upon all our undertake
ings. The Psalm looks to the future
and fer this reason by some it has
been called new years Psalm. But
to-day as we cross the threshold of
new period of our church life we may
apply it to our future During the
last few weeks we have been looking
backward on the years that have
passed. They are gone as the clouds
go On a summer day; they came, they
grew, they rolled full-oIbed, they
waned, they died, and their story is
told. Years that wrought upon US in
thought and deed with the force and
power of eternity, years whose marks
we shall carry forever, were dissolved
like the dew. and their work Is fin
ished. And now upon this first Sab
bath of the new half century it be-
hooves us to turn our faces to the
future. Not that we would forget the
days of DID, but that we may learn
of Gods youcnsafed care, and the con-
ditions upon which we may enjoy this
care. We would gladly linger longer at
the dividing line, but time bears us on.
The ship holds on her course and
makes for the desired port, whether
they on beard are silent or active.
80 time is at all times bearing us
onward to the land where there shall
be no more. There is never pause in
our progress toward eternity, whether
We trifle or are in earnest. Even while
l preach and you hear this sermon
the great ship is still speeding onward
at the same rapid and unvarying rate.
We shall soon see the shore of eternity,
far sooner than we think. Past time
urges us to diligence, for it has re-
ported us in heaven; and future time
calls us to earnestness, for it must
be short and may end this day. When
so more years shall have run their
course. how few of us will be living
to tell the story of the events of the
past week. The following mathemati-
cal illustration we borrow from a SER
mon Of the late Dr. Spencer, of Brook
lyn. Suppose ones congregation to
consist of three hundred souls. Now.
estimate the prospects Of these 800
souls by general average based on
the Well-known laws of mortality and
we have these results:
In the course of one year 9 of them
. Will die. In ten years "a will have
died. In twenty years 1913 will be
gone. In thirty years 211 will be no
more. In forty years 249 will be in
eternity. In fifty years 274 will be
dead men.
Would that this picture were as eff
ficacious as it is appalling! Would
that the hearts of the 300 in a promis-
cous assembly wer so affected with
the idea that 8 of them would hear
the voice of the Son of God and live!
My hearers, your days are fast num-
boring up! The lens in your glass
OF life are fast failing! Your seat in
this church will soon be vacant, and
the ear that now listens to me will be
sealed up till the trumphet of the arch
angel shall awake the dead Accord
ing to the above figures only 16 of
you wal live to see our hundredth an
niversary and it may be that not one
of us will live to see it.
Nevertheless the past is forever
gone, our future, whether it be long
or short, is before US; and our text
falls upon us as sweet benediction:-
The Lord shall preserve thy going
out and thy coming in from this time
forth and even forever more
Looking back upon what God has
done for us, stimulates us to immed-
lately lay hold upon this promise with
gratitude and joy. With the assurance
that Gods protecting care is over us
as a congregation, we gladly and
peacefully enter the new era of our
history. IF God be for us, who can
be against u.s." When the Lord is our
keeper, when He is a shade upon our
right hand what greater assurance
of success in the future do we need?
Years ago train was rushing along
on the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. at
great speed. The passengers were an
xious, because it was in the time of the
war, and they were afraid that the
enemy might tear up the tracks and
cause wreck. A bright little girl
came toward passenger and said,
Good morning" in a clear, sweet
voice. The gentleman asked her if
she was not afraid to ride ON the cars.
She said, Sometimes l am, but / am
not afraid this time"
why are you not afraid this time?
Everybody else seems to be afraid.
Besides we are running very rapidly"
"Oh, there is no danger at all, for
my papa is running the engine"
"Oh, that we could all have the con-
fidence in our Heavenly Father that
this little girl had in her earthly faith
er. When we have God to guide us