The age-herald., 1901-11-04
The Rev, John 6, Murray Ob- serves Anniversary at the
 Church of Advent
TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTED
And Words of Encouragement to the Living-Thanks Congregation For Tedious Work and
 Faithful Attendance.

The Rev. John G. Murray came to Birmingham as rector of the Church of the Advent oh November 1, 1S96 and yes- terday at Il o'clock his remarks and his sermon were appropriate to the anniver- sary occasion.
 He conducted two boly communion ser vices, one at 7.sO and the other at the close of the Il o'clock service, and large numbers knelt at the chancel rail at'both celebrations to receive the sacrament.
 At the late morning service the con gregation completely filled the spacious church. A delightful feature of the choir was a solo by Miss Elizabth Knight who sang at the Auditorium the past week.
 Mir. Murray prefaced his formal dis course by graceful acknowledgement to P. G. Powell, who is licensed reader as well as choir master, for the acceptable way in which he had conducted morn ing prayer during the month of october and he also complimented the oongrega- tion for the good attendance at the ser vices in the month past
 Talks of His Stewardship. The rector alluded briefly to his stew ardship at the Church of the Advent. He had preached the word here for five | years and no one, he said, knew how 1 imperfectly 1t had been preached better than he did; he had lived in the presence of the people of this parish for five years I and no person knew, he said, how inn perfectly that life had been better than | he.
 MT. Murray then referred tenderly to this one and that one who had sat under his ministry and had departed hence. New faces had come to take the places of those gone out and the congregation to- day was double the size of that which he found here five years ago.
 There was inspiration and encourage ment the rector said, in those who had gone and those who had come. While those who had departed had gone out into the night, they went with the glow of eternal morning upon their brow, which banished night. Those who had come to fill the vacant pews indicated growth and prosperity and the blessing of God
 After these introductory remarks MT Murray announced as his text: For we are laborers together with God" First Corinthians, 3d chapter and the first part of the 9th verse.
 This text, the preacher reminded his congregation, referred back to the first serm on he delivered as rector, which was from the text, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
 Divided in Three Parts. The text chosen for this anniversary divided Itself naturally into three parts said the rector First, we are laborers In eloquent language Mir Murray showed how God himself was worker. Genesis opened with an account of His labors. He created the heaven and the earth. And Christ the Son of God, was worker
 The preacher next emphasized the neo- essity of laboring together. He pointed out the parallel between the text and the work of the blessed Trinity. Following the opening words of Genesis comes the statement that the Spirit of God was upon the face of the waters. And at the very beginning of Christ's ministry on earth it was manifest that the Fath- CT and the Son and the Holy Ghost work ed in cooperation.
 
 the necessity of working together, the preacher discussed the limitations of man. He classified these limitations thus: The old were no longer capable of physical endurance but they rendered valuable assistance by their sage coun- sel. Those In middle life no longer dreamed dreams nor did they see visions But by reason of their matured judgment they were needed. The young did dream dreams and for that very reason they were needed. The bouyancy of youth brought enthusiasm into the work and without enthusiasm little good could be accomplished for the Master. These three classes with their limitations. when united could do great things for the church.
 Here to Work With God. And the third and last idea was that we are here to work with God Without God our labors would be in vain, but working together with Him victory was certain. The world has teemed with failures. but there has never yet been a failure of Pentecostal mission.
 Animated with these thoughts the fu- ture was full of hope and the rector ex- horted his hearers to go forward with renewed determination to labor in the cause of righteousness and for the up- building of the church of God
 At night there was a service of sacred song. One of the most beautiful numbers was a solo by Miss Miller.