The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-06
DEBT OF LOVE.
DIR. COuntermine Says Tt is All
His Church Has to Pay.
All Financial Obligations Have
Been Satisfied.
FOURTH ANNIVERSARY
Celebrates Beginning of His
Fifth Years Passionate.
Speaks FeeIingIy of His AssOcia-
tiOns in Topeka.
FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

The fourth anniversary of the pas
torate of Rev. DR.. ]. D. Countermine,
pastor of the First Presbyterian church,
was observed Sunday morning. Dr.
Countermine preached a retrospective
sermon from the text found in Psalms
1881, Behold how good and how pleas
ant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity When he alluded to his
pleasant relations with his congregation
Dr. Countermine was overcome and
shed tears. He said:
1T is always good and pleasant. but
it is not always easy. Human nature
is such that even at its best it is never
altogether angelic. There are moments
when it seems to be almost perfect, but
these moments express transient moods
rather than permanent qualities. No
one ever had a better knowledge of this
than did David. He knew, for he had
learned it in the school of bitter ex-
perience, how many and how diversi-
fed are human desires, thoughts, opin-
ions, wills, affections, and ambitions.
This is so not altogether as a matter
of caprice. but constitutionally. We all
have the same nature, but not the same
disposition The ingredients in our ma
ture are the same, but they are differ
emily distributed. There is more sun
shine and warmth, sweetness and syn
pathy, grace and truth, hope and en-
thusiasm, love and power in some
hearts than in others. 1t is not very
hard, while associating with persons
richly endowed with these superior
qualities. to be kind and congenial. but
all men are not thus endowed
This is as true of church members
as Of nonprofessors. The old Adam is
still there. Grace may at length sub
due it, but not yet has grace achieved
q complete victory. The times. also, in
which we live are not conducive to
peace and quietness- Their effects upon
the nervous system are frequently most
exasperating We are living SO fast
and under such a high pressure that we
are liable to say and even do things
which under other circumstances We
would not think of saying and doing.
David lived in an age long bygone, 1t
is true, and under far different circum-
stances, nevertheless even in his day
there was something so remarkable IN
brethren living and working together IN
unity that he exclaimed Behold Look
at it. See for yourself. Is it not worthy
of your admiration. applause, hearty
endorsement, personal imitation Da-
vid des not attempt to measure the
how No man can do that, for no
man can look far enough into the fu-
ture to see and thus to determine all
tn happy results of such a unity IL Is
good for time and for eternity; good
for the life that now is and also for
that which is to come 1T is good for
the whole man in all of his diversified
relations in life. It is good for MS
body, mind, his heart, and his soul. It
is also good for his reputation, his
business and influence among men 1t
is good for the. family, the church, the
CITY the state. the nation. the race. 1t
is good for everything and for every
body, the old and the young, the rich
and the poor, the learned and the I'M
learned. 1t is good, first because 1t
meets Gods approval. 1t is just what
He most desires and what He has, from
the very beginning, been in different
ways seeking for the children of men
BE We kind one to another, tender
hearted forgiving one another. even as
God for Christ's sake has forgiven you
Such is Gods will, and when that will
is done on earth as it is in heaven, there
will be no contention among men, 1t IS
good secondly because such a whole
hearted unity is that for which Christ
prayed. I pray not for these alone but
for them also which shall believe on me
through their word, that they all may be
one as thou, Father art in me and
in thee, that they also may be one in US
that the world may believe that tnOu
has sent me. Such is the great burden
which today rests upon the heart OF
Christ, and which he is constantly pre-
senting to the Father. ale is at once our
peace and the Prince of peace. AS the
Prince of peace he is at this very mo
nent pleading not only with God but
with every member of the redeemed
family of God, to follow peace with al
men and holiness without which no man
can see the Lord. How his heart must
| therefore, rejoice when he sees brethre-
| dwelling together in unity.
eff that was a good and pleasant sight
/ to David, how much more so must II
| be today to David's Lord? A quarrel
some spirit is not a Christian spirit II
does not come from above but from be
meath. There was no contention, or sOr-
row in the Garden of Eden before Sa-
tan entered it. He is the father of lies
the author of discord, and the promoter
/ of contention among brethren.
Dwelling together in unity il good in
1 the third place because of its most be
nign and beneficial results. David lixens
it to the precious ointment, which, or
| the day of conservation. was poured up
on Aaron's head, and which indicated
that he had been divinely chosen, infilled