The Washington times., 1901-11-25
ST. MARKS FIVE YEARS OLD.
Pastor Reviews the Church Work in
am Anniversary Sermon.

Yesterday with appropriate morning
and evening services. the congregation of
St Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church
celebrated the fifth anniversary of its re-
organization and the installation CT its
present pastor, the Rev. John c. Bowers.
In 1896, when Mr.. Bowers, who had just
graduated from the Gettysburg Seminary,
assumed charge of the pastorate, he
preached his first sermon to a gathering
Of barely fifty people. Sunday morning
every seat in the church was occupied
During this period of five years the
church has made, through the uutiring eff
forts of its pastor, most encouraging prog
ress; so much so as to warrant the COM
mendation of the officials of the Maryland
Synod - st. Marks being allied to th'yt
body. The congregation has not only in
creased, but the church debt has been
materially decreased. From the present
outlook by January, 1862, all encum-
trances will be lifted from the church
property.
The people of St. Marks are especially
gratified that the church has never failed
IN making a yearly contribution TO the
benevolent fund of the Lutheran Church.
Yesterday the Interior OF the church
was profusely decorated with potted
plants and palms, lending a pleasing ef-
feet to the Gothic lines OF its architec-
ture. An augmented choir. consisting of
Misses Mamie Strobel. Emma Strobel,
Violet Murray, Lgey Holsapple and Pau
line Bruhl, and f. W. Leonhardt, Mr.
WestdOhl and Carl Rowe under the dirac-
tion CT Mr.. Cornelius Eckhardt. with Prof
C. II. Huber at the organ, rendered a spe-
cial programme
A line from Isaiah. Let him take hold
of my strength was the text of Mr.
Bowers morning sermon. Mr.. Bowers,
who is a young man. has a deep voice,
which he uses effectively, and always i'm
pFessively. He spoke of the rather care
less attitude OF the many who, when life
and pleasure are at tteir full. disregard
the aid of God 5 strength, supplicating
him only when weak and pOwerless.
'Tis then" declared the preacher
the need OF God is felt, and he. with his
divine sympathy is with us always, as
he has promised to be. Through all the
ages. when civilization ebbed the lowest
and chaos seemed imminent. the yeracity
of that promise has withstood all tests
and is today as mistaken as the noun
tains he builded on the face of the earth /
Mr. Bowers referred sympathetically to
a sick member of his congregation whom
ne had visited Saturday. she is in one
OF the hospitals here, ne said, undergo
ing all the agonies that pain can inilict
When I remarked on her fortitude, she
smiled at me with the brave light Of faith
in her eyes rs she answered me that it
was her belief in God ana the strength
her Master gave her which enabled her to
endure"
Mr.. Bowers said when we looked at the
suffering and misery of others we Won
dered that human nature could suffer so
and survive. But when these same troubles
emerged from a vista to become a reality
with US, we understood il was Gods
strength that carried US through the
darkness TO light.
In reviewing the events of the past five |
years, Mr.. Bowers remarked that he had |
performed forty-One marriage ceremonies.
baptized seventy-three persons, and Off |
ciated at siGty-three funerals. in con
clusion, he said all should be thankful /
that while number of members had been 1
lost by removal, death had deprived them
Of hut few.
Yesterday evening the anniversary cere- /
monies were in the hands OF the Sunday |
school, with the superintendent. Daniel [
Knapp, presiding. Short addresses were I
made by Mr.. Bowers and Mr.. Knapp both .
cOngratulating The members of the church .
and SUNDAY school on their five years of .
success and progress. Miss Carrie Burk- /
hardt sang several solos. and he Sunday .
school classes contributed other musical .
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