The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-07-07
CHURCH
PEOPLE
OBSERVE
Fiftieth Anniversary Found
ing of Salem Church
COngregatiOnaIistS Semi Cen
tennial Sermon

The initial service of a five days
program of exercises incident to the
fiftieth anniversary of the organization
of the First Congregational church, of
this city, was held Sunday morning.
The anniversary sermon was preached
by Rev. p. S. Knight, who for II con.
secutive years, served the Salem con
gregation as pastor in the early his
tory of the church. The auditorium
was beautifully decorated with fes-
tOUns of evergreens and flowers. Spe-
cial music was given by the choir,
which was under the direction of
francesca Seley, and included the fol-
lowing: Misses Heulat, Lewis, Cava-
naugh and Raymond; Messrs Purvine
Fletcher and Boeschen. The organ
lists were Miss Beatrice Shelton and
Miss Winnifred Byrd. Little Miss Lii.
lian Siege played the violin.
Rev. Mr. Knight selected as a text
Leviticus 25 ;1O-"and ye shall hallow
the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty
throughout all the land and unto all
the inhabitants thereof; 1t shall be
jubilee unto you; and ye shall return
every man into his possession, and
ye shall return every man unto his
family" In his address, Rev. Knight
omitted all "reminiscences of histor.
ical character, explaining that this
phase of the history of the Salem
church would be reviewed at subse-
quent programs. The speakers said
this was a strenuous age, and that the
full meaning of the half century just
ended could be measured only by
events, not by an increase in area or
growth of population. In the period
covered by the life of the Salem
church 100000 slaves had been freed
the expansion along educational lines
had fully equalled that in area and
in population, through the agency Of
science there had resulted marvellous
veniences At the time the Salem
church was organized in 1852, with a
membership of only four, there were
only four churches In the territory
represented in Oregon. Washington,
Idaho and Montana, with a combined
membership of less than 100. At the
present time the same district has
more than 200 churches, with a mem.
bership exceeding 10000. A single
word-Liberty--was representative OIL
the work. Liberty implies justice
equality universal kindness and help
fulness. True liberty implies physic.
al, intellectual and spiritual life, while
life implies growth and growth pro.
gress. A clear and practical interpro.
tatioa of 'ye shall return every man
unto his possessions" is the symbol
of the final jubilee, Have we by any
act lost our right to those promised
possessions? In spiritual things we
are more apt TO live beneath rather |
than beyond our means We should
strive TO be equal to all our opporunl.
ties, large in charities, and earnest in
our activities. Let MS be thankful for
the past, glad in the present. and
ready to receive in the future such
downpouring Of the Holy Spirit that
would prove a vertable Pentacost
Special Sunday School exercises
were held at the noon hour and at |
O'Clock in the afternoon reunion ser
vice was held by the Y. p. S, c. f..
the meeting being addressed by Rev.
j. n. Smith, a prominent missionary
worker In the state, At o'clock Sun
day evening a twilight communion
service, including the reception
Of new members, was conducted |
tion of new members, was conducted
the address being delivered by Rev c.
f. Clapp, superintendent Of home mis-.
sions.
Tonight's Program.
The exercises this evening will be
Of historical character and, I'm addi,
ton TO the several musical numbers, |
will include two addresses, as follows:
Oregon and Salem Of 1852" by Hon |
II. B Boise. Judge Of the circuit court |