The Washington times., 1902-04-28
BIRTHDAY OF TRINITY
CHURCH CELEBRATED

>ELE6NAlED
remove all ignorance. Few escape this
morning heartaches and sorrow because
of the consciousness of rast associations
| and loving relationships.
The consideration of the article of our
faith is worthy of careful study. not alone
because OF the comfort and consolation
therein, but because right understanding
Is necessary to a more real belief. for
faith must find expression in action.
otherwise ones faith. so called is but a
mere formal and perfunctory declaration.
God. the divine spirit. gives to us the
consciousness OF all this blessed truth,
his for us. that 1t may be help TO a
better life, an ever present incentive to
holiness, and an abiding happiness in the
blessed comfort and knowledge of the
closeness to us. in the body of Christ. Of
those who God has taken unto himself.
Those Who Have Gone Before Not Lost
ut is ours to rejoice in the good hope
of eternal life given TO us by our risen.
| ascended. and ever living Saviour. Some
have gone before. but they are not lost to
us. thank God. We may love them still.
we may pour out our remembrances of
them before Gods throne. we may be sure
they have a greater interest. even in US.
The souls of the righteous are in the
hands of God and while We struggle on
they are at rest.
May God open our eyes of faith, as he
opened the eyes OF the ancient man. that
we may see the mountains filled with the
loving, faithful ones. who have gone be-
fore
Following the sermon. the holy com
munion was celebrated by the rector. DIR.
Williams. assisted by Rev. DR.. Frank NJ.
Gibson. assistant rector. and the Rev. DR..
J. E. c. Smedes. The latter. retired
Episcopal clergyman. past the eightieth
milestone of his life. lead the gospel les
son of the service.
Full Choral Service.
At 4 o'clock there was full choral
service. at which Rev. Charles E Buck,
rector of st. Pa,1s Protestant Episcopal
Church at Rock Creek. ofHciated. The
Rock Creek Church is one of the Oldest
in the diocese. having been founded in
1925.
Mr.. Buck took for his text Joshua, iv:6. !
What mean ye by these stones'" /
After calling the attention of the con-
gregation assembled to the duties of the
present. and what they had to do in the
future. he referred Ut length TO the his
torical planting in the River Jordan of
the stones over which the children OF
Israel entered the Holy City. and how.
later, they were used as the foundation
stones of a chrrch erected as a memo
rial to Gods mercy.
Church the Incarnation of All Blessings. |
Even so II is with this church which |
is today celebrating its seyenty-fifth an
niversary." continued Mr.. Buck. "It is |
one of the witnesses of what has been |
done In tine uplifting of Gods church, |
with the twelve Apostles the twelve |
foundation stones and our Lord and Sa-
vior. Jesus Christ, as the cornerstone
THE church stands as the Incarnation |
of all blessings. and it is incumbent upon
all of US. as his disciples. to hand il
down to the coming generations"
Evening Choral Service.
At the evening service. Rev. Thomas
J. Packard, rector OF Christ Protestant
Episcopal Church, at Rockville. Md, and
archdeacon of Prince Henry and Mont
gomery counties, Maryland. OF the Protes-
tant Episcopal Diocese OF Washington,
was the preacher.
A full choral service was again held.
The Scripture lessons we're read by the
Rev. DIR. X. J. Keeling. the only surviving
former rector of old Trinity. The Rev.
Mr.. Packard preached from the words as
chronicled in Hebrews, kill: "Wherefor
seeing We also our comforts about with so
great a crowd Of witnesses" He said in
part:
Commemorative exercises such as you
are now holding in honor of the seventy
fifth anniversary OF the establishment OF
Trinity parish are recognized with inter-
est They testify that man is not salts
fed with the present. but must look back
on the past, and also penetrate the gio--
ious future
A Joyful Occasion.
MY sympathies are with you or this
joyful occasion, for my mother was a
teacher in the Sunday school OF this
church. / also rejoice, and am indeed
most happy in the thought. that on Sun
day next, your church will be dedicated
to the service OF God.
'on this joyful occasion we should not
forget the article OF faith in reference {
to the communion of saints. We should I
look upon them as countless witnesses q
Of our faith. 4 union with them gives
us renewed force and encoura cement in
the pursuit OF Christian life. They have {
gone before, but are still conscious. still {
pray for us. and still witness our efforts {
and by unseen efforts hand on TO us a |
orce whose origin we do not know ,
The unseen things of life are most Q
powerful. The prayers and mcditations |
If Gods people act through space DO 4
We not believe The saints are working for /
is and are source of inspiration and en- |
oura cement to u.s.
A Precious Heritage
The fact that you are today celebrat- {
ng the seventy-fifty anniyersary of your [
hureh is indeed a precious heritage in
his great city, less than one hundred n
ears old. That influence that you now f.
xcrcise. and which was handed down to n
on by those who have gone before must b
ever die. To prolong that influence and !,
lake il go down TO future generations :,
$ your imperative. solemn duty. r.
1T is commendable for one to look back =
} noble ancestry and to refer to the past a.
18th pride. but to be numbered in the vast =,
rmy of God that has had for its heroes - -
ne best men of all ages, society or =,
OF men who live for God and J.
an. serve God and man, and love God '
nd man, should be your highest purpose
life.
Shall we not initiate the saints of God
leaders and examples who in long I
nd weary journey are companions and
lends? On this seventy nth anniversary
le voice of the past speak. voice more
,werful than a living example, for to a.,
lie living We can make excuses. but to the :,
Iints only life OF conservation will do 81