Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
27TH ANNIVER SARY
COMMEMORATIVE SERMON BY
REV. DIR. F. ID. POWER.
Review of the Work of Vermont
Avenue Christian Church
Under His Charge.

services COMMUNICATING the twtnty-sev-
ehth anniversary of the acceptance of the
p2storate OF the Vermont Avenue Christian
church by the Rev. DR.. F. d. Power were
heIu yesterday in the aforementioned edi-
flee by the pastor. The advance made nv
the church during all these years was re-
viewed by DIR. Power. From a small CON-
gregation, he said, OF about $50 souls. who
worshiped in little frame chanel between
n ana o streets on Vermont avenue, in
1913, when that locality was surrounded hv
| commons. and was considered as belonging
to part OF the suburbs Of the nations
capital, the number had slowly but surely
grown out Of all proportions TO the small
! mouse or worship and larger and grander
edifce was necessary
DIR. Power took for his text Pauls words;
"Whereto we have already attained let us
walk by the same rule: let us mind the
same thing phil, iii:l6). "Anniversa-
ries, he said. may be either very sad or
very happy occasions They remind us OF
the flight Of time and the nearness of the
grave. For those who look upon death as
bringing an end to their pleasures. the pas
tor said, they must have only sadness but
Tor the Christian, animated by the hope the
gospel inspires, each returning anniversary
Is as hill top whence the eye Of faith may
look over the stretch of intervening time
ana see something Of the delectable noun
tains and know a few more hill tops passed
and valleys crossed. knows he viii reach
the Canaan of Gods promise
Twenty Seventh Anniversary.
In speaking of the days celebration Mr.
Power said:
This is the twenty-seventh anniversary
of our relation as pastor and people What
has been done in this period? Then We had
but the little church worshiping here; now
We have four organized churches active in
all the interests of the kingdom OF Christ
Then We had only the little frame chapel
worth, possibly, 5000; now we have four
good houses of worship, worth 100000
Then We raised with difficulty 81 $50 a year;
now We contribute to the Lords work over
$1,000. Then We were little known in tho
city; now We are reckoned among it's re-
ligious forces. The past year we have
planned our fifth center of religious infiu-
ence, and We, have had an unparalleled
growth in numbers in our churches. This
mother congregation has steadily increased
in numbers, in liberality, in missionary
zeal, in all graces and good works. Some
have been added, some lifted higher. some
left for other fields Of service, some have
fallen. out of the ranks and gone back to
the world, but We have made progress to-
ward the goal. We have resorted to no
sensationalism, no claptrap, no lectures on
the Sphinx, the north pole Mount Pelee or
the strikes. We have tried to proclaim tho
simple gospel of Jesus Christ. We have
sought to make Christians, not sectarians
or churchmen. We have endeavored TO be
charitable and fraternal toward all. for We
have no war, save with error and sin. We
are in the arena. We have left the start
ing point. That is something. We have
made some Roadway in the race. That Ia
everything"
In conclusion the pastor said:
I'VE have fallen short In the work that
should be done for the children What q
field Of service here for willing handsi
What missionary work will count so might
ly for all time and eternity as that dome
for little childi We have fallen short In
prayer, in Bible study. in praise. All, we
fall too far short OF the cheer that Is the
chief element of the gospel. We talk too
much pessimism. Talk happiness, talk
faith, talk health.
I'VE not as mindful OF the stranger
as we might be. In liberality m the COLI
secration Of our money, there is room for
growth. There is no haven for stingy pep
pie. There Is no place in Gods economy
for an idle SOUL