The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-05

HAS REQ
letter DAY
Double Anniversary Observed at
the Cranst0n Street Baptist
Church Yesterday.

Al the cranston Street Baptist church.
a double anniversary was observed yes
terday, IL being the beginning OF the 33j
year of the Sunday school and the third
year OF the pastorage OF Rev. l.. L. Hen
son. who succeeded the late Rev. Moses
Bixby. founder OF the church. The church
was handsomely decorated with banners
and streamers in honor OF the occasion
Special music was rendered by the choir,
led by f. Merle Bixby.
The sermon which Rev. Mr.. Henson
preached was taken from Acts ii. IL.
Your young men shall see visions and
your old men shall dream dreams"
He also preached his second anniver-
sary sermon at the morning service.
There was a large congregation present.
His serman In part follows: These
words that / have quoted were spoken by
Joel, who referred to a time that will
come far away in the future. There are
three ways In which God communicates
with His people. One is by prophecy; an
other through dreams and again by vi
! stems.
"A terrible plague OF locusts that had
devastated the country was seen by Joel
as a judgment of God. This indicated
still severer Judgment which could be
sverted only by true heart repentance,
and which was made the basis OF a much
larger message which was termed the
day OF the Lord. and which would he a
| day of destruction, issuing at length In
| the restoration of all things
Peter gave this as the explanation OF
the actions OF the disciples on the day Of
| Pentecost God had poured out His spirit
| on all flesh and Joers prophecy was now
| fulfilled. The text says that old men shall
| dream dreams. that is that God would
| speak 10 the old men. and through them
! TO the people at large. To their wisdom
was added the wisdom OF God Does 1t
| not so continue, and shall we not look TO
| our older men for wisdom?
Their experience. their great know
ledge and the, wisdom which is heaven.
born render them always OF very erea
service. This is characteristic or OLD
men; the young men have no time. but
the old have the opportunity OF thinking
OF the good old times. AS old men let
| us look this moment at the year that has
/ gone and pass In review some or the WORK
OF that year. Have we made such prog
ress as we ought 10 have made?
| There have been received during these
! two years l32 new members, making a
total membership Of ,6s. The church sla j.
cially. But while IL is pleasant TO look
! backward Il is more pleasant To look FOR
ward. and as young men TO see Visions
This Is not bad thing, for the ideals
i must always exist before the real. They
| NAV tcpple over. and tney frequently 10
but at any rate 1t is good thing TO see
| visions. =,
II hope 10 see every member do his
| part for the support Of the church. acre
| has been great progress In this line dur
ing the past year. and large numbers are
| contributing now who d!d not contribute
before but the ideal is that every mem
her shall do his part. ' Also want every
| member to be represented In our mission
ary contributions. We have made mag
nifcent record i'm missionary contriou
tions but In this work some have nae
| no part -,
mo church that fails 10 give for mis-
sions Is doing It's duty and so " Is VIII
the Individual 7 shall hope for the com
ing year by special effort To have mor'
missionary offerings than ever before.
| ~ also desire to see more conversion
than ever before ! am very much con
cerned along this line. We have nad
goodIy number Of baptsms but we cugh
to have had many more, and we WI
= have many more. =,
"a general interest In revival worl
| has spread throughout the country
| greater " ts said. than ever before, hnc
the roma rkable revival OF %. Let us "a
bc- and pray that great results along M
iine NAV come to our church during IN
| coming year.