The Newtown bee., 1903-10-23
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
HUNTINGDON,

HUNTINGTON,
ECHOES FROM THE OLD HOME SERVICE
IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
IN HUNTINGTON, AUGUST 30.-REv
WILSON G. wHEELER's ADDRESS.
About II years ago, on June 20, 1886,
upon the eve of my departure for my
Kansas ministry, I preached in the old
church edifice here, where had spent
my 0Sabbaths in earliest youth and
where at the age of ID years l united
with the church. shall always hold
in sacred memory the early home on
White Hills; The schoolhouse across
the street here in the Center, where
I attended; the Center street, the
scene Of my boyhood sports; the GEN.
etery, the resting place Of all my rela-
tives; the river, and the old church
with high steps and the Sunday school
rooms beneath, where prayer meetings
were commonly held after Sunday
school before the afternoon service,
that my voice was first heard in public
when I frequently repeated the Lords
prayer as a lad. There was no Chris
tian Endeavor and the young expected
no recognition. But in some way,
through parental fidelity and church
sOlemnity, We learned reverence and
were not driven away. My examina-
tion for church membership at the par
sonage by the pastor and deacons was
remarkable in that they expected a
lad of ID years to have distinct ex-
perience and some clearness in church
doctrines and rules. stood alone in
the aisle OF that church and took those
solemn vows. have never been sorry.
II this church or any church isgoing
to doits work and fulfil it's mission to
each generation, it must train careful.
ly the young. II We want a better
church life, stronger character in the
community, better equipped deacons,
trustees, superintendent and pastors,
we must grow them! and we must lay
our plans for a quarter Of century.
My special message to you on this oc-
casion shall center about some words
Of Jehovah to Israel as they, just out
Of Egypt, were resting at Sinai tn
learn the commandments, a boiler life
and a truer worship. "Ye have seen
what did unto the Egyptians, and
how bare you on eagles wings, and
brought you unto myself" Exod. 1914.
The end of God in His endeavor is not
Sinai and moral rectitude, nor Canaan
and heavenly peace and ease, but
He is aiming it all to bring US un-
to Himself. Moral integrity does not
satisfy God nor save any; for one can
attain an honorable position in those
lines and stand aloof from God. There
have been and are such here. Some of
this class refuse to unite with Christ IS
church. Brethren to gain victory over
our own temptations and weaknesses
We need to swing our whole lives into
thecurrent of positive Christian zeal
The center Of Christ's work and mes
sage is the bringing of US into Gods
friendship. He won His followers in
to that relation. You may fail tt
reach the ideals of youth, the hopes OF
your maturer years, but If we come t.
know our God in character and friend
ship, our lives are full of success. AS
l look into some of your faces can re-
call the tenderness OF Gods eagles
wings. We have tried to fly out into
LIES experiences we have gone, ant
just at the crises He has borne us uI
back again into rest. Mrs Browning
said to Charles Kingsley: "Tell m,
the secret Of your life that may max,
my life beautiful too" He replied: 81
had a friend.'' How true! 1t Ii
another to whom I would commend
you. The sad act of life is to come S,
far in LIES attainment as to knock al
the entrance to Gods presence; and al
He opens the door for US to come unit
Him to stand aloof. 1t is life's sin
The saddest word we ever can say i
when we come into the presence O
our Lord and Saviour and gaze into Hi
face to be compelled to say, 81 neve
knew YOU" And the saddest word yo
could hear would be His answer: 6
never knew you!" These words nee
never be said.