The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-10-31

face was forward. The armies he
| had erected were valuable only as
they could be marshalled for present
usefulness. The past, the more glo-
rious it has been, becomes the greater
shame if it be not utilized for pres
ent victories.
We are therefore not concerned so
much about the history of the past
as about the history we are making.
Are we rising to present opportuni-
ties in the performance of present
duties. The first five years of our con-
g1egational history were given to
organization, the securing Of prop
erty, the building Of church, etc.
At the fifth anniversary $4,000
were subscribed to complete the pay
ment for the same.
During the second five years the
Sunday school room was built and
the parsonage was erected at cost
of $1,000. ..-~.
The third five years marked the
payment of the church debt and at
the fifteenth anniversary bonfire
was made Of notes amounting to
$4,000.
Since that time new furnaces have
been installed, the basement of the
church has been remodeled,a new or
gan has been dedicated, church and
parsonage have been reprinted and
new floors and other improvements
added to the parsonage at total
cost of over $4,000.
At this twentieth anniversary we
have no debt to raise, no building to
erect, no equipment of material i'm
portance to secure. With adequate
facilities for our work, with a choir
Of special talent and splendid posi-
bilities, with membership of young
vigorous. influential. with means suf-
iicent for our every necessity. we oc-
cupy today position extremely dan
gerous. If we faithfully use these
facilities at our command to win
souls to Christ and extend His king
dom among men, then will God bless
our efforts, enlarge cur opportunities
and multiply the talents entrusted to
us. But if We are contet to sit in
idlesness, to hear the sermons when
We please, to attend the service Of the
house of God only when we feel in
clined thereto, to close our hearts
against the appeals that come from
the farther fields, to forget to pray,
then assuredly will the blessings be
made curses and our opportunities be
taken away and the vineyard be COM
mitted to others who will bring fruit
therefrom.
Today therefore let lis ask our
selves What is the duty of the
hour? Lift up your eyes, the field is
white, to the work ~@.
Gods call to every member of this
congregation is to gather men and
women and children into the Sabbath
school, to bring them by every pro-
per means under catechetical instruc-
ton, to gather together with your
fellow christians for united prayer,
to secure the attendance of your UNI
saved friends at the preaching ser
/ vices of the church by your personal
example. invitation, and influence, to
seek the conversion Cf your friends
(, and neighbors and to contribute to
every missionary enterprise of our
church that stands for world evange-
lization. God asks not for your
money today, though an opportunity
viii be afforded for free will offer
ing to this cause. He asks for YOUR
self. Will you today in this holy
anniversary service and at His table
renew the covenant made with Him.
TO be His and serve Him with every
noble power of the life. Will you be-
Sin anew to live for Him in humble
faith resting in Him and in holy en-
deavor going against this multitude
of lost souls waiting the message of
|, light?
How many of us who have assem-
bled here. this anniversary day shall