The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-19

u fGTlIiluht uhlilrlu. w NJ NV rn'h'
sine deny that there Is any saving eiiicn'
cy IN baptism. but that il Is only an out
ward symbol of an internal change and
cleansing previously wrought by the
Holy Spirit We also believe that orly
baptized believers are proper subjects Tor
the Lord ~ table.
4 We believe and teach that each To-
cal church is An independent body
with an absolutely aUtOnim' US govern
menl: that she must interpret the
Scriptures for herself and that abe ia &C
rountable To no power save that oil
Christ, who alone is her Head and Law
giyer
, And we also believe and teach that
in the constitution and government 81
the local church the individual responsl
bilty Of each and every members who II
q priest 20 offer up spiritual sacrifices TO
God Every member by reason OF hls
prieety character IL summoned 10 the nj
TAR and the mercy seat by yirture OF this
universal priesthood the entire member
ship IL ordained and consecrated 10 evan
gelica and missionary work. TINS in
ciple and polity intelligently understood
and acted out il well adapted to deepen
the currents Of religious feeling and ac-
lion in the individual life and to raise the
entire membership T. higher planes OF
religious feeling aud activity.
THE MISSIONARY SPIRIT.
". But pass to remark in view oil
what God hath wrought through thu
agency of this Church, il seems fitting
that we should here aud now declar'
with fresh emphasis our belief in and I'D
herence 20 the missionary and aggres-
i've SHE # the gospel This church II
and has been since It's organization D
missionary body, not only Ia theory but
m practice. That il not true al all hap
tist churches. since many of them a'e and
have been avOwediy anti-mission
Ninety years ago. in 1914, the good
women Of this church organized a mis-
-ionary society, the first, but one, ! be.
lieye, organized south of Philadelphia
for missionary endeayor, The cody
women Of this church, a. have known
them for more than third Of "A century,
are worthy SUCCESSORS OF the little band
eho united themselves together nearly
century ago to promote the cause OF
missions The universal spread Oi the
truth il the gospels lofty ambition ano
ts divine destiny And II today we can
be fired anew with missionary zeal as
result III these centenary services, we have
lone well To appoint and observe them
AN APPEAL TO CONSIDERATION.
Y. Again. in view OF what God hath
wrought for us AZ a church, IL becomes
IA 10 cOnsecrate and dedicate anew our
selves to God. | urge upon you this dut,
10 the words OF Moses 10 the sons of Levi:
"Consecrate yourseli today to the Lord,
that he may bestow a blessing upon
you today.
Not only gratitude for past blessings,
but our present and future religious eb-
jOyment calls for such an act OF self-dedi
cation. The more completely coDsecra-
ted we are the greater will be our Joy IL
Gods service, and the larger and richer
the blessings we shall receive IN return IN
our own hearts and lives.
Our future usefulness also demand this
new and complete conservation. There
in lies the secret OF spiritual powtr and
the essential principle Ofspiritusl dynsm-
Il
srnre Christian may have his or her
spiritual power multiplied manifold by
the conservation of all their powers and
professions 20 God.
INSPIRATION ron TaE FCTORE
VI. Lastly. in view of what God haiti
wrought by us and for us let us gather
new inspiration and a fresh outfit a
faith, hope and zeal for future service
Much has been accomplished in the past.
but much more remains to be done. A
review of the past with it's tolls and sue
cesses, its struggles and triumphs, ought
to hll IA with stronger faith in God and
his promises, and with new zeal for
church work, and give to us an an
doubling assurance that our labors will
not be in vain 10 the Lord When we see
what those who have gone before us ar
complished under God, in the face Of
difficulties and discouragements to which
we are experientally strangers, what
may we not accomplish under circnm
stancps so favorable il we are quickei
with their gal and animated by their
spirit Of devotion and selfsacrifce
CLOSING APPEAL
Ny brethren and sisters, let us grid
ourselves airesh for labor and gather
new strength and inspiration for the
tolls and successes OF the future. In tn"
name OF the cody men and women who
planted this church and their successors
who toiled and sacrificed for her growth
and prosperity, as well as in the name
md on the behalf OF those who are to
come after ~, appeal to you by tn
common tolls and sacrifices OF the past
ny ell the glorious memories and recol
lections of a century, and by all the more
glorious abtiripatiOns Of the future, ! be
-tech you forget the things that are be
hind and reach to those that are before.
Turn your backs on the dead past and
Your faces to the rising sun OF the future
in faith, hope and zeel. Ga this, our
occasion, let us in the name OF
our God set up our banners" Since God
works through human agencies, the
character, standing and work oil this
church for the next hundred years will
be " hat we and our children and children's
children make it. Let US do our part
faithfully while we live by loyalty TO
duty, the church and Christ.
Az we have not long in which to do
let US "do with our might what our
hearts find to do" Let us heed the voice
which says to Us "be thou faithful unto
death and will give thee the crown oil
life -.
May God inspire us with something
worthy OF the name OF zeal in such a
cause "and unto Him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus Throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen.
THE NIGHT SERVICE.
The night services were opened by an
organ voluntary and an anthem by the
.hoir-The Lord viii Comfort ZOin, by
i0secr8Ds.
Appropriate Scriptures were read BY
DR.. runaway and prayer was offered by
Rev. r. A. Williams. Capt. s. j. Quinn
vas then presented to The congregation
~ the pastor, who presided, as the his
,orian OF the occasion, who gave an inter
sting and connected history OF the church
rom it's organization to the present
lime. The large congregation listened Il