Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-20
STORY OF2O YEARS
Rev. w. S. Marquis Reviews Pro
gress of Broadway Pres
byterian Church.
RECEIVES 732 NEW MEMBERS
Has Preached Total OF 2.O13 Ser
mons-HopefnI of a Bright
Future.

Marquis, d. D., yesterday morning
took for his subject The Gospel OF
| the Grace of God"
For his theme he chose Acts IKEA:
Neither count l my life dear unto
myself, so that l might finish my
course with joy. and the ministry,
which l have received of the Lord
Jesus, TO testify of the gospel of the
grace of God"
1T is natural for every human heart
10 review the past and forecast the
future. We live in the present; but
we live by the bread of experience
prepared by the past, and by the har-
vests of hope when wave before u
in the future" said DR. Marquis.
Twenty years on jane II the Lord
has permitted me to work in this
church. | would bring him a sacrifice
Of praise and gratitude. With King
tlczekiah | would say, The living. the
living he small praise thee: the father
to the children shall make known thy
truth
God has been good to us as pastor
and people. He has blessed our fell
lowship and service. We have labor
ed in perfect harmony. There has
been no clamor of strife or Jealous
rivalrics of Unchristion zeal. within
the church. Not once in all these
years has any bitter word of discour
aSemcnt, or any shaft of malice been
shot into the pastors breast. or at his
home and loved ones. Two things are
essential to pastors success, viz:
sure conviction that God has called
him to his work, and the sympathy
and support of his people No man
can do his best in the face of coldness
or contention. | thank God | have
both of these aids to my ministry.
Years EventfuI Ones.
These 20 years have been eventful
ones also for our city. We have grown
in that time from population of some
1900 to $4,000. We have seen n muI-
titude of public improvements made:
street paving inauguratcd, wooden
sidewalks displaced by brick and con
crete and all brought 20 grade. the vol
unteer hose companies have given way
10 well equipped paid companies: our
police have dOnned Uniforms and we
nave police patrol and ambulance:
electric street cars have crowded ont
the sleepy little horse cars which did
duty between here and Moline: the
viaduct has been buiIC, the waterworks
reservoirs, the electric lights and teIe-
phone exchanges, the Y. NJ. c.. A.
building. postOfice building court
house. Woodmen building. hospital.
new Augustana college building. all
our fine ward school buildings and the
splendid high school. three new
depots, and the magnificent library.
have all appeared within these years
as well as many fine residences and
business blocks.
1t has also been an era of church
building. The new Methodist church
and Memorial Christian. the English
Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran and Ger
man Lutheran, the Spencer Memorial.
Sacred Heart. Christian Science. He
brew synagogue, Mckinley. South
park and Bethel chapels. have been
built, and our own church enlarged.
and the Sunday school building
added. These church improvements
have cost not less than 5000, 900. Our
city has kept pace with the country.
Indeed we have every reason to be
lieve that our beautiful tri-citics are
planted in a natural point of vantage.
and destined to grow rapidly into a
populous center. a humming hive of
industry. natural point of distribu-
tion and delightful place of residence
for those seeking the advantages of
commence. manufacture, education
and religion combined
broadway eeEH Pace
Has Broadway church kept pace
with this growth on every side When
/ took charge there were 101 names
on the roll. OF these only Sc remain.
There have been added to the roll in
the 20 years. 49, members. OF these
ISIS came upon profession of faith in
Christ. and 2S4 were received by GER
titicate from other churches They
came from Congregational. Methodist,
Christian, United Brethren. United
Presbyterian; they were not asked to
change a single belief or submit to
single rite in order to enjoy full mem
bership. We call attention to this as
an evidence of practical Christian IN
ion. and of the broad tolerance of our
Presbyterian church. Our member
ship now numbers about 475.
Work of the Pastor.
Now few figures as to the pas
tors individual work | have preach
ed in Broadway pulpit 1851 sermons
in other pulpits 800 times. and eX-
changed pulpits 60 times, making a
total OF 2.013 miscellaneous addresses.
and conducted $50 funerals. This
makes a total of 4.G4S services and ad-
dresses in the 20 years. or an average
OF one for every one and threefourths
days for the entire period. have bap-
tized 2I1 children and Isl adults,
married 203 couples and have a rec
ord OF nearly 5000 pastoral calls
Such is the record. Into how few fig
ures a mans life work can be con
densed. do not dare to challenge
sou with my faithfuIness as Paul did
the Ephesians. There have been
many mistakes and failures. | thank
Continued on Page Eight.