Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02
REOED|CkTEO.
First Church Started on Its
Second Hundred
Years.
SERMON BY DR.. GLADDEN.
Centenary Of the sunday school ana
Another Address by DIR. G1n1den i'm
the Evcning-TabIct in Mem.
DRY of Miss Elizabeth NJ.
strain Unveiled.

A great congregation gathered 1T the
First Church Sunday morning 10 hear
the sermon by the Rev. Washington Glad
den, u. D., LII. d. of Columbus. Ohio,
and to attend the formal dedication SER
vice by the members of the church. Tho
service was in every way appropriate,
the sermon was a srcat one and the cx-
trcises of dedication. while staple. were
extremely Impressive. The service opened
with an organ meditation and invocation
Ivy the pastor. Tho morning lesson was
read by President NJ. II. Buckham of
the University Of Vermont. after which
the male choir rendered the anthem, "'fln
Professional Prayer was offered by tie
REV. Edward II. Griffin If Johns Hopkins
University. The musical feature OF the
service was solo by Dr. j. Churchill
liindes. Previous to the o;fcrto,y the
Tcv. Mr.. Atkins announced that the funds
5or completing the addition to the church
md paying the expenses of the centennial
had been subscribed and that the collec-
ton would be devoted to placing the rec
ords OF the celebration in "A permanent
form.
III introducing DR.. Gladden., the Ecv.
Mr.. Atkins referred to Or. Gladden's
record and ended by presentire him rs
the man who made it possible for him,
(Mr. Atkins to preach.
Or. 'laddcns sermon was u powerful
discourse and he WAS followed closely
throughout his remarks. He chose for his
text words from the sot. psalm, the 18th
md 18th verses: Return We bescech
three, . God Of Hosts: look down from
heaven ana behold and visit this vine"
And the vineyard which thy right hand
hath planted and the brancl, that thou
madest strong for myself" He SAID:
The psalmist is speaking of Israel.
The nation and the church We're includ-
ed in this thought The church Of God,
like the vine, is an organism. 1t shows
that the Christian experience cannot be
an individual experience. 1t is only in
the relation of fellowship that this life
can be lived
Tho vine IS also n multiple or COM
pound organism. This is why it apt
ly illustrates the Christian church.
Each member OF the church is more
clearly himself by his participation in
the fellowship of the church.
1t is true that the church may some
times suppress individuality by the
vigor of it's dogma, but when it does
it ceases to grow.
Another similitude between the vine
and the church is that there seems to
be no reason why either should die.
"As Is the life Of the tree. so shall be
the life of my people, says the
prophet. There appears to be no reason
why the church should not continue
forever. We know of social institu
lions that have continued for centuries
and arc more vigorous to-day than ever
before. These institutions show that
organizations conforming to the law of
human life live on. The organizations
that live for greed alone are sure to
cease.
If there arc any who want permancnoy
in their economic organizations it
would be well for them to mix little
love.
The church is naturally immortal. II
1t dies it has either been killed or has
committed suicide. The church might
become extinct by the disappearance of
the community, but l doubt II the com
munity would die II the church were
active.
There seer1s 10 be no reason why q
local church should not live on indefinite
j..
I he history of the church is an admir-
able example of TIE parable of the mus
tnrd seed. Fully Cne-third Of :.io people
on earth so under the name Of Christ.
When We sec how the church IS gong
on we see how pertinent is this figure of
the vino.
Never, when locking over the earth,
was its sway so wide and its influence 50
great as now. 1t Is true of the universal
church that there have heen vast aduicr-
atoms Of its doctrire. 1t has taken many
centuries to make tie progress Il
las ard it will take many more before
Christ can present It to God without a
hlemsh
The church Of Christ in the world to-
day is an incomplete and unfinished or
ganizat;on. Her achievements have been
great but hcr possibilities are greater
b. far. There have beer many improve
Snents in its doctrine but there are greater
ones to be made. The forces which are
10 transform the church are the resident
forccs-the Individual.
The church is progressive by her very
essence. She must make progress. II
She ceases to advance she must die.
That which is growing cannot be per-
feet or complete. The church cannot be
perfect church because it Is n develop
ing church.
This church is a lively example Of tho
thoughts which We have been considering
surely there ere no indications Of senility
1T the end of its first 100 years. Yet 4
has never been, dare say. Il perfect
church. 1t has made many mistakes ant
ZONE failures but it has never claimed
itself to be nfallible ana so it IL able
look forward to what Is before. The noble
institutions planted here are witnesses
which cannot he gansaid. Tho past i.
secure hut is tho future any less secure
You have had good leaders in the past
Bs1nlI a1nEn1ns1ll