Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-10
CHURCH NOW
FREE OF DEBT
Patient Effort Of Harrison
Street Congregation Crown
ed By Success
PASTORS SPECIAL SERMON

After working unromitHngly since June
to raise sufficient funds to raise the in-
debtedness Of Harrison street NJ. E.
Church, the congregation celebrated their
success with special services yesterday.
Tho jubilee really began on Saturday
evening with o dinner, served ia. tho home
Of l.. l.. Chamberlain. No. eas Harrison
street. opposite the church. to the pres.
ent and former pastors Of the church. The
afair was most enjoyable and at its close
the participants repaired to tho church
where the final subscriptions were re-
celved.
AT the services yesterday morning tha
regular order of business was gone
through and the sermon which was
preached by the pastor was replete with
reference TO the accomplishment and In
congratulation OF his faithful foclS being
as follows.
For the past forty years the Israelitoa
had been more or less under the yoke Of
the phillstines. Twenty years had elan-
sed since they made "a desperate elfort
20 regain their national Independence. but
In the engagement they were routed with
a great laughter. and the ark. the SYM
boi OF everything sacred IN Isracl's na-
tional life was captured by the philis-
tines. This terrible defeat so cowed the
lsrnelltes that they were devoid Of both
political and religious enthusiasm. In
this period OF national servitude Samuel
left his home IN Ramah and travelled
through the land from town to town ear
nestly eNhortlng the people to forsaka
their ldolatry, whcih was the direct cause
Of their loss OF national Independence.
His message was direct and incisive. He
preached the gospel of repentance. IL
took tweniy years to produce the har-
vest, but the toilsomc years at last bore
fruit IN their remuneration OF sin ana
their whole-hearted conservation to God.
, Samuel through whom the Lord was
bringing about this national reformation
called an Israel TO Mlzpah about nve
miles northwest OF Jerusalem. and after
Shiioh was destroyed. became the politi
oal ana religious center of Israel. The
Philistines saw in this convocation the
Likelihood OF an insurrectlon. 1t meant
an uprising OF patriotism and boded dam
ker 20 their supremacy The lords Of
the five affiliated cities mustered an army
and marched to Mizpah among ths
mountains. While Samuel was offornr
up a burnt-onoring. which was an ex-
preston OF fun and unreserved oonso-
Grafton TO God and was praying for
divine help. the Philistines drew near to
battle,
The Israelites we're FILED with terror
when they saw their cruel oppressors
marching against them with helmet ana
sword. But a terrific thunderstorm arose.
which was a very rare occasion IA that
country. and the Phllistincs became
alarmed and panic-striclxen for they re-
/ cognized that God WAS against them.
Israel scored such a complete victory
that day that the Phllstlnes did not mo-
lest them during the remaining years OF
Samuel's official life.
''To commemorate the victory Samuel
took stone and set il up between Miz-
peh and shon. and called tho name Of
it Ebenezer, saving. hitherto hath the
Lord helped us-Ebenezer means stone
Of help Samuel was conforming to an
ancient custom, which attn prevails in
the East.
when the children Of Israel crossed
the Jordan, the Lord spoke unto Joshua.
saying. Take you twelve men out Of tho
people out Of every foan a tribe. and
command sc them saying. Take you honcs
out OF the midst of tho Jordan twelve
stones, and ye shall carry them over
with you and leave them in the lodging
place where We shall lodge this night
when your children ask their fathers m
time TO come. saying. What mean yc BY
these stonesy Then We shall answer them
that the waters OF Jordan were cut on;
and these stones shall be for a. memorial
, unto the children Of Israel forever. And
, the children OF Israel did so as Joshua
! commanded.
Il Continued an r'ifth Pare