Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-03


vile, of which Rev. A. D. Dodge is pas
tor was dedicated Sunday free of debt
and with substantial surplus. Exer-
cises were held morning, afternoon and
evening, attended by large congrega-
tons. There was not Il hitch i'll tho
proceedings of the day and the pastor
and people Of the fine new church re-
ccived many congratulations upon tho
happy event.
The labOrs of Rev A. d. Dodge in be-
| half of the Free Baptist denomination
| in Watcrville have been heroic, and
| rank with the perseverance and herOiSn
shown by the early missionaries. Mr.
Dodge came to Waterville without q
constituency. He hired with his Owl
money the hall in which the first meet
ing was held. Fourteen persons were
present at that meeting, 4 part OF
these being from Clinton, Il part from
Oakland, and those who We're consid-
cred as coming from WaterVille really
/ lived in Winslow.
| The work has grown. At first 4
church building seemed an impossibility
| hut perseverance, has ut last won, and
the dream Of Pastor Dodge and his
I helpers that the church be dedicated
| free of debt was yesterday realized.
| The first service III the newly com
! rlctel auditorium was held Sunday
! morning, when the pastor, Rev. y. ID.
! Dodge preached a very helpful sermon.
! The afternoon service was held at
! 2.3O p VI. After an anthem by the
| choir the Scriptures were read and af-
| ter another anthem the report of the
/ trca Surcr WAS called for
Deacon \. T.. Purinton reported that
the cost Of the church building had
: been $l3.Dct. There were Bills; outstand-
! ing of SlCa0 and good pledges of $1,000
| in refund numbers, leaving deficit of
! $500.
| Prof. A. ". Anthony Of Bates Col
| lego next addressed the congregation,
and raised in a little over half an hour
! the sum of $500. which was supplement-
| ed with a silver collection, amounting
| to SIS, making a total of S63S.
The hymn Praise God from Whom
| all Blessings Flow" was sung.
| Prof Anthony then announced his
text: Matthew xviii: 15-17; More
| over if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his
| fault between thee and him alone; if
he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy
| brother. But if he will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more,
| that in the mouth of two or three wit
nesses cry word may be established
| And if he shall neglect to hear the
| church, let him be unto thee as an
heather man and publican"
| Prof Anthony said in part
1.-The church is appointed to be an
arbiter In last resort the church is
| to be the final court in human destiny.
| "a portion of the church has taken
! this as authority for communication
4 There was no formal organization
meant by Christ in the words we have
uuOted This word church means in
| the original the assembly, and when
| Our Lord speaks of the church he has
reference to the company Of believers,
/ His disciples.
| AS used ny cur Lord the word church
| had no reference to place. Today we
| know the church in the variety of its
organizations.
! The church is arbiter, q court Of
last resort. in human destiny not be-
cause of any authority conferred upon
her organiza ton, but because she holds
the truth 1t is by the use Of the truth
that the church is the final arbitcr in
1 human destiny.
| There is no church in the world
| which cnbodCs all truth, yet in them,
as the center Of gravity, is the spirit
and mind and will Of the Lord We are
! human. We have human devices. The
| church is 4 holy institution because
ruling her, holding together the var
| ions parts, is the center of gravity, the
truth.
] Let me emphasize another aspect
OF the church of Jesus Christ-itS social
| aSpcct. The church is a social agent
| in the world. No man lives to himself.
no man can live by himself. The direst
misfortune that has ever devised for
the punishment of Il criminal is soil
tnry confinement. a man must have
companionship. The church is an or
ganiZatiun Of companions, each having
in mind the carrying out, not Of his
own ends but the good of others.
The church is a social organization
for the good and blessing Of others.
/ And the church exists as a social force
because of the truth.
"-Thc church of Jesus Christ opening
tile doors Of 4 house like this becomes
an agency Of salvation. Sin itself is
a violation Of n law of God known and
recognized. Salvation from sin involves
| salvation from the three aspects OF
, sn-thc guilt Of sin, the power Of SIM
I the penalty of sin.
, salvation from the guilt of sin may
/. come upon the soul of the sinner, as
soon as he has called upon the great
Lord or life: Lut tho power If sin. the
, sinner himself must overcome, agoniZe
strive, struggle to enter in at the
: straight gate.
"Must the church then Ec composed
, Of perfect members? o that this wick
| ed notion might lie stricken by sin
gle word HvpOcrites. No. Rather
struggling saints.
Can the church save from the con-
sequences Of sin? No. God can forgive
: sin hut not 50 Ear as natural conse'
. uurnces are concerned. If yesterday
:. spent in dcbauch2Ty can I have yester'
day restored to ne? I may do today
what 7 ought 81 have done yesterday
but never will lie restored to me the
=. crDortunity ! have lost.