The Newtown bee., 1908-11-27

fehtbiy pi the Wofk or a Christian
 church through 37 years or its life. The
 results of church life Ghat is the most
 Important of them) are too subtle to be
 caught up by the pen and transferred
 to paper. If you look at the comedy
 edlflee, the church roll, or the as-
 sembled congregation, these represent
 only a part, and the least important
 part of her work. Her work is chiefly
 spiritual, and yet she determines the
 style of architecture for your homes
 and your business; your public schools,
 your philanthropie enterprises could
 not have existed without her friendly
 aid. Your industries would not have
 been so prosperous without her. Her
 elevating and inspiring touch has been
 felt in all the avenues of Your busy life.
 It is not enough to say that religion
 does not disqualify q man for business.
 It is the crown to all his other virtues.
 It gives cunning to the hand. clearness
 to the vision, and strength to the judg-
 ment.
 This church has been the promoter
 Of peace and good will in the com
 munity. Uneonsciously her influence
 has been felt in all the channels of your
 enterprise. This church has done much
 for the moral and physical character
 of our beautiful town. We have not
 yet exercised the Devil. The saloons
 and other vile institutions no doubt
 still exist. Woodbury has not yet be-
 come a paradise, but it would have
 been a Sodom and Gomorrah without
 these Christian churches. Unrecognized
 as the influence of the church often
 is, nevertheless she has been the con-
 servator of law and order. Remove
 these churches, and all they stand for,
 and our community would soon lapse
 into barbarian. An institution so won
 derful and useful, as the church,
 should have the affection and patronage
 of every member of the community.
 To withhold these is crime.
 Men may sheer at the church,
 but they cannot but admit that her
 teachings have been spiritual iucen-
 tive of immense and continual eff
 ciency. The truth she has taught has inspired the gong of the martyr in the
 dungeon and at the stake. The faith
 she has inspired has enabled man to dare and do that which otherwise would
 have been impossible: to face not only
 insuperable difficulties, but the most
 appalling dangers and even death it.
 self. Her teachings have afforded tran
 quility in trouble, superlative peace
 and joy in the hour of grief, and tri-
 umph over the grave.
 It is well for us to understand that
 every thrust that is made at the in- tegrity of the Bible, every doubt that is cast upon the value of prayer. ev. cry attempt to secularize the Sabbath !! and disparage the worship of God, ev- ! cry sheer at the church, is a thrust at !! the believers hope of glory. He who assails the church stabs the hope of s the race. For all that the church has ! done, has been, and still is to us we : should this day be profoundly grate- full. It is most profitable exerclse to commemorate the virtuous deeds of the righteous dead. It makes us grate- ] full for Gods goodness; it makes us charitable toward one another's faults ,, 1t inspires us to faithfulness in our own lives; it helps us to appreciate the s blessings in the midst of which we live; blessings which have been won t for us by the industry and self sacrifice $ of those who have gone before. It is ! this last thought that fills my heart t to-day. These good people have lived 2 largely for us. We inherit what they ' have left behind. I look over this c community, its refined and J pleasant homes, its schools, its church. ' es, and think at once of those who !: have lived before us, and many of them l for a long time with us, and give d thanks to God. We have not won all ! the things for ourselves. They have 0 come to us from other hands. "Other z men labored and ye are entered into their labors." v
 A I have already said, the inner life | of church is not so tangible as its c physical appointments. But even the o figures of those 37 years have their joyous and sad remembrances for us. Il During my ministry there have been U added to this church 26S, IFS by profess c sion, S5 by letter. The average ad- u 1ition for each year would be between c and g. A tliAe larger than the av- U, craze of either of the former pastors. u u One hundred and thirteen children have y oeerl baptized and some of them have a; grown to manhood and womanhood. u The most marked revival in the his- z ;ory of this church was in 1876, five IL ,ears after coming among you. As a q 'esult 54 were added to the church, s' he largest number ever received at y me time. But am thinking, this n morning of the long death roll, of L( hose who are not with us, because n' tod has taken them. One hundred tt md sixteen members of this church s' lave died during my ministry. y hould be glad to go over with you the U ong list and as l reverently called IT heir names, speak of their sweet and Ih' eautiful lives, recall their many vir- nj ues and helpful services. The grim al messenger has come to all our homes; 0' uring these 37 years, anC in our homes " S in our church, we miss the dear It ffection and fellowship of the beauti u ul years, made glad to us by thelr 10 resence and love. But He who has ce rounded our hearts has also given us v he balm of consolation, and we are to nly waiting for that joyous day that ns hall bring us also to that bright pl ,orId where there IS no more death. al 1 look up and down these aisles for al he faces of men and women who 27 tO