The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-04
New Presbyterian Church
Opened In BeSSemer
A VERY ABLE EFFORT
Church's Growth Marked-Union Serv-
ices In Marvel City Last Night
How Bessemer Boys Batted
Last Season.

II AtSbSltIldn GHuICH WIS opeHeQ lHlS
morning, the pastor the Rev. L F. Swal-
low, preaching to a large congregation.
The Rev. Swallows text was from the
11Sth Psalm 2sd verse-"Save now, I be-
seech thee o Lord. o Lord, send now
prosperity
The sermon is as follows:
There is possibly not another word in
the English language that so quickly ar
rests attention and enlists interest as the
word prosperity" The term in itself
signifies accumulative success, not fruit,
but fruitfulness,; not expansion. but de-
velopment; not wealth but riches AS
a community we are peculiarly fitted to
understand the import of its meaning, in
that after a season of reverses and BUSH
ness depression there is bursting upon us
in an Industrial sense the morning glow
of day Of rare promise and hopefulness.
The busy season has opened fully upon
! us, yea we are in its grasp, and have
caught the spirit of returning prosperity.
And despite the failures and disappoint-
ments through which we have passed
every individual has returned to his sew
eral callings with added energy and rich
er experience to test again his fortunes
in the tolls and hardships of trade. The
thing which now possesses the mind is,
! What are the prospects and possibilities
of success? Shall l gain the end? Shall
I prosper? How many have had in these
few months such thoughts as these re-
speeding their business affairs and have
now prosperity?'
There can be nothing sinful in such
thoughts when properly subordinated to
the higher concerns of eternity. Nothing
sinful in these things if we have sought
first the kingdom of heaven and Gods
righteousness. The proposition that con-
fronts us this morning, and in which we
all have common and profound concern
is, Shall our church, to which we are
all in covenant, attain to an increased
prosperity
God has prospered us in the past as we
! have faithfully measured up to our priv
ileges and performed our duties
ION April 8. 1885, IA members were by
a committee from presbytery constituted
into an organization of which one family
i only is enrolled among it's present men,
bership. In the q years that have inter
/ vened a great number have had fellow
ship in this union who have gone else
where to labor and many have answered
the call to come up higher but the
church is still blessed with faithful fol-
lowing of more than II times the original
membership, now numbering nearly $50.
There have been dark and discouraging
times, days of weakness and uncertainty,
but the manifestation of divine regard
have made those days cheerful and joy
Gus. You would not have those seasons
| oblfterated from your memory or taken
from your experience, and though you
have this day stepped aside from the old
sanctuary to this splendid and convenient
building, It is with a feeling of mingled
joy and sadness, for from that place do
your prayers as an incense ascend to
the eternal throne. There were spent
many hours of conscious approval with
God, and many seasons of spiritual re-
| joicirg, But since we face the future with
a present of rare promise, it is indeed with
rejoicing that we come into this new
building.
with a reasonably large fellowship,
with this added and splendid equipment,
| with the open Bible before us, with a re-
| spectacle share of public sympathy and
patronage, we would here raise our Eben-
ezer,' and say, Hitherto, hath the Lord
helped US.
INSPIRED by the past, rejoicing in the
| strength of the present and knowing that
all needed power and blessing for the fu-
! ture comes from God, we would renew our
petition, % Lord, we beseech Thee send
prosperity
Bear me up unto throne of grace
In prayer while labor to present some
! facts about a ehurch's prosperity.
religion without sacrifice is only sort
of exchange where we give, expecting
in return The spirit of sacrifice is the
true spirit of Christianity. 1t was when
the apostles and the early Christians were
| prepared to make any sacrifice, and face
any persecution, that really the church
| grew and prospered most. 1t was the
willingness to sacrifice that gave Scot
! land to Presbyterianism and Europe to
Professionalism. 1t was sacrifice In behalf
| of religious convictions and principles
which gave our own land, first to religious
| freedom and lastly to civic liberty.
1.-The Christian religion had its concep-
! ton in sacrifice. The mockery of the hun
gering and thristing, and the unjust trial
| and death were the introduction of that
religion which is earth's only deliverance
| from guilt and suffering and spiritual
| death. and mans everlasting peace and
| JOY and blessings. Christ's followers In
| all ages of the church can expect moth
ing else but a beautiful walking in His
| footsteps in sacrifice, for thereby is His
| glory shown forth to the world
| " We must decrease but He must in
| crease The fires of the stake have only
| been the torches which Christ has held in
| His hand, by the light of which the
| church has marched to her present posi-
! ton. Scaffolds of martyrdom have been
| the stairs by which the church has as
| cended.
1--WE today are not called upon to sacri-
! flee as did Christ and the early disciples,
but ours is no less a sacrifice and just as
| church today lives up to this spirit
I will she be prosperous and effective.
ours is the sacrifice of benevolence;
not selfshness, but seeking the things of
Christ which make for His glory and,
| extension of His kingdom. We are to
! have a burning desire for the salvation
of souls A zeal of Christ's which ami
| mates us to deeds of mercy and love, and
spirit of benevolence which will make
any sacrifice our chief joy and willing SER
| vice.
I'm other words, we are to be mission
| airy church. Individually and collectively
| we are to hear the commission, GO we
| into all the world and preach the gospel
to every creature We are to hear every
| call of our Master as 1t comes through
the needs and urgent demands of His
church and as He has blessed US, lovingly
| give.
"You say, is this linked with the pros
perlty of our church, Yes. Where the
| spirit of missions is repudiated there is
| sure to be a poor, sickly and inefficient
communion. 1t is surprising and yet an
inspiring fact that the churches in his