Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-24
MANY ATTENDED
ANNUAL REUNION
Twentieth Consecutive Gathering
of Reformed People at Pen-Mar.
ADDRESS OF DR.. HERMAN AND
AL COLLEGE HOUR FEATURES

the Services and Hear the Banc
ccncert-Able Address on "The
Abiding influence Of caIvinism"--
Many College Graduates Were Pres
ent.
From The World of Friday:
The twentieth annual reunion OF the
Reformed churches of Maryland, Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
the District of Columbia was held At
Pen-Mar Park yesterday. The crowd
on the grounds was one of the small
est in the twenty years-probably not
over 1000 being there.
One thing, however, was notice
able to all and that was that the
auditorium contained more persons
while the services were being held
than upon any Of the previous re-
unions. The auditorium was well
filled with the exception of a few
seats in the southeast corner. Hun
dreds of persons stood throughout the
services. 1t is thought that upwards
of $500 persons attended the services.
Rev. DR.. j. A. Hoffheins, of Martins
burg, president of the Board of Direc
tors of the Reunion Committee, pre-
sided: The exercises opened with a
selection by the celebrated Wayne
Band, of Waynesboro. After the re-
citing OF the Apostles Greed, by the
Assembly the hymn. Tell Me, My
Savior" was sung. Then followed
the responsive reading and the sing
ing of Gloria Patri." Prayer was
offered by Rev. E. o. Keen. of Way
nesboro, Pa, Miss Marion e. Gibson.
daughter of Mayor NJ. B. Gibson, OF
York, sang a solo. After the singing
of the hymn, "He Leadeth Me-" the
speaker of the day, Rev, DR. Theodore
f. Herman, of Allentown, Pa, spoke
Rev. DR.. Herman is pastor of the
largest Reformed Church in this
country. His church at Allentown has
membership of 200. with Sunday
school numbering 1900. He is an able
speaker and his address was listened
to with marked attention by the large
audience present.
influence Of John Calvin
Dr. Herman said in part:
eff John Calvin had died 400 year
ago there would be no sence in cele-
brating the four-hundredth anniver-
sary of his birth. Saturday host OF
men met at Geneva, in Switzerland,
in order to lay the cornerstone of the
Calvin movement. They came from
all parts of the world and represented
the five nations whom Calvin infiu-
enced profoundly in their religious and
political life and doubtless they went
to the cemetery of Pain Palais, where
Calvin lies buried. But so thoroughly
did that which was mortal of John
Calvin die that his grave is unknown.
"The better part, however. OF this
mighty man was immortal. His soul,
like seed, fell into the womb of his
tory, and from it sprang forth the
sturdy oak of Calvinism. 1t has with
stood the shock of many battles and
resisted the impact of many storms,
and, beneath it's widespread branches,
the God-fearing and liberty-loving
races OF the world have found shelter.
''The Hugenots of France, the Irish
Presbyterians, the Scotch Covenan-
ters. the English Puritans, Dutch and
nvf1nc tho irfn nhit.
dren of John Calvin. Through them
Calvinism became rooted in American
soil, and here the religious principles
Of John Calvin yielded their most ben
Efficient political fruit in the birth OF
nation, that, in principal, at least,
is free with the freedom wherewith
Jesus Christ has made men free in
body soul and spirit.
"If the political and religious life of
the dominant races of the twentieth
century Is the fruit OF Calvinism. what
is the root of Calvin in the sixteenth
century?
"How did this one man influence the
life and destiny of millions of men
The answer will be found in Calvin's
theology. There came a day, early
in his life. when Calvin found God.
and the multiform influence of Calvin
and church and state may be traced
directly to his God knowledge and to
his God-convictions.
''Calvin was not directly political
rerorner. His supreme interests were
religious, but the logical fruit OF Cal
wins faith in God was not only Puri-
tanism in mortals and Presbyterians
in polity, but also democracy in gov
eminent. The central principal of his
theology was the sovereignty Of God,
who must be worshipped with fear
and served with trembling; without
whom nothing begins, continues or
ends in heaven or upon the earth.