The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-21
DR.. ESTEY'S SERMON.
Preachers on Semi Centennial of Pres
byterian Church.

At the First Presbyterian church
yesterday services were held COM
memorative of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the founding of the church.
In the morning DR.. S. S. Estey deliv-
cred a special anniversary sermon; in
the afternoon a Fellowship meeting"
was held during the course of which
letters were read from all living pas
tors of the church and greeting from
the pastors OF the various churches of
the city; there were special Christian
EndeaVOr services; and later the
brotherhood class of the church had
charge of the service during the reg
ular church hour.
The place wherein thou standest
is holy ground began DR.. Estey at
the morning service. individual lives
would be common and ordinary if
there were no holy ground.
Where is holy ground. 1t is the
place where God touches the heart of
umanity-whether it be under the
shady tree, in the log cabin or SPLEEN
did temple. The scenes of moral vic
tory are ever holy.
Nothing else in life is holy except
the passions and love which comes
when God touches a human life. The
place wherein thou standest is holy
ground I say this to you this morn
ing deliberately. Have you ever
thought what a protection against
4
Here men have reared this build
| ing with no thought of getting money
out of it or using it as a shelter for
their family. 1t was built through a
| longing for a place away from the
world, where people could worship in
| quietness. 1t is dedicated to the SER
vice of the Christ-dedicated to the
worship of God and the service of
men.
''This church is holy ground be-
| nriOin0t0d
which have gone out to help the
world. Other churches were organ
| lied because the church is dedicated
to the service of Christ. These
churches include most of the Presby
terrain churches in Shawnee county.
| The churches at Bethel, Pleasant
Ridge, Silver Lake, Mission Center
Wakarusa, Rossville, Oakland, as we'll
| as the Westminster. Second and Third
Presbyterian churches of Topeka are
| fruits of this churchs desire to serve
men. The East Side mission and Red
| den chapel testify to the same spirit
| of service. For thirty years this
church has helped to support our
| bury, as he has gone up and down in
needy Kansas districts to establish
| and sustain churches and Sunday
| schools. Out of this church Miss Car
| RE Montgomery went to labor among
the Indians. This church has helped
| to educate three young men for the
ministry and sent them out as minis
! tiers of the gospel. 1t has given aid
| to many needy, aged and sick mem
| bers. A furnished room at Ingleside
testifies to its helpful spirit. The rays
| of its influence have reached even to
| the uttermost parts of the earth-to
Korea, China, Siam and Africa. Elev-
en- missionaries have gone out from
this church. followed by her prayers
| and her money.
This church must be equipped to
meet the high standards of the city
| If she is to hold her own in the midst
| of the wickedness of the city. 1 re-
joice that this church means to hold
| its own in the city of Topeka.
81 wish we could hold these two
| things in more perfect balance-the
worship of God and the service of
| man. I rejoice that we will be able
to keep our auditorium as a sacred
place of worship, and we will have
the parish house where we can have
our educational and social features.
This church is holy ground be-
cause of its sacred memories. With
memories of SO years coming back
to you today pray you to forget their
| faults. Remember the love and the
service. For myself I feel it an hon
| or to stand where the men you have
| had have stood.
"Our missionaries they were cour-
ageous every one of them. I think
| this church is richer than those that
| have known no African grave or Ko-
rean tomb. This church is making
| history today and she is making
| splendid history also"