Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-19
HISTORICAL SERMON
tContinued from Page One.)


this immediate neighborhood was held
in Stanley's Hall, Westville, on the
| afternoon of the 9Th Sunday after
significance of the collec for that day.
am sure some devout souls in that
| little company must have prayed very
earnestly 20 God, Who hast prepared
for those who love Thee such good
things as pass mans understanding;
| pour into our hearts such love to-
ward Thee, that we, loving Thee above
all things, may obtain Thy promises
which exceed all that we can de-
sire"
| And surely there are here to-day
some of that first little company of
worshipers who realize with thank
| fulness that the things of God are ex-
ceeding good; and that the promises
are already obtained as the fruit of
the love that with little to encourage
and few to help, began to seek those
promises for this community. 1t is
noteworthy that at the first session
of the Sunday school on that first day
there were twelve children in attend
ance. At the service which followed
ance. On July goth, at the first cele-
bration of the Holy Eucharist, there
were twelve communicates We may
not make too much account of CO.
! incidence. But we are not forbidden
to think that perhaps what to us
seems chance was Gods arrangement
to mark with the Apostolic number
the beginning of Apostolic administra-
tion here; and SO. we like to think, to
assure the continuance of Apostolic
power and blessing.
The officiating Priest on that day
was the Rev William C. Emhardt,
then Rector of the Church of the As
cension, Gloucester, now Rector of
another st. Luke's at Newtown, in
the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The
work here therefore was a mission
from Ascension Parish, Gloucester,
and continued such for five years. Let
honour be given where honour is due.
We must not refuse to acknowledge
with gratitude that the work here
sprang from Priest and people
who had thought for some beside
themselves, and plans that widened
their vision and effort. If We for a
time followed the guidance of others,
it was to be enabled to walk alone as
an Independent parish. If ye did
not stay long in the place of the
breaking forth of children it was
not as "unwise sons" but as they who
would be the better able, as parish,
to beget spiritual children of your
own. Yet let honour be given where
honour is due. Our debt to Ascension
Parish, Gloucester, and its then Rec
tor is unquestionable. Whatever be
the pains of generation or the pangs
of dissolution; whatever be the COM
plications of passing from dependence
to independence; that would be un-
graceful and unblessed progress
which walked on proudly beyond all
appreciation of those who sustained
its first steps.
1t was a feeble beginning. And
for two years following there was no
brilliant success. We believe that
God must have been resolutely lead
ing an enterprise that of it's own
mind was again and again on the
point of giving up in despair The
services of priest we're irregular
and infrequent. A discouraged few
in attendance were again and again
disappointed at not finding any one
to minister to them. Many a Lord s
Day saw only the session of a tiny
Sunday school, and one of a little
group offering a few prayers. There
was doubtless much local prejudice
and misunderstanding against which
to contend, as there is STILL But the
absolute regularity and perseverance
of two or three families must never
be forgotten. The gradual coming in
of other helpers must not fail of ap-
probation. And to those very few
people who simply held on we owe,
under God, all that we have to-day.
In these times two years is long en-
ough to make or break any enter
prise. Our recollections carry us
quickly to 1904, the year in which SO
much occurred. The lot on which
this building stands was then given
by Martin T. Molony, and later the
lot adjoining was bought by popular
subscription. A significant and beau
tiful thing was done on April 4th, 1904,
when the actual site of the church
was thus acquired. In the centre of
it the figure of the cross was dug
out, fortified with better soil, and
| planted with flowers Oh souls, out
of many crucifed life come the
beauty and fragrance of service and
sacrifice. By many an enterprise in
the church, on which for it's hard
ness is the mark of the Cross, the
wilderness is made to blossom as the
rose. But be this hint given: if
without this building this spot brought
forth flowers; now, with this build
ing, shall it be left to bring forth
nothing but weeds? The thought is
an allegory If they who less than
ten years ago dwelt in wilderness
OF ignorance and prejudice concern
ing the Church, brought forth the
flowers of loyalty and perseverance.
shall we bring forth less, who dwell
now under the shadow of this Altar
Throne of God? 1t is interesting to
know that in at least two households