New Britain herald., 1916-01-21
'entimental Appeal WiH
 Veper Stop European War
ev. Dr. S. c. Ohman in Annual Report to Swedish Church, Dwells on Conflict Across the Atlan-
 tic and Prosp erity Here.

The annual meeting of the Swedish Mltheran church was held in the #apel of the church last night with a #ge number of the parishioners pres Reports of the past year were Fad and all showed much progress Ed been made during the year., Rev. #'. $. G. Ohman, the pastor, presided @ the meeting, which opened with a #mn and prayer led by the pastor. @The first business of the meeting
 Ms the election of a secretary and @'ic Carlson was chosen to fill that Mice during the coming year. The @stor then read his annual report, Nhich follows: # "Beloved members of the Swedish #theran church: I thank my God upon every re- @embrance of you. Always in every 8ayer of mine for you all making re- Best with joy. For your fellowship the gospel from the first day until @w. Being confident of this very Ring that he hath begun a good work you will perform it until the day of #sus Christ
 #"Paul the apostle of the Lord was a #isoner in Rome when he wrote this Mistle to the congregation in Phil1ipa. congregation very dear to him on- @count of the faith and charity that @r members had displayed and also account of the helpful financial Ni which the congregation repeatedly #d delivered to St. Paul in Rome.
 # The tone of his epistle does not de- 8te the depression Of mind which he Night expect from an imprisoned man
 &ankfulness and joy seemed to pos Ms his heart. He wants them to un- @rstand that though he was in pris- E and was not allowed to preach the %spel of Christ, they should never
 Meless not think that he was an apos- M of a lost cause or that the displeas- g#e of God was resting over him or @ershadowing him. On the contrary, Ed had turned this severe trial of his &success of the gospel. It is great in Wed. when inc church members are @eh that the minister of the Lord can i Ehnk God for them. The Christian #urch is an organization of God him. 1 Nf although it's outward appearance @rather human and imperfect. The l &urch is more than a society. And | should therefore regard her above | M other organization, because God | Mrks the salvation of our souls in the 1 @urch and shall perform this wonder act until the day of Jesus Christ. #sA true pastor always prays for # congregation and the congregation 1 #aS likewise for it's pastor and the Ancipal encouragement of the pas # is fellowship in the gospel on the
 #rt of the church members and when ] &aow review, not only the past year
 NJ the entire twenty years period Hat I have served as your pastor, I
 Id large number participating with \ in the gospel work from the first
 ay until now Here are many who l
 I've grown old but not tired, who
 ve during these many years stood
 5 my side, supporting and praying
 \ the work, devotedly partaking in
 .r church services, helping to carry
 VI spiritual and financial burdens. \ these I count not only deacons i
 Rd trustees of the church but also , hchers of the Sunday school, mem
 #rs of the Young Peoples Luther 1 #ague, members of the sewing so- l ety, members of the Mems society, ] the church choir and of the so- ] kty for aiding the poor. I re- |
 ember you all in my prayers and 1
 Fe thanks to God with joy. To all l
 U, my friends, is particularly given 1 s promise of our Lord that this l
 Fry thing that He hath begun of Aod work in you, will He perform to the day of Jesus Christ. f'It would be indeed we'll, if these
 brds could be applied upon all our Aurch members, but I regret to say
 ht there are some, who give us
 pre- cause for sorrow and disappoint- l 1Pnt by unchristian life. There are l
 so some who enjoy finding fault with 1 Herybody and everything and there do considerable harm to the work Christ and the success of the 8urch. Children and young people l