The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-03
BAPTIST MINISTER
WELCOMED IN BARRE
Rev. Bert J. Lehigh Began His Pastorate
Yesterday-He Was Ordained 10
Years Ago-Comes from
0swego, N. Y.

n. y, to the pastorate OF the First Bap-
tist church Sunday morning. The new
pastor arrived in the city Saturday and
was greeted personally by some of the
parishioners during the day, albeit the
services yesterday gave many their first
opportunity to become acquainted with
the minister who has succeeded Rev.
George II. Holt, now Of Corona, Cal, as
the shepherd of the Baptist flock in
Barre.
Proving Our Love-" was the topic OF
Rev. Mr.. Lehigh's first sermon in the
Barre pastorate. He drew his lesson
from the second chapter of st. Paul,s
second epistle to the Corinthians, eighth
chapter. oath verse, which reads as fol-
lows: ~Wherefore shew We to them and
before the churches, the proof OF your
love, and of our boasting on your behalf"
In his opening remarks, Mr.. Lehigh made
reference to the power OF Gods love to
lift godward and heavenward. Love, said
the preacher, is the greatest of all the
Christian graces and the only grace that
is eternal While we have faith and hope
now and while faith and hope are doing
much for us, yet the day is coming when
faith shall give place to sight and hope
will be swallowed up In fruition. But
love will always abide. Love lifts us
godward and nothing but Gods love will
ever draw our lives back to God. just as
we realize Gods love for us will our love
flame up toward God. The one great
thing to keep men from sinful habits is
to let Gods love shine in the life.
Continuing the pastor said: Love not
only draws men back to God, but by it I
the life is cleansed and purified Faith I
works by love and puriiies the heart. /
Not only does love draw the life godward I
and purify, but it affords protection. BY
dwelling in Gods love we are protected I
from the forces of evil around us.
The pastor urged upon his hearers the
need of showing the proof of their love
to God There are many different ways,
he said, in which we may show the real
proof Of our love. We can make it mani
lest by obedience to his commands.
And this is love that We walk after His
Love is not in feeling
comfortable or in making loud deeara I
ions, but in keeping Gods command
nents. k
Another way we may show our love, !
e went on is in being submissive under J
rial and in tribulation. To bow sub t
Miss ely to Gods will in the bitter sor- +
ows Of life is evidence that we love God. /
again, we may show our love to God by {
ur treatment of His people and by our a
reatment Of the lost. y
In closing Rev. Mr. Lehigh said that if f
here was one thing he desired to see in ]
he people to whom he has been called TO
linister, one virtue more than anything a
lse, it was love for God, for love, he de- e
ldred, is the greatest force in the uni
erse.
Sunday evening the pastor again con- t
ucted services before a good sized con S
regation. The text of an interesting t
scourse was taken from Kings H., sew 4
nth chapter, ninth verse, "This Is a day p
good tidings and we hold our peace. " n
Sketch of New Minister. !, !,
Rev. Mr.. Lehigh comes to Barre in re- 9,
,onse to a call extended him by the gov 4,
ming board of the First Baptist church {,
ION after the resignation of the preced q
q pastor became effective in January. in
he Oswego clergyman came here as a
ndidate for the pastorate and the invi- Il,
tion to accept a call was forwarded to af
m within a few days after he had con re-
lcted services in the church for the first i,
me- The pastor took the call under +,
and soon replied that he n
d resigned his pastorate in Oswego and AZ
luld arrive in Barre within a few al
aeks. The problem of providing a home fir
r the new minister was solved a few rA
,eks ago when the comfortable dwelling q,
John L. Wallace at 81 Franklin street
Is purchased for a Baptist parsonage
pairs and alterations have since been
lde to the property and it viii be oc- pe
pied by Rev. Mr.. Lehigh and his fam
as soon as his household goods arrive
I'M Oswego.
Barre Baptists are fortunate in secur fel
: minister who has had a wide ex- aft
rience. Rev, Mr. Lehigh was born in OF
ockville, Ont, ~ years ago. He OBJ col
ned his elementary education in the chl
ools of his native town and as young us,
n he studied for the ministry in Cana fey
n schools. Seventeen years ago, or in ore
~. he transferred from Ontario and
ated in South Cotton, n y. There he iii,
5 the missioner in charge of Baptist tor
irch and within a short time he was ! !
Iaged IN establishing mission IN ON
rk. town adjoining South Cotton. s.,
the church at Stark he was ordained ~
Minister in 1900. Since his ordination
has held pastorates in Fort Covington. ~
Y, Clayton, y. " Fulton, y. " and -
0swego. where he recently closed a
torate of three and one-half years 10y
former parishioners adopted a set Of W
buttons upon his departure which are 10
be read in the Barre church. Mh'
lev Mr.. Lehgh is married and has ol
child a daughter Miss Doris Lehigh, inc
a i3 years. Mrs Lehigh and daughter hell
visiting relatives in Malone. y. Y, be
the present although they will arrive Il
Barre within few DAYS Mrs Lc- tor.
IS parents are residents Of Brookfeld con,
NEE
or i
WAS I'LL TWO YEARS. pre,