South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-20
DIR. BURNETT CLOSES
YEARS PASTORATE
Special Services Appropriate
to 0CCaSi0n-ChurCh De-
veIopS During Year.

Kew. Dr. j. A. Burnett. o. the First
Presbyterian church completed his
first year OF the pastorate yesterday,
when services appropriate TO the oc-
casion were held Under DR.. Bur-
nett's ministrations the church has
developed wonderfully in all its
branches Of endeavOr. and is now
one of the most active and popular
Christian denominations in the city.
According 20 the pastor the T
has been one OF peace and happi-
ness and he acknowledges through
the church bulletin. the kindness
and encouragement Of his people. A
summary of the pasto-a! activities
during the year follows:
Addresses delivered. not including
prayer meetings, IS; baptisms. 81;
members received. 2S; calls. 500;
funerals conducted, Is; sermons
preached. 119: average attendance
at weekly prayer service. As.
At the morning service, preach
ing from the text "A Message For
You" Deut 1:6-s. DIR. Burnett said:
Stripped Of its national and geo
graphical references the text says
I'VE have dwelt in tins condition
long enough: go up and take pos
session Of your heritage" This was
Gods message TO Israel. it is the
same to you IL is the call to move
onward into larger blessings and op-
portunities; il is the challenge OF the
Almighty for expansion.
Progress Watchword OF Religion.
he
watchword of our religion; il has
been Gods order for the church in
all ages; and it is a very practical
thought for us as we close a year
Of labor together We have all at
times made mistSIe3; we have a.!
let the work go by default; yet
am not here to complain or to chide.
but TO urge 10 better things.
Progress is the evidence of life.
We cannot stand still. and every
healthy condition means enlarge
ment in the sphere in which the We
is lived Progress should be ac-
cording TO the divine direction. Ad-
vance is always safe when the way is
hedged by Gods law and illumined
BY his word. AS it advances the
church must recognize thar il has a
definite message: that its spirit is
evangeIistic and missionary. and
that earnestness and aggressiveness
must characterize its endeavors.
such progress gives better equip
ment for the work A church that
lives on it's past history and achieve
ments cannot advance; it must keep
ahead Of the times and always with
in right lines.
The real effectiveness of this
progressive idea Is in it's personal
application, the appropriation OF its
meaning by the individual. This
means that every one shall develop
in truth, shall realize Gods plan and
shall find his place in the activities
of the church.
Pays Tribute TO Women.
There are infinite possibilities in
each life which may work out a
truer glory for the church. What
DO we want this church to be: what
is our dream for il; what our SUI
premest wish? We can make it just
that"
DR. Burnett paid a tribute TO the
women of the church VINO have
labOred so faithfully and earnestly
and effectively; and also to the men
whose loyal support had been a
source Of help in the service and who
held within themselves Infinite pos
sibilities for making the church a
greater power than il had ever been.
He also expressed his appreciation
of the harmony that prevails and OF
everything of a personal nature that
had cheered during the year-the
thoughtfulnesS of he people and
the constant endeavor to make the
work as easy as possible