The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-04-29
Members First
Baptist Church
Enjoy Bonfi' e

er the top" in their Offering Sunday
morning to free their church from
debt, thus showing their loyalty and
devotion to Gods house. They now
stand unhampered, unburdened.
equipped with this splendid workshop
for carrying on the Masters work.
Under the guidance and leadership OF
their beloved pastor, Bro. Wear. they
will press onward to do greater and
more glorious things for the extern
sion of Gods kingdom in the hearts
OF men.
There was large audience pres
ent at the evening hour to witness
the $4,000 fire; there was spirit OF
joy and gladness manifested by the
membership, an earnest and heart
felt prayer of thanksgiving by Bro.
,Antisdel, which found an answering
note in our thankful heartst.
A selection by the male quartette
was much enjoyed.
The message was on patchwork
and Purity continuation of the
table talk of our Master at the feast
given in His honor at the home of
Matthew. Text, Math. OLA TO IS. Two
thoughts are presented by this text:
First, the criticism of the disciples OF
Jesus by the Pharisees and the dis
ciples of John. Second, the abuse Of
fasting. Note the joyous counten-
ance of the disciples of Jesus--their
lives not filled with the formality Of
judaism; providing the questioning
of their critics-the marvellous an
swer of Jesus: Can the children Of
the bridechamber fast while the bride
groom is with them" etc. The days
came when they were fasting in their
sorrow after His crucifixion. Fasting
worthy of consideration when for the
glory of God and when a man feels
that by fasting he can bring Jesus
nearer and enthrone Him in his life,
and present him more clearly to 9TH
ers, then it becomes a blessed privi-
lege and duty to fast. It is a Bible
doctrine and should not go UNDECIDED.
In our Joy for our victory we as a
church might fast-giving the food to
our soldiers. New cloth in old cloth
and new wine in old bottles, illus
trate that Judaism and Christ cannot
be mixed. There Is no connection
between the two Truths: Salvation
of Jesus Christ sufficient for the needs
of this world. It will meet the deep
est needs Of the nation as we'll as of
the individual. You cannot patch
anything on to the salvation of Jesus.
He came not that life might be vast
ed but to save life. Life, the dearest
thing on earth, the most precious and
most costly gift of God.
The sum total of our lives as gath
cred up and treasured in heaven
the prayer life, when we have poured
our hearts in prayer for others;
the briny tears we have shed over
the salvation of others, the services
rendered, the gifts given, the beauty
Of the service and the glory Of the
offering lies in that it was done in
His name and for His glory. That
which | spend in selfish pleasure is
lost; that which spend in His serv-
ice is gained-laid up and treasured
in my heavenly home. Christ does not
patch up the life, but makes it anew
"a new creature in Him.
At the close of this message there
was a picture that will linger long
with us-the burning of the notes.
IuO plCu6Co Va Jul lllucUlcuHtSS. Inc
trustees of the church, Mr., Clonts and
Mr.. Dickson, with Supt. Haldeman,
acting in the absence of trustee Mr..
Dan Sloan. Mr.. A. G.. Wright, chair
man of the debt campaign and junior
deacon; Mr.. Cooper, the oldest active
deacon, formed the group of flre-mak-
ers. Bro. Wear read the amount of
each note and Bro. Cooper struck the
match which started the $4,000 fire
in the Baptist church. Never was a
fire witnessed with more heartfelt
joy as we watched the notes in the
hands of these who have felt the bur
den of this debt, consumed by Games;
remaining but a bit Of ashes
these to be gathered up and treas
ured. Hearty cheering took place
from hearts filled with gladness as
the last flames died away and to Him
we give the glory and praise as thar