Middletown transcript., 1921-06-25
MANY AT ST. ANNE'S
2l6th Anniversary Fine Sermon by
The Bishop
ADDRESS BY AN ABLE LAYMAN

Once again, last Sunday, on the oc
casion of the 2l6th birthday of "Olc
st. Anne's," all Nature, in tree anC
shrub, in plant and flower, was deckec
out in her freshest vernal and aestiva
hues to welcome those who came to pay
worship to Him. who is the Maker of
worlds, flowers and men.
The age1 sentinel Oak, by far the
oldest Episcopalian,in all our land, is
keeping as of yore his century-long
vigil beside the venerable Sanctuary,
his huge benison arm still out-stretched
towards its portal as though bidding
mortals of briefer life span than his, to
enter there VIII lie they may and commune
with Him whose beneficent hand gives
life to all, both oaks and men.
Behind the chancel was massed a
bank of green, ferns and box inter-
spersed with wild flowers, trophies from
the adjacent fields and woods, together
with large, handsome calla lilies On a
table were set the Church two cher
ished mementoes of other days, the
solid silver Communion Service pre-
sented in 1863, during the incumbancy
of Rev. Philip Reading, by Mrs. Re-
becca Dyer, of New Castle; and in
small frame, the fragment of the COM
munion table covering This precious
i.' {tn H.
page 763 of Conrad's History of Della
ware) Twas saved at the time of the
fire IN 1882, and consists of the initials
of the donor. Queen Anne, A. R.
worked upon 1t in satin embroidery
with the royal fingers that is, "Anne
Regina" "Queen Anne"
There were special printed programs
for the morning and afternoon services,
in which the large congregations took
part.
For both services there was fine choir
and solo music, with hearty partici-
patton upon the part of the assembled
worshipers.
The Rt. Rev. Philip Cook, D. u.
preached an excellent sermon from
Luke 10-25,26, "And behold certain
lawyer stood up, tempting him, saying,
Master what shall l do 70 inherit
eternal life He said unto him what is
written in the law? How readest
thou -
Both the Bishop and Mr. George C.
Thomas who delivered the fine address
in the afternoon, spoke some blunt
truths about the widespread neglect of
religion, church going and Bible reading
by the people generally in this day.
"Plenty time to read the papers. said
the Bishop. ''but none to read the
Bible; ample time for politics, but little
or none for the Sermon on the Mount" "
AS an illustration Of the great import
ance of a knowledge of the Bible, he
showed Christ's high estimate of its
value by instancing his habit of meeting
criticisms with quotations from the
Scriptures, citing his three Bible
answers to the DEVILS temptations of
him in the wilderness.
Mr. Thomas, who is we'll known for
his enthusiastic labors in religious mat
tiers, made an earnest plea for the lay.
mans work in the cause of Christ and
his cnurch, and warmly appealing for
fuller and higher Christian service upon
their part.
This "OId st; Anne's Day." as the
Scribe would dub it, is become a nota-
BILE on, in the religious and social life
of many persons not of the, church's
own members, but also of many others,
the season, the place, and the sarvices,
attracting many from far and near.
who are not identified with the Episco-
pal cult.