Middletown transcript., 1921-10-29
CENTENNIAL SERMON
Delivered by Rev. E. ". Caswe)l
in Bethesda Church
LARGE CONGREGATION PRESENT

in Bethesda Church
LARGE CONGREGATION PRESENT
Text, Corinthians Z, 20. 'Let every
man abide in the same calling wherein
he was called
The Alnight, has called every man
to come unto Him and be saved. He
also has Ian for every man in His
service. God called Moses to build
san tuary that He might dwell therein.
He called David to prepare to build a
temple at Jerusalem, which his son
Solomon accomplished. Here was the
central citadel of Israel's place of wor-
ship for ages.
God is the head of the church of
Christ, the greatest organization IN the
universe. TIE church on earth is but
temporary and preparatory to the
church triumphant in the celestial coun-
trv: whose walls are salvation, whose
gates are praise, whose cholrs are
angels, whose congregations are lnnum-
erable and whose worship Is eternal.
The greatest events Of earth cannot
be compared with the least things IN
the heavenly kingdom. Death Is the
climax of earth; life the beginning OF
Heaven where We will climb the ever
lasting hills of Christlike attainment.
The preacher in the pulpit, with the
open Book of God before him, is deal
ing with questions vast as eternity. Inc
sermon for the times must mt III Tor all
coming years. Little topics OF momen-
tary interest pale before the blazing
glory of immortal import Farmers and
merchants care or the bodies OF men;
teachers instruct the mind. but the pull
pit deals with the souls of immortals,
that. part of man formed in us by the
very breath of God. Man must not
seek to exchange his soul for all the
treasures of earth, lest he suffer eternal
loss.
Looking heavenward to day We may
behold something of the unseen glory
of those who have passed on before.
Being dead. they yet speak to US. Are
not we the trustees and executors OF
the riches in influence and character,
mind and money they have left US -
The heroes of the hundred years Ill
the history of Bethesda Church are
speaking to us at this anniversary time.
They helped found and perpetuate this
church building and its society; they
live in US, for we are what they helped
to make US. We must not misuse or in.
lure the capital of body, mind and soul
left US by them. We must not paint
pictures on memory's walls they would
be ashared to look upon. Do they not
value holiness far more than when
dwelli on this earth :? Do they not
remember the promises we made them
when they were passing into the life
forever We should be true to the
faith of the fathers. holy faith; be true
t, them till death
Remember that the church past, pres
ent and future are one body in Christ,
one army of the living God; remember
also, as Paul says, 'Ths mortal must
put on immortality" or life and ere
alton is an infinite failure.
If those who founded and toiled in
this vineyard of the church are not
alive forevermore. we have nothing tc
celebrate in this centennial, nothing to
look forward to in glorious reunion
with them in Gods great family.
During the twenty-five years since
became pastor of Bethesda Church,
many of its members have gone to the
nearer presence of the blessed Master
who is preparing mansions for all.
may not be able to remember the name:
of all. but l am thinking to-day OF
Brother and Sister Cox. Br<he ane
Sister Hukill, Brother and Sister Par
ker, Brother and Sister Taylor, Brother
and Sister Sewell Biggs, Brother ant
Sister Pierce Biggs, DR.. Mckee
Brother Gary, Brother s. B. Ginr
Brother Hurn and daughter, Brothe
and Sister Moore. Brother and Siste
Alice, Mother Shepherd. Mother Burris
Mother Vail, Rev. Brother and Siste
Hutchins, Rev. Brother and Sister Ar
ters, Rev. Brother Roberts, Brothe
and Sister farrell, and Sister Louis
Cox, Brother w. B. wilson, Siste
Davis Wilson and Mrs. Sarah Gill. VIII
have put on immortality.
We have said "Oust to dust, ashes t
ashes" over the graves OF our depart
ed, but their personality and character
more lasting than marble or bronze
will shine forever in Gods kingdom
You could hold in your hand the dust o
all these l have mentioned who hav
gone down into the tomb. Is it possibl
Are men created only for death, bull
be buried, lying like ma estv in ruins
mo 1ucIc - all ulSIdHCc US
tween Dust and Destiny. Dust is fo
earth, destiny for eternity; dust imam
mate, destiny full of faith. hope. low
and individuality. The difference is be
tween man and stone, being or
thing, matter and a thinker, eternity q
nonentity We must put off the ms
chinery of the mortal and put on tn
robes and crowns Of the children {
God
A minister sad to Abraham Lncoll
"Your son Willie is alive" 20 don
mock me-" cried the stricken Pres
dent. But the clergyman persisted
'Jesus said, I 60 to prepare a plae
for you. l will receive you unto my
SELF MIR. Linco n then threw h
arms around the minister, saying, "H
is alive, alive" For our God is not
God of the dead but of the livin1
Jacob. who thought his son Joseph VIZ
dead, found him in Egypt preparing fe
his fathers coming. Nav we not paz