The Penn's Grove record., 1921-02-11

Penns Grove and continued II years
with many spiritual blessings. People
with tents came from Wilmington and
Philadelphia to spend two weeks.
Many noted preachers came, among
them William Taylor, the worldwide
known missionary to India, Africa and
South America. The famous pulpit
orator, Alfred Goodman, wrote to his
wife from the camp ground in 1867:
81 am just outside of Heaven.
Penns Grove is as usual, the very YES
thule of Paradise. The meetings al
ways good were never more glorious"
Again he wrote: "The divine infiu-
ence seems irresistible. As a result
of the last two services it was esti-
mated 100 were converted"
The greatest revival began under
Rev. L. o. Manchester, with Mrs.
Lizzie Smith leader in 1867, when
$50 were converted. They continued
for some winters. In 1878 Rev. J. H.
Payran took in 100 members. Many
revivals have come since at intervals
and kept the spiritual fire burning and
growing and serving the people of this
region. The Church served as a
social and spiritual center and the
foremost members were the foremost
civic leaders.
The effect of the Church on the
morals of the community was record
ed in the history of the Church COM
piled by William Summerill in 1885.
Gin 1886 the moral state of the people
was low. The baneful effort of intox-
icating liquors i'll prepared the minds
of the people for religious worship. 1t
was more to the taste to spend the
Sabbath drinking at the tavern, fox
hunting, quot pitching, ball rolling,
horse racing and other goddess diver
sions." Speaking of the influence on
the entire community he says: "When
the work of grace began there were
three taverns in the neighborhood.
Now there is only one with ten times
the population and far less drunken
ness"
We should rejoice that in 1921, with
10000 population, there is now none.
The last was closed in 1915, with the
ministers of all the Churches as lead
ers in the movement. While the
Church has ministered in many ways
to the people, yet we must keep in
mind there is always new issues to be
met for moral and spiritual advance
ment. Let US remember the charge
of John Robinson to the Pilgrims, be-
fore they sailed for America. He
said:
Il charge you before God and His
blessed angels that you follow me no
further than you have een me follow
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has
more truth yet to break forth out Of
His Holy Word. l cannot sufficiently
bewail the condition of the Reformed
Churches who are to come to a period
in religion and will go no further than
the instruments Of the Reformation.
Luther and Calvin were great and
shining lights in their times, yet they
penetrated not into the whole Coun-
sells of God. | beseech you remember
it., that you be ready to receive what
ever truth shall be made known to
you from the written word of God"
1t has been a blessing to look back
to the way God has brought us by the
instrumentality Of our forefathers and
predecessors. We have seen what
God has wrought in history. 1t re-
mains for US, our successors and de-
scendants to make Emmanuel Church
a greater and more glorious blessing
as we approach the centennial ami
versary. May we m the covenant
Of Abraham and live the Christ-life
by increased devotion and enlarged
giving. God (Emmanu-ED will be
with US and this region will be a bet
ter part of Gods Kingdom on earth
to our personal joy and His glory if
we accept Him and let Him work thru
us.