Year: 1877

He said that he came with congratula. tions from the Hills to the Valleys, over the success of their new enterprise.

 As member of the old church and resident of the upper part of the parish, he wished to assure them that there was no antagonism, no lack of sympathies in this undertaking. So far from this being true, they looked withj satisfaction upon this work as being an evidence of the strength and vitality of the mother church. It was sign ot progress and growth that they will all be glad to see. Christians, and those who wished to hear the Gospel. had met in school houses and in the village hall until they had outgrown these accom- modations, and now they will have a building of their own.

 He wished to congratulate them upon having successfully entered upon the final stage of their enterprise. In all such work as this there is an era of question, of con- sultation, and of criticism. With the work of this day that stage has passed away; the locality of the building is no longer question, nor the shape of it, nor the contractors. All these things have been settled, and he who now finds fault over some one of these points of the past, will prove himself to be an enemy of the enterprise. You should give money to help it forward; if you have not the money give little of the work of your hands. If you have not this you can at least say a good word for it; and at all events you can hold your tongue from finding fault, and SO blocking the wheels of other mems labors. All taultfinders to the rear.

 congratulate you upon having passed this stage, for it is one that greatly tries.the patience of some one, and that one is gen . erally the minister, and sm!glad you have got one whose heart is big enough to take in all these little strings of trouble and drown them ss yonder river would put out the sparks of fire that should chance to fall into its bosom.

 Again; he congratulated them upon hay Ing another instrument of all good, ready at hand in this village,-this chapel, l,-and to be used to forward every good enterprise, and help every worthy interest in the whole community. Then those who were living by faith would come Sabbath after Sabbath to be fed, that they might go back to their work and their burdens stronger hearted to help others. He said there were many present who thought but little about those things now, but when the hand of God was laid upon them in aff1iction, or the mighty convincing power of Gods spirit came upon them, would hasten to the ser vices of that house, and to those who mee, there, for help. And more than that: We sometimes speak of the Gospel which should there be preached, of Gods love to man brought to hlm, and made knowr through one friend, Jesus Christ, as If i, had to do only with men in their spiritua natures, Tn the upper story, as it were, oi the building; but the fact is. that the Gospe of Gods love, when made known and re- ceived, leaves no part of his nature un touched. It heals every care, drives ou every vice, encourages every virtue, and IT due time even tbe old corrupt and lnfirn body shall be raised up and glorifed ir . Heaven. Tell me any loss, any infirmity any disease, and in the Gospel of Jesul Christ we have the healing, so that in the great result there shall be no sorrow, nol pain, nor trials, for all these the former l things have passed away. .a.--a. A chapel reared for the Gospel, and tha preached faithfully, would encourage every one of the common virtues; if faithfully preached on the hillsides, 1t would resul f in this, that the farmers would put thu largest apples at the bottom of the barre instead of at the top, and throw out th' poor ones sltogether.-No more wateret 5 milk. Preached faithfully over here in th' valley, and the merchants would not sel chicorY for coffee; the mechanic would dc good work and the employer would pay fair wages.

 Just now the land is disturbed with great quarrel between capital and labor, ant men are seeking in some way to heal thu difficulties. The true healing is in the olt Gospel, that roots out selfishness from thu hearts of men; that teaches: "Masters

 

 and equal, knowing that ye also have master in heaven" Servants, obey in al things your masters, not with eye servic' as men pleasers, but with singleness O heart, fearing God."

 Here he was interrupted by 8 train O cars, and when he resumed he said:

 It is not too much to say that train o cars with its wonderful machinery. tha railroad and all the railroads that threat our broad land, spring from the quickenet mind and the mighty progress that found it's origin in this gospel of Gods love an6 mans worth and destiny.

 A word of counsel Let this chapel b. administered in the broadest Christian lib erality, it is reared for the good of the vii lage and community, and not for the ad- advantage of any sect, as such. It ii reared to make men good and true and honest, unselfsh and loving; in short Christian in every sense of the word. Le it not be closed against good men whose creed is not spelled exactly like yours. Bu while say and urge this, also want te say that it belongs in special sense to tho 2d Congregational church to take care of and use. A house that belongs to every. body in general and to nobody in psrticu lar will not be taken care of. Take 1t ther and administer it for the highest ends fol which it has been planned. Administer I, in such way that all spiritual wants of the community shall be supplied. Administer It until some other body or organization, more spiritual and more efficient shal arise to take your place.