USA > Indiana > Decatur County > Kingston > Seventy five years : anniversary proceedings of the founding of the Presbyterian Church, Kingston, Indiana, held in the church edifice, December 17th and 18th, 1898 > Part 5
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" It is true that God intends life to become better, richer and deeper as life grows old. The literature of to-day calls childhood 'The Golden Age,' but Kenneth Grahame, Barrie and Stevenson, we think, are mistaken. Childhood is not the richest, the best time of life. The best time of life for the Christian should be the time when life is rich with past experiences. The golden wedding is placed after fifty years of married life in Christian lands, the diamond in still later years; not because the husband and wife have many more years in which to enjoy either gold or diamonds, but be- cause gold and diamonds symbolize best the richness of their love together during many years, and that the golden time is at the end and not at the beginning of their days. Is it not true with the religion of Christ that the best comes as life becomes older? The man of the world says, 'Let me get all out of life now. Soon degenerate days will come. I am sure only of this present day. Let me get all I can out of it. Old age must be very dreary,and desolate. Therefore, I will dissipate now and get all I can with- out regard to old age or to a life beyond the grave.' This may be the view
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of the man of the world, of that one who is not a Christian. But said Phillips Brooks, in a sermon upon the text of to-day, to which I am indebted, 'The essence of Christianity is to believe that the world is growing better; that the life of man is growing better under the discipline of Christ. It is calm and hopeful with its great assurances. It sets the old man, at the end of his career, in the midst of fulfilled promises and finished educations, splendidly saying, as he looks back over his life, "It has all been good, but this is the best of all. Thou, O Christ, O Master, hast kept the good wine until now."'
" As with the world at large, so God intends it to be with each human life. Looking back to-day at the close of the nineteenth century, we can not think of any century that has been better than this century. With your knowledge of history, will you say to-day that you would rather have lived in any previous century than this, since that was a better century? So, also, God intends life to become better, richer to us as the years are better. As a Christian man or woman looking back over your years you ought not to be able to say that any previous year was better than this year. In the allotted course of human life, three score and ten, God grants unto soul and body many years in this world. Is it not a wonderful thing that a human body, with its delicate organization, should go on sleeping and working, toiling and breathing, without intermission and without rest, for seventy, eighty, ninety years? Could any machine ever constructed by man sustain such a constant, uninterrupted action for that length of time? If God per- mits the machine to run so long is there not a purpose in the running? If the faith of man is ever strong in him, he grants richer, deeper experi- ences to the soul as each year comes and goes. I believe it is so. Did not life mean more to Gladstone in his old age than it did in the year 1819 to Gladstone, the boy, at ten years of age? Our Savior did not live to be an old man, but we read, as the years came and passed away, that he 'increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.' Life was richer and deeper to Jesus Christ at Nazareth, on the sea of Galilee, at Gethsemane, in Jerusalem, and on Calvary than it was to Him as a babe in Bethlehem. As God gave to His own Son, so to all his children in Jesus Christ He will ever give a richer, deeper knowledge of Himself as the years come and go. As a father, if I have a valuable watch I cannot give it to my little boy until my boy understands the value of the watch and knows how to take care of it. Your Father in heaven cannot give His blessings to His child until that child is ready by discipline, by faith, by trust made stronger, and by experience made deeper, to receive His blessings. At this season of the giving of gifts, you might rush out into the street and thrust a ten-dollar bill into a man's hands, saying, 'Here, this is yours.' You could then leave him in full pos- session of the bill. But you cannot rush up to that man and thrust a char- acter upon him. To gain a character, to gain a sure and constant faith, to know the promises of God as tried and not found wanting, the years must come and go. And tell me, you of middle age and you of old age, you who have had faith in your Master, lo these many years, is not the best wine, that is, the strongest hope, the most abiding faith at the feast's end? Blessed it is to see an aged Christian saying, after all the trials and sorrows of life, 'Yes, though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.' Contrast with this, the life of one who has dissipated in youth and lived a life of sin, and then
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lived fifty, sixty, seventy years without faith and without prayer, without God in the world. And then he passes into eternity without hope. The life of sin has no happy old men ; and the word of God tells that they are not happy in the world beyond. But in the world beyond, for him who lives with faith in Christ there is joy. There, there, the good wine is kept. The true completion of this life is in the life to come. 'I will come again and receive you to myself.' 'I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' 'And so shall we be ever with the Lord.' 'Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.' 'It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him.' 'Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also.' All these words look forward. They tell of that which Jesus has in store for us. Let us realize that many are the blessings there, as many and great have been the blessings here. We are all nearing that home beyond. Some have passed into His eternal glory this year. For some, the voyage of life in this world may close next year. Some of our aged fathers and mothers feel that it is not long now with them. Weakened physical health, faltering step, diminished physical vigor, tell that the time of departure is near at hand. But the hope of the soul is strong ; God has been precious to them in the past, and they believe that He has still more glory to reveal unto them. Even now they are looking forward with anticipation to the life beyond.
"When death was before Charles Kingsley, he said, 'God forgive me, but I look forward to it with intense and reverent curiosity.' Did not his curiosity fulfill his human nature, knowing that as God had dealt with him in the past so would He deal with him in the future, aud still greater glory would be manifested unto him? After a long ocean voyage, a ter the ship has been out many days, when she is coming near the port and the harbor, the passengers are all interested in the new land; in that which the new and hitherto unknown land will have in store for them. They speak of their preparation for landing, of their interest of the new life which will be on the shore. On this anniversary day we are all nearing port; we are all one year nearer. Some are twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty years nearer than ever before. Perhaps even next year the glory of that port to which we are journeying will be revealed to us. May we so live during the voyage that much of His love can be revealed now, and we may rest assured that new and greater things shall be in store for us there. There we shall be with Jesus Christ ; there we shall see loved ones who have gone before. There, there shall be no more pain, no more sin. There we shall for- ever be with the Lord in the city of our God. There, we believe that the words of the ruler of the feast unto the bridegroom will be fully realized by each child of God. 'Thou hast kept the good wine until now.'"
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EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
Letter from Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Mannon, daughters of Rev. Daniel Gilmer.
We feel that we are paying a tribute of affection and respect to our father's memory in recalling the membership and work of the Kingston church during the years of his pastorate. It also gives us pleasure to call to mind the friends of our youth, though many of them, especially the older members of the church, are resting from their earthly labors. We remember them as they filled their places in the old frame church, forty years ago. Of your pastor at that time, we will only say, in the words of a member of your church, "I remember him as an honest, fearless defender of the truth, and always foremost in the ranks."
One who was always prominent in good works was Uncle Tommy Hamil- ton, an elder at that time, for whom father had a warm affection. He spoke of him as one of the most conscientious men he ever knew. Uncle John McCoy was another, always in his place at the Sunday services and prayer- meeting, while on week days he made visits among the different homes, where he was always welcome on account of his genial good nature and pleasant manner. Uncle Alex McCoy led the music the first two or three years we were at Kingston. Doubtless many will remember how he led off on the good old tunes, Coronation, Ortonville, Balerma, and many others. Later on, we had a singing school taught by Mr. Harvey, and shortly after, John Robison became the leader of the church music. Soon after he took charge of the music, the synod of the Free Presbyterian church met at Kingston. As this was an important occasion, the young people formed a choir and sang set pieces and anthems, as well as the regular psalms and hymns. As there were a great many young people in the church, the social element was an important factor. We remember no other place where there were so many natural advantages for innocent amusements. The blue grass pastures, shaded by forest trees, furnished ideal places for picnics in summer ; and as with well-filled baskets we drove through the shady lanes to some common meeting-place for the young people of the neighborhood, we enjoyed life in full measure. On winter nights we went sleighing and gathered in some one of the numerous homes, where we always met a hearty welcome, and beside the wide fireplace, and often overflowing from the living-room into other rooms, we enjoyed ourselves in many ways known to young people of that day. During the winter of 1856-57, there was serious apprehension on the part of pastor and elders that some of the younger members were indulging in amusements not consistent with church membership. There was some talk of discipline, but Uncle Tommy Hamilton plead for a special effort to bring the young people back to their first love. During the preceding sum- mer, a course of lectures from the Hebrews had been given by the pastor, which were no doubt scholarly and edifying to the older members, but at this time a different direction was given the preaching of the word, and God's love and mercy were feelingly presented. These sermons, supple- mented by the prayers of such men as Uncle Tommy Hamilton and others, brought about the desired result and the wandering ones returned to the
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fold. Thus forty years ago in the old frame church at Kingston was preached the same truth, now preached from many pulpits in our land as the new the- ology, having for its foundation, "God is love."
So from the Pacific coast, we send words of greeting, with kind remem- brances of the past and words of hope and good cheer for the future. That you may live up to the high standard set by your forefathers, and like them, when your work is ended, enter into the joys of eternal life, is the sincere wish of your old-time friends.
HELENA GILMER MANNON, Pasadena, Cal. MARY GILMER CARPENTER, Los Angeles, Cal.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, November 12, 1898.
My Dear Friends : I send you greetings on this interesting anniversary. Would that I might be with you and give them in person.
Our fathers builded well. All honor to their memory. My earliest recollection is of the church built of logs. Now you have the beautiful, modern church, with its spire pointing heavenward. Then we went to Sun- day-school in the morning, followed by two long services with an intermission between. Later, at home in the evening the catechism was recited. Now, in this fast age, this would be called barbarous. But I do not remember of dreading the day, with all its lengthy services.
I have many tender memories connected with the Kingston church. There, in my girlhood, I found my Saviour, who is more and more precious as the years go by. There, later on, I gave my children to God in baptism, and in their maturer years they all came into full membership in the church. Some of them are privileged to tell "the old, old story of Jesus and His love " to those who have never heard. There, too, resting in the silent city near by, lies the earthly tabernacle of beloved husband, father, mother and kindred dear, awaiting the resurrection. Also many memories come of the loved, faithful pastor of so many years, going in and out among us in all our joys and in all our sorrows. What could be more fitting than that he should be with you on this occasion ? No one could fill the place so well. May the blessing of the Lord abide on him and his, wherever their lot is cast. Also in the dear old church, may his banner ever her belove.
Always yours very sincerely, MRS. N. H. ADAMS.
KINGMAN, KANSAS, December 13, 1898.
My first distinct recollection of the church is, when I was quite a child, we worshiped in the little frame church and Rev. Benj. Nyce was pastor. I do not remember much about the services, except the Sunday-school. I, with my sister and cousins, in company with Grandfather Donnell, walked to Sunday-school in nice weather, and rode home with the family after church. That was the custom in those days. Sunday-school was always at 9:00 o'clock, and I think there were never any tardy ones.
My teacher was Miss Margaret Hamilton, afterward Mrs. McCoy. To me she was the most beautiful and best woman in the world. Later, it was her sister Nancy who became Mrs. Adams ; and sometimes Melissa Hamilton, afterward Mrs. Nyce, was my teacher. Mr. Nyce made the Sunday-school
REV. HARRY NYCE.
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very attractive by his talks to children. They were principally stories from the Bible, told in a very charming way. I was so interested and impressed that I became a Bible student. As I grew older, I found much in the Bible to interest me besides stories. I remember in particular hearing him tell the story of Elijah meeting the prophets of Baal, and calling down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. I. Kings, 18th chapter.
Mr. Nyce had the faculty of making friends with the children, and I always greeted with delight his visits to our home. He would take me on his kn e and tell me some beautiful story, and then laugh so gleefully that it dispelled my shyness and established a confidence, and he was ever after- ward my ideal of a Christian gentleman. I am sure a friendship began then that in later years, as we stood in the relation of teacher and pupil, became real, and which lasted as long as he lived, as his occasional letters and papers, with especially marked columns, sent to me in my Western home years afterward testified. He was eminently a friend of young people, and during his second pastorate in the church he kept up a Bible class for the young people at 4: 00 o'clock Sunday afternoon during the winter months, and made it so interesting that it was always well attended.
I also remember, as they came in succession, Rev. Adams, Joseph Mon- fort, Mr. King and Mr. Stryker. To my mind, they were very different and had their own peculiar styles of preaching. I shall never forget Mr Mon- fort's beautiful singing. He sang the hymn beginning "Servant of God, well done ; rest from thy loved employ," at Grandfather Donnell's funeral, and as he sat in the pulpit and sang the entire hymn alone, I thought it beautiful.
Among the ministers' wives I had some warm friends, one of whom was Mrs. Stryker. Many a time have I, as a school-girl, stayed over night with her for company when Mr. Stryker was gone to synod or Presbytery. She was a lady of culture, and exerted a good influence over me. I remember Mr. Cable more particularly in regard to the respect and friendship he always extended to Grandfather Donnell than from anything else. He often visited Grandfather, and I was quite frequently an interested listener, as they talked on religious and church matters. In my estimation, he was a learned man.
Among the pleasant recollections of those days, I recall the annual visits of Rev. Henry Little, of Madison, at which times we often had a series of meetings, and I shall always remember his kind, earnest appeals to sinners, and especially to young people.
Our prayer-meetings in those early days were quite a feature of the church. It it true, I believe, that there never was much of a crowd there, but there were a few who were always present, rain or shine, summer and winter. Among the faithful were Uncle Tommy Hamilton, Uncle J. C. Mc- Coy, Uncle Andy Robison and Uncle Addison Donnell. The young people had a habit of attending quite regularly, and were respectful listeners, although they took no active part except in the singing Uncle Tommy Hamilton and J. C. McCoy always prayed, and others as they were called upon. The services, which never lasted over an hour, were as genuinely en- joyed by those present as if the house had been well filled, and in fact I think Uncle Tommy Hamilton was serenely unconscious of the empty seats, and I used to think he would have gone ahead with the meeting if there had been no one present to take part but himself.
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In the year 1848, during the pastorate of Rev. B. Franklin, Rev. Father Dickey conducted a revival meeting, and on the 26th day of February of that year, I and twelve other young people united with the church. I do not now remember who they were except my sister, Martha Donnell, Kate McCoy and Samuel H. Hamilton. I was younger than any of them, and was strongly advised by a friend not to do so foolish a thing as to join the church. I might try to be good and after while become a Christian, but it was not the proper thing to take children into the church. I did not take that view of the case, and was received with the others.
I cannot close this paper without paying a loving tribute to one of my Sunday-school teachers, Mrs. Eliza Jane Thomson, who taught a class of girls, of which I was one, for several years in the old brick church. During that time I do not remember of her being absent even once, and she was , always on time. How faithful and patient she was ! And I have sometimes thought how dull she must have thought us, for we allowed her to do all the talking. We would commit verses and recite whole chapters from memory, and do anything she required, but we did not seem to answer questions very well ; but we remembered much of what she taught, and it strongly influenced for good our after lives. ZERELDA DONNELL, LAWSON.
LOCKPORT, N. Y., December 8, 1898
To the Pastor and Members of the Dear Church at Kingston : It is a joy to me to send a letter to you to-day, a regret that I cannot intrude my pres- ence. I know that the occasion will be like one of Sam Weller's muffins, "very fillin' for the price." My brother, Harry, is doubtless with you ; he is big enough for two, and I know, more full of feelings than fluent speech. Two of the Nyces have had the honor of serving the dear church, and my time may yet come when you can't get anybody else.
I owe more to the Kingston church than to any other. It was there I learned my first religious teaching, and found the way to our blessed Christ ; it is there, too, I hope to be taken and laid to rest with the dear ones across the way when my work is done. Some of my dearest childhood memories are connected with the old church. I can see the Rankins cross the road, file in one by one, usually more than less A kindly word from the honored and faithful Rev. A. T. Rankin, or a gentle admonition from him, that Sunday is not the day to sit on the fence and whistle. "Boys, it is time for the service to begin." I remember well the organ and choir in the middle of the church ; the impression made upon my child ear by John Robison's voice still remains. James and Marshall and Cyrus Hamilton were to me patri- archs in those days. In building the new church, I thought that Lowry Donnell was the master builder and architect of the world. I have since seen St. Peter's at Rome, and the Milan and Cologne's Cathedrals Yet they were not so beautiful as was to the child mind the dear church at home.
What a noble record it has had ; what influences have gone from it ; how the best and tenderest experiences of our lives have been received there ! May she, under her faithful pastor and your consecrated co-operation, con- tinue to be the sanctifior of the community, the comfort of the sorrowing, the light to the darkened, the hope to the penitent, ever the dwelling of the living God.
Yours in the noblest service,
BENJ. M. NYCE.
REV. R. A. BARTLETT.
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SPRINGDALE, ARK., December 14, 1898.
Dear Brother Bartlett : Your letter of November 18th, inviting me to attend the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Kingston Church, was duly re- ceived. It found me in very poor health, added to the natural infirmity ordinarily weighing on a man of eighty-one years. But as you had kindly given me plenty of time, I hoped for better health and intended to respond, recalling incidents, events and persons, the kind of material with which it was organized, trained mostly by that orthodox, consecrated minister, Rev. John Rankin. I should tell how it prospered, largely by emigration, under that good Brother Lowry, and how subsequently, and as I think, for want of true Christian forbearance about non-essentials, animosities were aroused, feelings alienated, heated controversies.
The language was not such as Job 6:25 describes. How forcible are right words ! They forgot "A soft answer turneth away wrath." The fruit of all this was division. And then two churches, composed largely of good, Christian people, orthodox, pious and more than average mental ability.
My work began in 1844 and continued eight years, the longest pastorate, I think, up to that date, and in that branch up to the reunion. The material to build from outside of our families was small, but we had accessions at almost every communion. We had good men on both sides with imperfec- tions, Father Samuel Donnell, prominent in the other branch, and Robert Hamilton and wife in ours.
I felt so miserable when beginning to write that I only intended to ac- knowledge your invitation. It would be a great pleasure to me to be with you. I trust you will have a better presence, the Holy Spirit, and have a rich baptism.
Sincerely yours,
JOHN C. KING.
PHILLIPSBURG, KAN., December 13, 1898.
REV. R. A. BARTLETT :
Dear Brother : Your fraternal letter, inviting me to attend the seventy- fifth anniversary of the Kingston (Ind.) church the 18th instant, came duly to hand. It will not be possible for me, on account of distance, to be present at the great meeting anticipated. I have remembered the Kingston church with feelings of great kindness. It was my first charge.
The Concord church was united with it, having half the time. The Kingston church paid $400 and the Concord church $200 of the salary. The Sabbath morning of my first appearance before the church was dark and rainy, April, 1857. The text was Acts 24: 25 ; the sermon was extemporane- ous. When I came out of the church, some of the brethren met me in the yard and inquired " What salary would you expect for preaching here and at Concord per year?" My answer was $600. W. W. Hamilton replied, "You shall have it." I spent two years in peace and hard work. The mem- bers were of the old, substantial type, faithful and true. The Hamiltons, the Antrobuses, the Grahams, the Donnells, the Hopkinses, the Lowes and the Robisons, all of blessed memory, were at Kingston in my day. Mrs. Adams, who used to live at McCoy's Station, took tea at our house a few years ago at Wamego, Kas., said she remembered me at Kingston, and thought me quite a dude. I took dinner during the meeting of synod at Hutchinson at Dr. Ardery's. His wife was a Reeder, daughter of one of the elders at
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Concord. It was pleasant to meet Mr. Reeder after almost forty years of separation from him.
I must soon close this letter. The last mention is that of young Samuel Hamilton. He used to come to church at Kingston very regularly with his little family. I found him an elder in the church at Kingman, Kan. Thomas Lowe, his son-in-law, lived on the farm, about two miles from town. Mr. Samuel Hamilton was an intelligent, Christian gentleman. Mrs. Hamil- ton was a most excellent Christian woman. I used to stay at their house while I preached at Kingman ; he died while I supplied the church. The attendance at the funeral was very large ; a great procession followed him to the grave. Since that, his dear daughter Jessie went to join him and many loved ones who had entered into rest.
The words of the apostle is my prayer. Heb. 13: 20, 21.
Yours truly, H. M. SHOCKLEY.
KINGMAN, KAN., December 13, 1898.
From the "wild and woolly West " to the Presbyterian church of King- ston, greeting ! You who have never broken loose from old friendships and associations can hardly realize the wave of homesickness which overtakes the wanderer who has strayed beyond the reach of these pleasant gatherings. I think it is such as a child feels when far away from home on Thanksgiving. He knows the festivities are going on in the old homestead, just as in the past. Though we cannot be with you in person, we are there in spirit.
Imagination pictures the whole scene- the kindly, familiar faces, the old pastor, associate and friend for a quarter of a century. How glad I should be to clasp the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Rankin once again, as well as of many others who will be there !. How glad to hear the talks, the songs and the reminiscences ! Last, but not least, to partake of the dinner in the basement, a dinner for which the earth has yielded her richest and best ; and when pre- pared by cooks of rare skill, will be " a feast fit for the gods." Those big dinners at Kingston have disproved the theory that rich foods impair diges- tion, produce dyspepsia and all its kindred ills. For have not scores of us made triumphal marches from one big dinner to another? Yet there is not a more healthful people upon the face of the earth, nor a greater number who have reached their allotted time.
As we could not be present to hear the history of the church, we did the next best thing -we took from its place among the treasures left by those who have passed away Father Hamilton's history, written in 1857, and read it aloud to the family. In this day they had no thought of carpets, or fresco- ing, or basements, but they laid a foundation which I believe will last for many generations. Let us pray that their posterity may build walls not only beautiful, but as lasting as the foundation.
With kindest regards to all, I will say farewell and good-bye.
M. A. HAMILTON.
CONVERSE, IND., December 14, 1898. TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KINGSTON, IND .:
My Dear and Much Loved Friends: I have been kindly invited to be with you on this occasion, and regret exceedingly that circumstances are such as to compel me to decline the invitation, with thanks. I can hardly
INTERIOR VIEW OF KINGSTON CHURCH.
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think of any visit that would give me more real pleasure than a visit to Kingston at this time and under the present circumstances. I look back to the years spent with you as among the happiest years of my life. I deem it an honor to have been superintendent of your Sunday-school and leader of your choir, and to have been intrusted by you with the honorable and re- sponsible office of an elder. I feel that the years spent with you were profit- able ones to me, and trust they were not altogether unprofitable to the church and community. Through your church and him who was then your pastor, I received under God the final impulse which launched me into the gospel ministry, for which I have ever since had occasion to thank God most heartily. So you will believe me when I say that Kingston church has a very warm place in my heart.
And, now, permit me to congratulate you on having reached the seventy- fifth anniversary of your birth as a church. God has spared you to a good old age, and made you a blessing to your community, while He has given you daughters and granddaughters in the other Presbyterian churches of the county. Then you have sent out a goodly number to become identified with other churches, and there help carry on the Master's work. You have also sent forth a number of sons to be preachers of the everlasting Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these have done, and are still doing, grand work for the Master and for the mother church.
Think of the good accomplished by the churches which have grown from yours, and by the workers you have sent out. I cannot give statistics for others, but even your humble servant, the writer, has been permitted, by God's blessing, to welcome some 500 into the fold. Probably others of the brethren have accomplished far more, and, for the thousands blessed and saved through the instrumentality of all these, you will share in the re- ward. As you think of the good already accomplished, and what is likely to be the final result of the train of influences set in motion by this church, have you not reason to thank and bless God that, seventy-five years ago, he put it into the hearts of the fathers to organize the Sand Creek Presbyterian church? You may well thank Him for His watchful care over it, for the blessings showered upon it, and for the blessings carried from it to others. You have had many noble men and women among you; but, as in fancy I look over the congregation, I miss many, oh, so many, familiar faces of thirty-five or forty years ago, and am constrained to say: "The fathers; where are they?"
Some of the founders of this church had passed away before it was my privilege to know it; but I look in vain for most of the elderly fathers and mothers of thirty-five or forty years ago -- the Hamiltons, the Donnells, the McCoys, the Hopkins, and others-who were then the old people. Most of them are gone to the church above. Their mantles have fallen to their children. Are they so wearing them as to honor their parents' church and their parents' God? May God help the present generation to be as faithful, as true, as devoted, as the past; yea, even to surpass the fathers and the mothers in all these things. You are rightly striving to surpass the fathers in arts, science, agriculture, etc .; why not determine, by God's help, to be bet- ter, more zealous, more thoroughly consecrated Christians and church-work- ers than even your fathers and mothers were? Why should not the church and God expect you to accomplish far more than they?
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My prayer is that the Lord will help you all to be faithful and successful in doing His work; that this church may grow and prosper more and more, and be a rich source of blessing to all coming generations while time shall last, and that we may, each one, finally hear the loving Master's voice say: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord." Yours fraternally,
GEO. D. PARKER.
I I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.
2 I love Thy church, O God ! Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thine hand.
3 For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend ; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
4 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communiou, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
5 Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth cau yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
KINGSTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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