USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Flemington > One hundredth anniversary exercises of the Baptist Church, Flemington, N.J. June 17th, 18th and 19th, 1898 > Part 6
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It is far too much to claim that this work has been done with the promptness and intelligence with which it ought. It struggled at first with ultra Calvinism and all the way along it has been tinged too much with notions of conquest bor- rowed from Rome, but nevertheless the preach-
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ing of the gospel to the whole world has been recognized in this century as the duty of the church of God. And this is an immense gain over ideas previously prevailing.
(3) And right here we should notice in passing what every even worldly mind can see and ap- preciate, and what is constantly made prominent in any general review of the past century ; namely, the locomotive and communicative inventions that have made the world of the nineteenth century so different from that of the fifty-eight centuries that have preceded it. Railroads, steam- ships, telegraphs, telephones, printing presses and mail service, and many such things, have given immense facility to the heralding of the gospel. But let us not mistake. These are not the coming of the kingdom of God; they are equally servicable for the coming of the kingdom of man. But their help in heralding the kingdom of God should be gratefully acknowledged; not only the wrath, but the inventions of man are made to praise God.
(4) Another noteworthy feature of the century have been the outpourings of the Spirit that have seemed to come as a benediction on the church for taking hold on missionary work. I do not forget the preeminent outpouring of divine power in the eighteenth century, com- monly known as the "Great Awakening" in the days of Edwards and Tennant and Whitfield and
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the Wesleys; but that was confined mainly to the English speaking world and was pre-eminently an awakening of Protestantism from the almost deistic slumber in to which it had fallen. But the revivals of the nineteenth century have been more world-wide, because missions have fur- nished the opportunity for them, by preaching the word in the dark places of the earth. By the year 1830, missions had been planted in many parts of the heathen world, particularly in the islands of the sea. Then there came, in the de- cade of the thirties and following, blessed and mighty downpourings of the heavenly rain, as it would seem to be God's response to the effort of His obedient people. And the significant thing about this was that the blessing fell on the home field and the mission fields at the same time in the same manner. The most wonderful blessing that this Flemington Church has ever seen was in what is known as "the great revival" of 1838, when ninety-one were received by baptism, some few of whom remain to this day. When pastor here, I used to love to hear these veteran disciples tell of the blessed baptismal scene in the open air in the Summer time, when busy farm work was left in order to respond to the marked and evident call of God. But the full meaning of it did not dawn on me till I studied the history of missions and learned that in far off Madagascar and the Sandwich Islands, and such dark places
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the same melting converting power was falling in strange and most expected manner, the same as here in the United States. Surely our God is God over all and blessed forever. And as a general rule it will be found, in this century at least, that just in proportion as the church has taken hold on mission work abroad she has been blessed by the Spirit's presence at home. The dwindling numbers and life of our old-school brethren seems to justify Dr. Gordon's aphorism that if "a church is not a missionary church it will soon be a mission church."
(5) Still another phase of the general cast of this century, religiously, has been a growing apprehension of the manner of the final victory of Christ's cause in the world. This of course has to be learned from prophecy. And this century has been strongly characterized by the study of prophecy. As before remarked the un- usual events with which the century was ushered in, awakened wider interest in the subject, and among the studious this interest has been con- tinued. Many publications have been issued and various conventions in the interest of the study of prophecy have been held. And while . there is not as yet entire unanimity of view, a large number of the most earnest and spiritual of believers are firmly convinced that the Scriptures teach that final victory comes not by the method of gradual conquest such as the church of Rome
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has long.adhered to; but rather by the sharp de- cisive intervention of God at the coming of the Lord; and that the business of the present time is preparation for that august and swift coming event. Now whether this view be right or , wrong, it certainly has had a great influence in stimulating missionary operations. If any one doubts this let him turn to hymns number 356 and 358 of the Coronation Hymnal, used in the vestry of this church-the one written by Dr. Gordon and the other by Dr. Pierson, two men, who have proved by their work as well as by their word, what influence this belief had upon them. And what is true of them is true also of a whole host of less known ones, who are giving themselves to the work of heralding the gospel everywhere with a zeal that is the product of this belief.
(6) And this leads me to notice still another phase of the missionary ardor of the present century; namely, the formation of many new agencies for the heralding of the gospel. Al- though, as I have before noticed, all the leading denominations organized their respective Boards early in the century and have worked steadily through it until the present time; yet the feeling has arisen with many earnest souls that these Boards were rather too slow and conservative to meet the demands of the hour. Hence there have arisen quite a number of new organizations mostly inter-denominational and on what is called
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the faith plan. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these is the China Inland Mission which has certainly proved its right to exist by its memora- ble record of over a quarter of a century, having put into China as many missionaries as all the regular Boards combined. And it would surprise one who reads only the regular Board publica- tions to find how much is being done by this sort of agency. Whether one approves of this method or not, it might be a great stimulus to look into it. The China Inland Mission, The Missionary Alliance, the South African General Mission, The Congo Bololo Mission, The Kansas Union, American Baptist Industrial Mission and a whole host of lesser known organizations are certainly doing a mighty work. Indeed, so far has this principle gone that single individual missionaries are supporting missions of their own, and single individual missionaries are going out with no Board or organization whatever behind them. These methods may be open to criticism, but they show at least that some mighty power is at work in this century, heralding the gospel through- out all the earth. And when you get right down to the root of the matter it will often be found that the underlying feeling is, that time is short -that the four angels will not much longer hold the four winds.
(7) . And in this connection I must notice the multiplication of home agencies. A quarter of a
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century ago if a church took an annual collection for foreign missions, it felt that its duty was done. But some one said, "are the sisters doing all they might?" and then the Woman's Boards sprang into existence. First, a Union Society, which still lives and thrives; and then a Society for each denomination. And then some one said, "are the young people doing all they might?" and there sprang up the Mission Bands and similar organizations. And then some one said, "are the children doing all they might?" and hence sprang up other agencies; so that to- day you have here not only a missonary church, that sets apart a day to the consideration of mis- sions, in its centennial program, but you have the reports of four organizations that are work- ing in this line. Ah yes ; the work of the sealing angel is being pressed in a peculiar manner. The four angels cannot let loose the four uni- versal winds till the one angel and his helpers have done their elective, sealing work.
(8) Permit me also to notice another though very recent phase of this missionary ardor. It is only a dozen years old; it has talked more than it has achieved : it is open to much criticism and yet it is significant. I refer to the Student vol- unteer movement, which was inaugurated at Mt. Hermon in 1886, and which has this year held its memorial convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Its watch-word is the evangelization of the world in
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the present generation. There has been some crudeness and bombast about it. But it is never- theless very significant. Even if it should bear the same relation to the general movement that the children's crusade in the Middle Ages did to that mighty movement for the recovery of the Holy Land, it nevertheless shows that there is some wonderful power behind it, that can awaken such enthusiasm. But the movement is doing. real good. It is saving from secularism many students in our institutions of learning. It is giving valuable information; it is promoting acquaintance; it is helping on the great work. Such conventions as the one held in Cleveland . cannot fail to have a powerful influence upon the educated young people of our land.
(9) And there is yet another phase of this general movement that is perhaps the most signi- ficant of all, though I fear, not generally rec- ognized as such. And that is special efforts and facts regarding preaching this gospel of the Kingdom to God's ancient people, Israel. Blind- ness in part, and in great part, has happened to Israel during these so called Christian centuries. Few of them have been converted, partly because the gospel that has been presented to them has seemed to ignore many of the promises of their ultimate prominence on the earth. But a better understanding of the gospel has shown that there is still a place in God's economy for the
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fulfillment of these promises. And when they have learned that in becoming Christians they did not cease to be Israelites; when they have learned that Jesus is to have a real kingdom on earth in which their nation is to have a promi- nent part, they have listened as never before, and many of them are now believing. No one, who has not become acquainted with the Joseph Rabinowich movement in Russia, and the Hope of Israel Mission, in New York, can rightly appreciate the very great meaning there is at present in this work. Notice that the context following our text, marks the sealing of thous- ands from each of the tribes of Israel. This subject is too great for me to enlarge upon. But do not overlook its significance.
I might continue in this line to show other facts indicative of the nature of the present cen- tury in the presence of God. The four winds will yet blow. Man still longs for universal empire, and he will yet attempt it, and seem to achieve it, and then God will speak, saying : "Why do the nations, tumultous, assemble and the people imagine a vain thing ? Yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion." The consummation will come in God's time. But that day is not yet and the duty of this day is to know God's will and to do it; and the chief thing in the doing of it is the understanding and carrying out of the great commission.
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Therefore, one of the chief things that this century-old Flemington Church has to rejoice in to-day, is its missionary character and work. In its its infancy it was closely related to Hope- well, which has taken so much of the opposite character, but by God's grace it has fallen into line with His providence. The five or six churches that have gone out from it; the great interest it has even taken in State and Home missions; and its ever increasing interest in Foreign Missions; so that it sets apart one day of these centennial services as missionary day, show that it has an intelligent and abiding part in the elective work of the sealing angel-the work that must be done before that of the four angels with its first terrible and then blessed universality, shall sweep from the four corners of the earth, announcing the day of the Lord. The missionary character of a church is no un- important incident in its life. It rather marks its intelligence and consecration as one that is approved of God.
If this church shall have another century of existence, it must, if it remain true to God, enter yet more largely into the heralding of the coming kingdom, But when one notes the rise of imperialism as seen in all the greater powers to-day: when one sees how Africa and China are being appropriated by the great powers of Europe, and how even our own United States,
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casting off its Monroe Doctrine, is reaching out . in this war with Spain, for dominion abroad; when one clearly understands how Russia and England are really menacing each other for the dominion of Asia: when one hears the call for an Anglo-American alliance, he must see that the question of universal human empire is fast coming to the front: that it needs but the rise of another man of destiny with transcendent. genius to realize it. But when that comes, the judgment must come : the Lord the Judge, must come. But until that comes, while the four angels restrain its coming, the sealing angel must do his blessed work.
God grant that we may have our full share therein, and above all, that we may not be deceived into supposing that the coming of the kingdom of man is the coming of the kingdom God, or that "the coming man" is the man of God. Let us see clearly according to the Book, and join ourselves with the sealing angel in his heavenly elective work, so long as the four angels restrain man's eager desire for universal dominion. Thankful for what this century has wrought, may we record our vow now, that so far as we may participate in another century, it shall be with increased intelligence and zeal in sealing those who shall rule in the coming king- dom of heaven.
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SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 19th,
T HE Sabbath dawned bright, breezy and beautiful. At 10:30 there were a few vacant seats in the sanctuary. The devo- tional services were led by brethren Chapell, Merrell and Heath. After the offering of the . morning had been received, a letter from Dr. E. A. Woods, of San Francisco, one of the earlier pastors, was read. The letter had been received only the night before.
320 EDDY ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. June 11th, 1898.
Dear Bro. Sutphin, and brethren and sisters of. the Flemington Baptist Church :- It would give me great pleasure to be with you on this, your one hundredth anniversary. As this is impossible, I send you this, my word of greeting and con- . gratulation. I rejoice with you in the work you have accomplished during these years, and I am glad to have been one of the pastors who have labored with you. I came to you at the com- mencement of my ministry. Your old house of worship had just been torn down and the found- ation of the present building had been laid. Together we watched the rising walls, saw the building completed and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. Some of you remember the
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masterly sermon delivered at the dedication by Dr. Richard Fuller, from the words: "Behold the Lamb of God." The preacher himself and many of the members of the church who partici- pated in that service, are now beholding the Lamb of God-standing in His immediate pres- ence. Perhaps their thoughts are with you to- day as you celebrate this anniversary.
Nearly thirty years have passed since that dedication service. They have been years of toil and prayer, but of success and rejoicing, and now on this glad occasion, we who once labored with you, but are now in other fields of labor, join with you and with those who have gone from you to their final home, in thanks- giving and praise. We are still one.
"One family we dwell in Him, One church above, beneath, Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream of death."
May sweet memories of the past blend with bright hopes of the future, in this, your anni- versary. May your future be a's your past, only much more abundant in all good things.
A few years more and we who labor here will clasp hands with those who have gone before, and although tears fill our eyes nowe, on that other shore tears are never shed.
Mrs. Woods joins me in hearty congratulations
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and in prayers, that God's blessings may abund- antly rest upon you all.
Yours in the Master's service,
E. A. WOODS.
Following this letter came the centennial ser- mon by Dr. T. E. Vassar, who was pastor from 1872 to 1880.
WHAT OUR CENTENNIAL MEANS,
JOSHUA, 4th, 6th: What mean ye by these stones?
Men take to building monuments about as readily as birds take to building nests, and much of their work is wrought out of about as perish- able stuff, and lasts about as long. Just as soon as a circumstance or spot is considered famous, the attempt is made to keep it famous by erecting some memorial of the event, and so it has come to pass that the world is dotted with decaying shafts or columns, reared to perpetuate the names or events of history. You can trace such an in- clination as far back as earth's records run.
Israel had no sooner gotten out of the wilder -. ness and over Jordan, than they went to work to commemorate by something visible and tangible the consummation reached. From the bed of the river where the feet of the priests had rested while the pilgrim host was passing over, chosen men lifted and bore out twelve stones, and as the
كبده
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people pitched their tents for the first night on. the far side, their leader piled the blocks thus quarried, into a memorial pillar.
Obviously enough, this monument would need no explanation while that immediate generation lived, but Joshua anticipates a day when strangers, or remote descendants of these wand- erers, shall question what the rocky heap was designed to signify. He imagines a point in. the future reached when spectators shall doubt- fully ask : "What mean ye by these stones?"
This Flemington Baptist Church is devoting these three days to the erection of some such re- membrance pillar. Pausing amid the drive of daily care, its friends and members give them- selves to a prolonged memorial service. Old adherents or attendants come back again, and amid surroundings somewhat changed, recall the past and indulge in heartfelt gratulations. All through these meetings with their glints and glimpses of a century's benefactions and benedictions, we have been fashioning on this historic spot a monument to the grace and good- ness of our covenant-keeping God. Brought under His care through floods of experience, not altogether unlike the tides of the ancient Jordan, we rear on this camp ground where our fathers tented, a memorial in their honor and to the glory of God.
A pertinent inquiry for this particular occa- sion is :
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What does the Memorial mean?
Of course, broadly and generally stated, it means that we are desirous of fixing more deeply and permanently on the record page of the present, certain fading remembrances of the past : that we would preserve as far as possible, inci- dents connected with the origin and progress of this church which are beginning to twinkle dimly through the hazy atmosphere of time. These anniversary exercises are the acknowl- edgement of a debt due to the fathers from their children, and the expression of a conviction that their toils and tribulations so contributed toward present conditions, that they ought not to pass unnoted, or be ignored.
But what are the more special suggestions of this century of religious undertaking and accomp- lishment, and what do we propose in these observances definitely and distinctly to affirm ?
FIRST: That the principles and practices for which a stand was here made a hundred years ago, are important enough to be maintained and defended still.
In no arrogant or bitter spirit towards other members of the household of faith, but in simple fidelity to New Testament teaching as they understood it, the founders of this church pro- claimed their creed. Time will not allow me fully to state it, or maintain and defend it. Substantially it could be put into the two words, faith and obedience. They separated them-
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selves from other avowed disciples of the Lord hereabout, chiefly on these two grounds, that regeneration by the Spirit of God, and that only, could fit any being for a place in the kingdom of Christ on earth, or in heaven, and when this new life had been consciously experienced, then there must be a confession of it in the identical act observed and commanded by the Master. Sal- vation first then ordinances, and the ordinances in no case to be tampered with, altered or trans- posed. Here were about the only wide differ- ences parting our fathers of a hundred years ago from their Christian neighbors. Here they did differ, and the difference was in their judgment, so vital that it demanded a new religious organi- zation. Now were they right or wrong in this conclusion? Was the divergence broad enough and radical enough to justify and compel the establishment of a rival congregation of wor- shippers in a thinly settled town? The action taken on this spot one hundred years ago this day, declared that the distinctive truths then proclaimed, were so fundamental that they must be avowed even though it involved the creation of a new religious body here. Frankness con- strains us to say at the end of a hundred years, that we believe these distinctive denominational truths important enough to justify the floating of the banner which the fathers lifted. Never let it be forgotten that it is not a mode of baptism that we contend for: it is the thing itself.
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Never let it be forgotten that there is one great basal principle evermore underlying Baptist faith, and that is the bed-rock of holy scripture. We do not say as some others do that the word of God is "the paramount authority;" we are not quite satisfied with the phrase "all-sufficient;" the word of God is the sovereign, and the sover- eign has no parliament, and no prime ministers. Of not the slightest consequence is it to us what canons, or councils, or cardinals urge or order. Their opinions or decrees have not a feather's weight. What says the Captain in his marching orders ? We do not quibble over a little more or a little less of water. That is as false as foolish a charge. A goblet or a gulf suits us equally. All we ask about it is, has the Master said any- thing concerning it, and if so what ? The fifteen men and women who on that June day of 1798 entered into fellowship here did not deny that a gospel church was composed of believers and their infant children because they were less sympathetic toward the little ones than believers of other names, but simply because faith in the Lord Jesus is a personal act, and must be per- sonally exercised, and personally confessed be- fore any place can be given in the Lord's visible church. They stood not in self-will, not in prejudice against disciples of other views and names, but in fidelity to teachings bearing the Spirit's imprint and the Lord's endorsement, and
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the hundred years during which they have been voiced in this commuity have not in the least degree lessened their importance or impaired their authority.
If we would learn whether these principles and practices are worth preserving we have only to turn our eyes toward lands unvisited or unin- fluenced by them. Look at some European countries, or almost any nation of South America, and behold what there masquerades under the Christian name! Step over into that kingdom with which just now our republic is at war. Go into almost any of its chief cities on the Sabbath and you will find the whole population gathered. to witness a bullfight. Distinguished men, beauti- ful women thronging the arena to witness on God's day the cruel bloody exhibition! Every one in that God-forgetting throng is a member of the nominal church. In infancy the priest put a few drops of water on his head, and so inducted him into it, and now if you were to question his being a Christian he would pile up all terrible oaths in proof of his relationship and loyalty.
In the land where Martin Luther made his brave fight for a reformed faith, and in Sweden where that faith is upheld by law, every child becomes a member when but a few weeks old. After reaching adult age an immense majority rarely enter the church, thousands are open skeptics, or scoffers at everything divine,
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