USA > Pennsylvania > York County > Memorial of the Fiftieth Year, 1836-1886, St Paul's English Evangelical Lutheran Church > Part 3
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Ye ministers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, Drs. Baum, Got- wald, and Rev. Freas, my successors! Thank God that you are here this day alive and well. You are and have been workmen here who have no reason to be ashamed, workmen whose hands I could lift up in York, as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses at Rephidim, during Israel's contest with the hosts of Amalek. May you yet live long and preach Christ as revealed in the book of God-Christ, a priest at the altar, and a king on His throne-Christ, in the robes of Aaron and in the royalties of David-Christ, the atoning victim, and Christ with many crowns, Lord of lords and King of kings. Be faithful still in contending for the truth of the Gospel. Be faithful in its proclamation. Be in oppo- sition always to all who would overthrow, pervert, modify, undermine, or dishonor the truth, never forgetting that God has made you saints just that you may be servants. In things unimportant, be yielding as the osier before the breeze of summer, but in things essential stand fast as the mighty oak in the wintry storm.
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ST. PAUL'S MEMORIAL.
As respects myself, I am old now and full of years, but as God wills that I should live, I am not weary of life. Yet as I have passed my four- score years, where am I? As a Christian, I am standing on the shores of eternal life. The rising, swelling tides of eternity's great sea are threatening to engulf me, and what then? I shall share in the peaceful bed of rest wherein the bodies of God's saints shall sleep out the night whose shadows shall be dispelled by the light of the resurrection morning. And thus I close with the addition of a few lines I wrote several years ago :
Whene'er Thou wilt, then I will go To Thee, Lord, who hast loved me so, Up to the New Jerusalem, And wear the purchased diadem.
Whene'er Thou wilt, I will depart
To Thee, to whom I gave my heart, The King of kings, the One Supreme, The Lord who didst my soul redeem.
Whene'er Thou wilt, haste home with me Where I my great High Priest shall see : Strike sweeter harp than Miriam bore, Wear richer robes than Aaron wore.
Whene'er Thou wilt, do me remove To the abode and courts I love, To the redeemed and blood-washed throng With whom Thou art and I belong.
But Jerusalem and heavenly courts, And gold-paved streets and ransomed hosts, Cannot delight-cannot afford Joy like Thy vision, O my Lord.
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR.
For it is Christ, yes it is He Who has redeemed, has ransomed me, That is my hope, my all, my love, My heaven on earth, my heaven above.
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SERMON BY REV. WM. M. BAUM, D. D.
" He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." John iv. 36.
Together do we now rejoice. This Christian congregation has com- pleted its first half-century of Christian work. By common impulse and general assent this event is commemorated. It has pleased Almighty God to spare the lives of all who as pastors have sown and reaped upon this field, to mingle in this service, so that we may and do now rejoice to- gether over the already garnered and still ripening harvest.
The husbandman arrogates not unto himself the production of the an- nual yield, as though by his own labor and watchfulness it had been at- tained, nor yet does he look for it without the most assiduous care and diligence ; so do we the more rejoice together at this festival season to ascribe all praise and thanksgiving unto Him, of whom our blessed Saviour said " My father is the husbandman," for the gracious and abun- dant blessing bestowed upon the work of our hands, ever remembering that even where Paul preached and Apollos watered, the increase came of God; and as we knew not which should prosper, whether this or that, or whether both should be alike good (Eccl. xi. 6) we may view the past half-century as one unbroken period illustrating most strikingly the unity and the continuity of Christian work. The harvest is but one, though the sowers and the reapers may have been many.
The work of God, in all its comprehensiveness and diffusiveness, is after all but one work, and by reason thereof, grasping this unity, phil- osophy recognizes but one universe. So, likewise, God's plan of work- ing is but one, whether in the past, in the present, or in the future- whether matter or spirit, life or being, be its sphere or object.
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR.
Dispensations may and do differ in man's esteem, but this difference is historical rather than fundamental, and is therefore greater in appear - ance than in reality. As morning, noon, and evening are but parts of the one day, and as infancy, manhood, and age constitute but one life, so creation, redemption, and sanctification are but links of the one great chain of divine procedure. The one omnipotent Creator unfolds first the covenant of works and then the covenant of grace as two pages of the same book of revelation. The religion of the patriarchs, of the Jews, of Christians, is but one religion in its elements, its principles, and its purposes. Unity and continuity are the grand characteristics.
The work transmitted by Christ to Apostles, Martyrs and Reformers, is not in its essence, its agencies or its intentions either a new or dis- connected work. The glad song of angels heralding the birth of Beth- lehem's babe was but the refrain of that older anthem " when the morn- ing stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." (Job xxxviii. 7.) From the beginning of time it has been, and until the end of time it will be, that "one soweth and another reapeth." And under the gracious guidance of the divine Husbandman it transpires from age to age, from dispensation to dispensation, that "he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."
Each successive pastorate is alike an inheritance and a transmission. In this, for once, we have a genuine apostolic succession. "The present is the child of the past, and the mother of the future." Of one faith and of one purpose we pastors here each received, and we each transferred the entrusted mission as co-workers for the same end. Accepting the trust as from the Lord, using His church as His agents to call us, we have here severally reaped and sown, and now clasp trusting, loving hands, and mingle fraternal salutations as we rejoice together over this Jubilee.
But not for a moment would we limit the sphere of this jubilation to
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the narrow circle of the pastorship. The sowing and the reaping were not confined to it, nor can its rejoicing be thus restricted. Into this joy comes the full tide of lay congratulation as a grand chorus of voices sus- taining and prolonging the harvest song of this pastoral quartette. To- gether have we labored upon the same harvest-field, rivaling that to which Israel came of old, "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of foun- tains and depths, that spring out of valleys and hills ; a land of wheat and barley and vines, and fig trees and pomegranates ; a land of oil olive and honey ; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass." (Deut. viii. 7-9,) And together is it our privilege and our pleasure now to rejoice. We rejoice in the retrospect-the past has been pleasant and blessed ; we rejoice in the present, it is bright and cheerful and abundant; we rejoice in the future, for it is full of hope and of promise. The generous husbandman of the natural harvest field, Boaz-like, extends gifts and greetings to every busy workman around him, so is their welcome upon this festival occasion most cordial and sincere to all who have labored long or little with this church. Nor need we either apology or defense for such a service. It is in harmony with divine appointment in olden time. Principles change not with dispensations or with centuries. The Hebrew economy was pervaded with this spirit of joyousness and commemoration. All manner of instrumental and vocal accompaniments marked their most solemn worship, and annual festivals elicited and sustained their national re- joicings. So also, in our own dispensation is the spirit of joy made specially prominent, and the injunction to rejoice reiterated. True re- ligion exchanges the sackcloth and ashes of an empty Phariseeism for the beauteous robes of Christ's righteousness, and marches with joy and song towards heaven, neither dreading nor anticipating martyrdom at every step.
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR
Our present services have to do with Christian work. For this was this Christian congregation originally organized, and for this continued for half a century. As already so fully and so admirably set forth by the venerable and beloved founder of it, and by others who have traced its beginnings, the intent and purpose of those whose common sympathies, and hopes, and needs drew them together for the building of this con- gregation, were to secure a place and an opportunity to work for Jesus. There were no personal ambitions to be gratified, no ecclesiastical designs to be attained, no particular dogmas to be defended or assailed, and no struggling policy to be vindicated. There was the one purpose cherished and declared, to teach the unadulterated truth of God's Word as held and proclaimed by the Mother Church of the Reformation.
Without the shadow of concealment on the one hand, or offensive de- nominational pretense or assertion on the other, this organization took its place by the side of sister churches of its own name and faith, and sought to justify its existence by its record for works of faith and labors of love. During one half of its half century life it enjoyed but a single ministry, unique, blessed, and prosperous. Rejecting with merited disapproval all questionable expedients, however disguised, it placed its firm reliance upon the efficacy of the Word and the Sacraments of the Christian Church, and thus with strong expectation looked up to God for His presence and blessing, and called upon the community to uphold and strengthen its work. Nor was there disappointment. Success, healthy, gradual and steady, rewarded its trust and its efforts, and when Provi- dence made a change of pastors and called a new shepherd to feed the flock, he found that flock strong in members and in influence, thoroughly equipped and organized for effective service, and ready to lead or to fol- low wherever duty and love pointed the way. The change thus necessi- tated by Providence was affected with as little jar or friction as could be
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imagined. The faithful, loving, and acceptable services of the retiring pastor were appreciated in fullest degree, and will be so remembered as long as a single member who enjoyed them remains here. The comfort and the boast of each succeeding occupant of this coveted position have been that this work had so grand an introduction and so happy a con- summation during its first pastorate, and that no new methods or unusual resorts were needed to give it vitality. The work proceeded upon the same lines, and with the same impulses, through each successive pastorate, and may be expected, as without presumption it is supposed it is univer- sally desired, to continue thus for all time to come. Instead of for- getting, or undervaluing, or ignoring the work of the past, it is our priv- ilege and delight to bring it into fullest view, to estimate it at its true value, and thus illustrate anew our Saviour's declaration, that " he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."
The unity and continuity of Christian work do not, however, obliterate or destroy the peculiarities of successive periods, or the individuality of successive workmen. " There are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." (I Cor. xii. 4-6.) These diversities are not wanting in the past of this congregation. Each period, whilst standing in historical union with the others, has, nevertheless, its own distinctive characteristics. Each work- man, though animated with the same spirit, and aiming at the same results, has his own personal individuality and peculiar adaptations. No one can duplicate another, as no one is the exact counterpart of another.
We have had the Church's origin, its incipiency, its first period, delin- eated with great vigor and freshness. A glance at its second stage of growth deserves consideration. This was a harvest season in many re- spects and in many particulars. The results of former labors became
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR.
manifest in the faith and zeal of the enrolled membership of this church. With growing necessities came corresponding aspirations and inspiring opportunities. Circumstances indicated the propriety of improved ac- commodations and enlarged facilities. The whole question, with all its consequences and uncertainties, was fully and faithfully canvassed, and in answer thereto the unanimous resolve was to undertake the reconstruc- tion of the house of God. Neither importunity nor urgency were needed to bring forth this result.
It affords me unspeakable pleasure upon this fitting occasion to bear my testimony to the readiness, the cheerfulness, the liberality and the unanimity with which this enterprise was commenced, continued and completed. As needed, the necessary funds were contributed, and very soon every dollar of indebtedness was liquidated. The manner in which this was done deserves mention and imitation by all similarly situated. When due, all bills were paid by bona fide contributions. I am not aware that a single person outside of the congregation was importuned for assistance, or that a single dollar was made by pious fraud or church huckstering. Great credit was due and was generously bestowed upon the dignity and open-handed liberality with which the whole procedure was conducted and consummated, the wisdom of which was perhaps never seriously questioned, and which is more and more fully vindicated as the comfort and advantage are enjoyed year after year.
Most happy am I also at this time and in this manner to refer with gratitude and commendation to the wisdom, the fidelity and the per- severance of those five brethren who constituted the building committee, and to the steady, thoughtful and competent brother, their worthily trusted builder. With such a committee to direct and such a builder to execute orders, there remained nothing for the pastor to do but to look on with admiration and speak words of praise and cheer. Two of these
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ST. PAUL'S MEMORIAL.
have already been advanced to the worship of the upper sanctuary, but I am sure that in nothing of all their work on earth did they more sincerely rejoice, and by nothing will they be more gratefully remembered. Who of us can forget that battle under the ground, that conflict in the bowels of the earth, where was achieved after heroic effort a firm foundation upon which now rests the massive tower of this stately structure? Men of weaker nerve, or less fertile in resource, would have succumbed and have surrendered in despair, and would have covered their defeat by fill- ing the watery excavation they had made in some easier way than by a work of solid masonry more than thirty feet deep. But the courage of our self-poised committee failed not, did not even falter, and they were rewarded most grandly by their ultimate success. Notwithstanding ex- treme bodily suffering, which incapacitated for standing, yet as long as able to sit upon a chair, might be seen in those days from early morn to dewy eve the unterrified "Boss" of this part of the work, the very imper- sonation of courage, self-reliance, and determination, watching every throb of the engine, every stroke of the pick and the drill, and every tremor of the subterranean blast. Men have been lauded for battling above the clouds; do not they deserve recognition who have contended within the earth? Many were the unwelcome salutations during the pro- gress of this work, that it was impracticable, and must finally be aban- doned with loss of time and labor bestowed upon it; but the prophets of evil were unheeded, and the work went bravely on, and to-day we repeat the praises which were so lavishly begun as that deeply-seated pile began to mount up out of the earth and lift its head toward the clouds. If any one in this audience may not know, and yet may wish to learn the names of that faithful building committee, they need but read the lines inscribed upon the panels of that quintette window in the front wall of this chamber. There let them remain for the inspiration of the generations to come, showing by whom this work was done.
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR.
With all the vividness of a recent occurrrence do I remember a care- fully studied proposition which that Christ-loving, open-handed member of this church, Mr. Charles A. Morris, designed making to the congre- gation. Fearing that the heavy outlay involved in building an entire new edifice would dishearten the membership and expose to the danger of conflicting opinions, alienations, and possible losses, he had come to the conclusion of bearing singly the entire expense of remodeling the existing structure. In common with one or two others to whom alone' he con- fided his cherished purpose, we earnestly dissuaded from its publication or execution. We thought it unwise, if not unfair, to allow one member to bear such an unequal burden to the relief, which yet we believed would be to the detriment of all the others. Building a new church where a new church is demanded, is always a means of grace and a source of joy and strength to a people. It stimulates activity, draws individuals and fami- lies into closer Christian sympathy and affection, and qualifies for still larger ventures by showing the possibilities of Christian faith and zeal.
Let it not be supposed, however, that during this period of home activ- ity and congregational expenditure, the sympathies or the contributions of this church were diminished or withheld from other objects of benefi- cence. All the duly recognized claims of Missions, Education, Church Extension, Orphans' Home, or whatever else might be recommended by action of Synod, were as conscientiously rememebered as during former or subsequent years. Duty demands only what is possible, and what is possible for Christ is always duty.
There was sowing during these years, as well as reaping. We did not forget spiritual interests in our occupation with material affairs. We had as many Sabbaths then as now, and permitted no external concerns to disturb our services or distract our worship. The word of the Lord was sought to be faithfully declared, and upon its inherent and unfailing effi-
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cacy was reliance placed for the conversion of sinners and the edification of saints. Studied effort was constantly made to render the Sabbath- school and the devotional 'exercises of the congregation attractive and profitable. From these mainly were gathered the members of the cate- chetical classes and the recruits for the Saviour's army.
Recognizing the unity of Christian faith as well as of Christian work, the policy of this congregation has always been to cherish and manifest the kindliest feelings and relations with surrounding congregations. Ac- cording to others, full credit for sincerity of purpose and merit of achieve- ment, it has received like treatment in return. It is not seemly, as it is not necessary, that those so nearly related in doctrine, in organization and in work, should curtail their usefulness and destroy their peace by mis- understandings or contentions. The existence of evil or the occurrence of conflict may not always instantly yield to attempted removal, but will speedily spread to the most alarming proportions when unrestrained. It is pleasant to remember that an entire service in this jubilee programme is in commemoration of the kindly relations sustained for so many years with a sister congregation of this city. Christ's prayer for the unity of His followers is not without fulfillment.
Our present series of commemorative services emphasizes the fact that all true congregational church work is Christian work, because everything in it sustains the most intimate relation to Christ. The field of labor, the preparation of the soil, the seed to be sown, and the harvest to be garnered, are all either of His choosing or appointing. In special manner do we trace the agency of the blessed Saviour in the successive appear- ance of the laborers in His vineyard. Was it not of His own doing that He spake in the parable (Matt. xx. I) of the householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers in His vineyard, and again at the third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh hours?
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THE FIFTIETH YEAR.
Their work is one and continuous. Naturalists tell us that the seeds of certain plants have a feathery attachment, by which they are easily carried by the winds and lodged to germinate in distant lands. So have the truths of the kingdom been winged from nation to nation. Noah carried the faith of the patriarchs over the flood into the new world, as afterward did Moses to the land of promise. Thither did Christ in person repair, and thence went forth His word unto the ends of the earth. In vain do men oppose. The enemy may madly exhume the bones of Wycliffe to burn them, and scatter their ashes to the winds of heaven, they cannot prevent the truth from even a wider scattering. Its echo sounds from Bohemia, where now the living hero Huss is burned instead of the dead one, yet even he foretells the coming herald of the Reformation. And thus onward until touching and embracing our own work and day. There is no forgetfulness on God's part, no break in the chain of divine Providence. As the stars of heaven come forth in their appointed order and roll in their orbits around the one centre of the universe, so do Christ's messengers appear in blessed succession within the charmed circle of which the cross is the centre, walking in the conse- crated path trod by holy men of every age. Beyond that of former days are the advantages and facilities we have enjoyed. Our work has been lightened and our return increased. We have been permitted to witness the ripening of the standing corn and encouraged by the abundant yield of the harvest.
But does not this sound its most startling appeal ?- for of those to whom much has been given, will much be required. We have an enhanced inheritance of duty and responsibility as well as of facility and advan- tage. We have our own work to perform. We must add to the accumu- lated stores of divine grace and influence. We may utilize what has been transmitted, but we must not consume it. We dare not leave the church
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as we found it. It must be the better for our appearance in it. Then only may we confidently look for reward. "He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal." In this there is not a single element of uncertainty. We have here a promise, and the word of God is both sure and steadfast, but we have moreover a principle of God's mode of acting, a law of his kingdom. Thus was it announced by the prophet : [Is. lv. 10, 11.] "As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater ; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void ; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Upon this and similar assurances it is ever safe to rely. Christian work cannot absolutely or ultimately fail. Its progress may not be ac- cording to human forecast or man's expectation, but God has spoken, and His Word must stand. It is not an impossible nor an improbable work in which we are engaged. Our great instrumentality is the truth of God's Word which is " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and in- tents of the heart." (Heb. iv. 12.) That truth hath withstood every at- tempt to destroy its efficiency or annul its power, whether from without or within the Church ; and, by reason of its intrinsic nature it will for- ever retain its energy. As there is in it nothing fallible, neither will its influence be transitory. Everything else may have its day, and yield to changes, and accept of new styles and improved fashion, but for divine truth there are no vicissitudes. When once lodged in the human mind it abides, and, whilst it may be counteracted and rendered inoperative, it cannot be extirpated. It remains the germ of a new life which may
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be, which must be, coëval with eternity, either of mercy or of wrath. Wielding such an instrumentality, no one need fear or hesitate as to this work. -
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