1899
There are many churches that attract attention by their size and grandeur. There are a few that are remarkable by reason of their smallness and simplicity. It is believed that the smallest church in England, says a writer in the Quiver, is the midget church at Lullington, in Sussex.
It is a primitive and quaint building of flint, with stone quoins; it has a roof of red tiles, and a tiny weather-boarded turret at its west end. This miniature church is only sixteen feet square. Its pulpit is a pew, with panelled sides and door, and the furniture is of the plainest. Five narrow, diamond-paned windows give light to the interior. When this tiny church is full, thirty people are gathered together, quite as many as the little village can supply.
Only a little larger is the quaint meeting-house at Crawshawbooth, a village near Burnley. It is known as the Friends' Meeting-House, and is covered with ivy and surrounded by a well-cared-for burial-ground. Inside may be seen half a dozen oak benches that could, if necessary, accommodate sixty people. The attendance is rarely more than six. John Bright once walked twelve miles, from Rochdale, to be present at a service in this meeting-house.
Somewhat smaller than this chapel, however, is one that has been called the shrine of Quakerism. It is in the hamlet of Jordans, in Buckinghamshire. Hither in June of every year come Quakers from all parts, for here lie the remains of the great Quaker, William Penn.
If this were not enough to make the place interesting, it has the further attraction of being the neighborhood in which Milton lived after writing "Paradise Lost," a cottage in the vicinity affording him a resting-place. — Youth's Companion.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Friends Church: "You Need Baptism of The Holy Ghost"
Ohio, 1916
Increased Attendance at Friends Church Revival
Large crowds attended the revival services at the Friends Church, Sunday. Last night it was necessary to throw open the Sunday School room. Seven persons presented their names for membership.
In his sermon in the morning the pastor spoke on the need of "Divine Equipment for Service." In part he said: God not only wants to save men from sin, but prepare them for service. It is not enough to have your sin pardoned, but you need the baptism of the Holy Ghost to give you power to do. This is the crying need of the church to-day. In the days of Finney, Edwards and the Wesleys it is claimed less than fifteen per cent of the converts backslid. In our day less than this number stand and all because we do not preach a full gospel.
In the evening his subject was "God's Estimate of the Value of a Soul." He said that no soul has ever gone so low but what Jesus goes beneath that one to lift him up. It is an abomination in the sight of Heaven for church people to talk about trash. All men are human beings, and have a soul and the soul of a poor harlot or drunkard is as precious in the eyes of Jesus Christ as that of the President or a King. When you hear a person talk about trash you may rest assured that that person is dirtier than the "trash" they talk about. The mission of Jesus is to put all men on an equality. Blind Bartimaeus had to be lifted up, while the self-righteous Zacchaeus had to come down, and the two met on the same platform.
Meetings to night at 7:30. Special prayer and inquiry meeting at 6:30. Special music at every service.
Resignation
Rev. Hugh Willard Hanna tendered his resignation as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kenton, "for the sake of peace and harmony." His resignation caused general surprise as he was called to the pastorate in June, 1914, from Freeport, Pa.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1916.
Increased Attendance at Friends Church Revival
Large crowds attended the revival services at the Friends Church, Sunday. Last night it was necessary to throw open the Sunday School room. Seven persons presented their names for membership.
In his sermon in the morning the pastor spoke on the need of "Divine Equipment for Service." In part he said: God not only wants to save men from sin, but prepare them for service. It is not enough to have your sin pardoned, but you need the baptism of the Holy Ghost to give you power to do. This is the crying need of the church to-day. In the days of Finney, Edwards and the Wesleys it is claimed less than fifteen per cent of the converts backslid. In our day less than this number stand and all because we do not preach a full gospel.
In the evening his subject was "God's Estimate of the Value of a Soul." He said that no soul has ever gone so low but what Jesus goes beneath that one to lift him up. It is an abomination in the sight of Heaven for church people to talk about trash. All men are human beings, and have a soul and the soul of a poor harlot or drunkard is as precious in the eyes of Jesus Christ as that of the President or a King. When you hear a person talk about trash you may rest assured that that person is dirtier than the "trash" they talk about. The mission of Jesus is to put all men on an equality. Blind Bartimaeus had to be lifted up, while the self-righteous Zacchaeus had to come down, and the two met on the same platform.
Meetings to night at 7:30. Special prayer and inquiry meeting at 6:30. Special music at every service.
Resignation
Rev. Hugh Willard Hanna tendered his resignation as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kenton, "for the sake of peace and harmony." His resignation caused general surprise as he was called to the pastorate in June, 1914, from Freeport, Pa.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1916.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Rewards of Friendship Told
California, 1922
The rewards of friendship, both in business and in service to others, formed the theme for a sermon to young men, delivered last night by Rev. E. A. Fridell, assistant pastor, in the First Baptist church. His subject was "A Young Man's Friends." Young men of the community were guests of honor.
"The rewards of friendship are bestowed upon those who walk the path of Christian service," Rev. Fridell said. "Willingness to give life, if necessary, constitutes the test of friendship. Jesus gave the clew to the meaning of life when He said, 'Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.'
"No man is too poor to have latent capacities for sympathy and helpfulness; they spur us to greater achievements. Friendships that abide find their strength in the life of the Man of Galilee.
"From among the great crowd that rallied around Jesus, apparently sharing His enthusiasm and having faith in His ideals, only a handful met squarely the challenge to intimate friendship. So today few people learn to know the value of friends. No person lives an abundant life without a friend. To have a friend one must be forgetful of self. Jesus pointed out the way when a follower betrayed Him and He turned to the remaining handful of loyal folks with the words: 'For their sakes I consecrate myself.' The secret the man with friends will be found in those words, 'for their sakes.'"
—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, CA, Aug. 21, 1922, p. 8.
The rewards of friendship, both in business and in service to others, formed the theme for a sermon to young men, delivered last night by Rev. E. A. Fridell, assistant pastor, in the First Baptist church. His subject was "A Young Man's Friends." Young men of the community were guests of honor.
"The rewards of friendship are bestowed upon those who walk the path of Christian service," Rev. Fridell said. "Willingness to give life, if necessary, constitutes the test of friendship. Jesus gave the clew to the meaning of life when He said, 'Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.'
"No man is too poor to have latent capacities for sympathy and helpfulness; they spur us to greater achievements. Friendships that abide find their strength in the life of the Man of Galilee.
"From among the great crowd that rallied around Jesus, apparently sharing His enthusiasm and having faith in His ideals, only a handful met squarely the challenge to intimate friendship. So today few people learn to know the value of friends. No person lives an abundant life without a friend. To have a friend one must be forgetful of self. Jesus pointed out the way when a follower betrayed Him and He turned to the remaining handful of loyal folks with the words: 'For their sakes I consecrate myself.' The secret the man with friends will be found in those words, 'for their sakes.'"
—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, CA, Aug. 21, 1922, p. 8.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
She Goes to Church Alone
1902
Quakeress at Woodstown, N. J., Worships in Solitude to Keep Possession of Building
The little orthodox Friends' meeting-house at Woodstown, N. J., has only one surviving worshiper, Miss Priscilla Lippincott, an old woman, who, twice a week, carefully arrayed in the garb of that sect, goes alone to the building and frequently sits an hour on "First day" in the cushioned pew which she has occupied for 50 years.
Sometimes she sits in silence; at others, when the spirit moves, she speaks, with the long since emptied benches as her only earthly audience. The orthodox Quakers, once so numerous, built the meeting-house, but all save Miss Lippincott have died, joined other meetings, or united with the Hicksites. If Miss Lippincott should fail to hold services in the little meeting-house it would revert to the heirs of the original owner of the land, but so long as services continue to be held there it cannot be disturbed, and, therefore, she never fails to be at the door, with the big brass key, at the hour for service on "First" and "Fifth" days.
Quakeress at Woodstown, N. J., Worships in Solitude to Keep Possession of Building
The little orthodox Friends' meeting-house at Woodstown, N. J., has only one surviving worshiper, Miss Priscilla Lippincott, an old woman, who, twice a week, carefully arrayed in the garb of that sect, goes alone to the building and frequently sits an hour on "First day" in the cushioned pew which she has occupied for 50 years.
Sometimes she sits in silence; at others, when the spirit moves, she speaks, with the long since emptied benches as her only earthly audience. The orthodox Quakers, once so numerous, built the meeting-house, but all save Miss Lippincott have died, joined other meetings, or united with the Hicksites. If Miss Lippincott should fail to hold services in the little meeting-house it would revert to the heirs of the original owner of the land, but so long as services continue to be held there it cannot be disturbed, and, therefore, she never fails to be at the door, with the big brass key, at the hour for service on "First" and "Fifth" days.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Humanity's Great Helper — The Divine Friend
1910
The long foretold advent of Jesus the Divine Friend has made a tremendous difference for the race. We are not now living in the feted atmosphere of the Roman decadence, nor are our higher interests mocked by the Hellenic frivolity. The whole tone of life is better, and its promise fairer. And the glory of all this mental quickening and moral improvement belongs to Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea it meant that God had sent to humanity a helper. Humanity of and by itself is poor and weak and wanting; it requires assistance from beyond itself, and the help that it most urgently requires is salvation. The world's greatest need is a Saviour, and Jesus Christ came to be that redeemer. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus," said the angel, "for he shall save his people from their sins."
Comment: It's common to hear that before the World Wars there was a more optimistic outlook on human nature through the spread of religion and at least the conventional acceptance of its tenets. Then after World War I, the depths of sin were seen to be still pretty well ingrained, maybe not the same degree of progress as imagined. This tiny article doesn't get into all that in any explicit way. But you can see a hint of it in the contrast that Christianity brought between now and the long-ago decadence and frivolity. The difference is a "mental quickening and moral improvement," which is the phrase that brings this to mind. Society getting better and better, then the Lord comes!
Little articles like this, unless attribution is given to a publication, are apparently just little orphans of thought. They were obviously distributed far and wide by some syndicating agency for a fee, and used as fillers and content. I imagine someone hacking them out, hack writing, or maybe, like this one in particular, they're snippets from sermons.
The long foretold advent of Jesus the Divine Friend has made a tremendous difference for the race. We are not now living in the feted atmosphere of the Roman decadence, nor are our higher interests mocked by the Hellenic frivolity. The whole tone of life is better, and its promise fairer. And the glory of all this mental quickening and moral improvement belongs to Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea it meant that God had sent to humanity a helper. Humanity of and by itself is poor and weak and wanting; it requires assistance from beyond itself, and the help that it most urgently requires is salvation. The world's greatest need is a Saviour, and Jesus Christ came to be that redeemer. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus," said the angel, "for he shall save his people from their sins."
Comment: It's common to hear that before the World Wars there was a more optimistic outlook on human nature through the spread of religion and at least the conventional acceptance of its tenets. Then after World War I, the depths of sin were seen to be still pretty well ingrained, maybe not the same degree of progress as imagined. This tiny article doesn't get into all that in any explicit way. But you can see a hint of it in the contrast that Christianity brought between now and the long-ago decadence and frivolity. The difference is a "mental quickening and moral improvement," which is the phrase that brings this to mind. Society getting better and better, then the Lord comes!
Little articles like this, unless attribution is given to a publication, are apparently just little orphans of thought. They were obviously distributed far and wide by some syndicating agency for a fee, and used as fillers and content. I imagine someone hacking them out, hack writing, or maybe, like this one in particular, they're snippets from sermons.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Minister Denounces Secret Marriages
1903
Secret Marriages
Custom Is Denounced by Minister
There seems to be a prevalent and growing custom in some localities for persons who intend to marry to go away from home to a place where they are not known, and, with none of their friends present, to be clandestinely married by some total stranger, who, for a small compensation, is willing to be the instrument of their union, even though he has no assurance that the parties have a right to marry.
Some actually appear to think that they have accomplished a very brilliant maneuver and that they are to be complimented for their smartness in keeping the news from their friends until some time after the event, or until the fact leaks out through the list of marriage licenses granted, which appears in the newspapers.
The time was when a secret marriage was either a direct indication that the consent of the parents had not been obtained, that the parties were under legal age or that there existed some other very good or, we might say, "bad" reason why they should have "loved darkness rather than light."
In the eyes of those who look on such matters in a reverent and sober way, secret marriage is considered to be shameful and improper; yet it is claimed that there are reasons of another and different sort which make secrecy desirable and in some cases almost necessary. It is said that in some communities a "public" marriage, done in a stylish way, is attended by such expense that it is greater than circumstances can afford. Also, that the thoughtless ridicule and horseplay of friends is so unbearable that the only remedy is to escape from them by flight.
The way to correct such a condition is to have the marriage performed in so simple, unobtrusive, modest, and devout a way that the expense is of small consequence and the ignorant lack of consideration and propriety of one's friends is avoided.
As long as the present state of affairs is allowed to continue, when one hears of a secret marriage, while not wishing to be harsh in his judgment, he cannot but feel distrustful of the cause; for, if all was right, the marriage ought to have been done in an open and fearless way. — The Rev. Arthur Gorter in the Living Church.
Secret Marriages
Custom Is Denounced by Minister
There seems to be a prevalent and growing custom in some localities for persons who intend to marry to go away from home to a place where they are not known, and, with none of their friends present, to be clandestinely married by some total stranger, who, for a small compensation, is willing to be the instrument of their union, even though he has no assurance that the parties have a right to marry.
Some actually appear to think that they have accomplished a very brilliant maneuver and that they are to be complimented for their smartness in keeping the news from their friends until some time after the event, or until the fact leaks out through the list of marriage licenses granted, which appears in the newspapers.
The time was when a secret marriage was either a direct indication that the consent of the parents had not been obtained, that the parties were under legal age or that there existed some other very good or, we might say, "bad" reason why they should have "loved darkness rather than light."
In the eyes of those who look on such matters in a reverent and sober way, secret marriage is considered to be shameful and improper; yet it is claimed that there are reasons of another and different sort which make secrecy desirable and in some cases almost necessary. It is said that in some communities a "public" marriage, done in a stylish way, is attended by such expense that it is greater than circumstances can afford. Also, that the thoughtless ridicule and horseplay of friends is so unbearable that the only remedy is to escape from them by flight.
The way to correct such a condition is to have the marriage performed in so simple, unobtrusive, modest, and devout a way that the expense is of small consequence and the ignorant lack of consideration and propriety of one's friends is avoided.
As long as the present state of affairs is allowed to continue, when one hears of a secret marriage, while not wishing to be harsh in his judgment, he cannot but feel distrustful of the cause; for, if all was right, the marriage ought to have been done in an open and fearless way. — The Rev. Arthur Gorter in the Living Church.
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