Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

May 31,1893.A FAMILY PAPEE.*4*- + + + -H-++4--t--)--|--l- -H--t--l--f-H--H--»*^+ CONTRIBUTIONS. +ir*«--t--)--h-t-++++++++ ++++-t--i- -i--i--t-+»4For this Department we solicit articles of 500 io 600words, on subjects related to ihe purpose of theChristian Nation.Contributed.DR. KENNEDY S JUBILEE.The 4th Eef. Pres. congregation of this citycelebrated the 50th anniversary of the ordinationof their pastor, Eev. James Kennedy, D.D., on 'Thursday evening. May 18, 1893. Onthe platform of the church, which was beautifullydecorated with plants and flowers,werea larg« number of Eev. Gentlemen of differentreligious denominations. The audience roomwas filledto over-flowing with the friends ofthe pastor and congregation,—all present to dohonor to the venerable father, who had justcompleted a full half century's service in thework of the Master. The meeting was calledto order by Elder James Dunlop, who, in afew well chosen remarks explained the objectof the meeting, and called on the Eev. Dr.Young of Long Branch to offer prayer. The23d psalm was sung, the whole assembly rising.Elder Eobert McAfee, on behalf of the congregation,then read a very appropriate addressof congratulation to the pastor, who very suitablyand feelingly replied. Both addressesare ptinted below :Address To Dr. Kennedy.Bev. and Dear Sir: We have assembled tonight tocommemorate an event which few have the pleasureof celebrating ; the SOth anniversary of the ordinationand installation of one who has served faithfully andsuccessfully as a pastor.With grateful hsarts we express our thanksgivingto God that he has given you such physical strengthand mental vigor as has enabled you to perform yourduties in the ministry, and has sustained and blessedyour efforts even to the present day.On the 18th of May, 1843, in the land of your birthyou were set apart to the work of the ministry.In your flrst fleld you labored witb suceess fortwenty-seven years, loved, respected and reveredby a people who had grown np and proflted underyour ministry, and from whom yon parted with regret.On your visit to our country in 1869, many wereattracted by your exposition of divine truth, yourlearning and eminent ability. On the 2lBt of February,1870, sixty-two of these were organized as the4th Reformed Presbyterian chnrch.In response to our call made shortly after the organization,yon left the land of your birth, the sceneof yonr labors, your home with all its comforts andattractions, to take charge of, and direct the spiritnalinterests of this congregation. Tou were installed ourpastor on the 13th of November, 1870. Our roll from62 has been increased to 543. Many of these haveremoved from our oounds, and a large number havegone to their eternal rest. How shall we describe thealmost twenty-three years' of your pastorate amongw? The Sabbath services have been faithfully conducted.You have not failed to declare to us thewhole counsel of God, the gospel in all its simplicityhas been proclaimed to us with fervency and power.The ordinances have been administered regularly ina solemn and effective manner. Ton have not onlytaaght publicly but from house to house, and keptnothing back that was profitable ton*. You havelabored inoessantly and faithfully notwithstandingyour troubles and afflictions. You have guided theyoung, encouraged the active and vigorous, comfortedand consoled the aged, helped the poor in their timeof need, visited and prayed withthe sick and afflicted,going with the dying to the verge of the grave, andas one has said| "opened the gate of heaven andgiven them a look in ere they departed." Youhaveindeed been a spiritual guide to all.As we look around upon these pews and rememberthe familiar faces of those who at one time occupiedthem, we areled to ask, "TheFathers where arethey,do they live forever ?" We auswer yes, here they wereprepared for, and have been transplanted to the churchabove. They rest from their labors, and their memoriesare cherished and revered by us. What shallwe say of the work of the church during these years?More than two thousand five hundred children havebeen instructed in our Sabbath School, and made toknow the way of salvation. Very nearly a quarter ofa million dollars have been raised and expended sinceour organization, large sums of which have beendevoted to mission work. For several years we have occupiedthe position of second in our churoh in contributingto her miasions. All that has been accomplishedthese years has been due to your guidance,direction and wise counsel. Whilst in addition, youhave found many opportunities through the press toexplain and defend the glorious doctrines of the gospelto the edification of God's dear saints. As Godhas thus eminently blessed your labors in the pastand given you suoh a large measure of success, wepray that you may be given physical strength andmental vigor for whatever work yon have to do in thefuture, and that you may be an instrument in the handof the Master for bringing many more into his kingdom; and may your last days be your best, and whenyour work is done may you receive the crown of lifewhich God the righteous judge shall give you, and hearthe sentance. Well done, good an faithful servantenter into the joy ot your Lord,Dr. Kennedy's Reply.Dearly Beloved Brethren in Christ: thank youmost sincerely and heartily tor the kind and encouragingwords in which you have addressed me, on this,to me, most interesting, occasion, though I am consciousthat it is rather from the dictates of your ownkind and generous hearts, than from anything on mypart, that such loving utterances have found expression.None as conscious as yon and I are of the insufficiencyof all human instrumentality to give savingeffect to the gospel of the grace of God, and that itsentire efficiency is of God, will fall into the mistakeof attributing to any human instrument what belongsto God alone. It is beeause that the gospel "ismighty through Ood," and that the human instrumentcan only say, •' By grace I am that I am," that everyone that has " engaged hi« heart to serve the Lord,"is always ready gladly to lay all the glory and all thepraise at the feet ot him " who always causeth us totriumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the saviourof his knowledge by us in every place."In harmony with the occasion that has brought ustogether you kindly refer to a former pastorate whichI occupied for a considerable number of years beforemy relation to my present congregation was formed.I am happy in being able to say that every thoughtand memory of that portion of my ministerial lifeglows wiih intense satisfaction. Noi only in the regularwork of the gospel ministry and in the devotedattachment of a large congregation was there much toencourage, but I was privileged to pass through, andlargely to co-operate in the great spiritual movementknown as the Revival of 1859 in Scotland and Ireland,the fruits of which as lately shown, still remain to thepresent day. Yon also kindly refer to the circumstancesunder which my relation to my present cono^ngregationwas formec', and I have often been impressedhow exactly these oircnmstances correspondedto the words of promise, " And 1 will bring the blindby a way that they know not, and I will lead them inpaths that they have not known, I will make darknesslight before them, and crooked things straight. Thesethings will I do unto them and not forsake them."When the Western Presbytery granted me a twomotths' leave of abseuco in 1869, that the consequencewould be my removing permanently to this land, andforming a new relation that has now existecl for morethan twenty two years, was not for a moment presentto my ihoug'its. No doubt. He whose care for us isHO minute that He numbers the hairs of our head, hada plan and purpose to ba accomplished by it all, butwhat that plan and purpose were the day only canfully declare. You also kindly mention some forms ofgood that 3 ou think have resulted from our relationin the past, tuoh as the gathering into the church ofmanv strangers, emigrants and young people, themarked blessing that has rested on our SabbathSchool and home missionary work, that we have beenprivileged to do something to promote and extend theKingdom of Christ in the world, that the sheep of hispabture have been visited, fed, nourished, and many"mademeet forthe inheritance ofthe saints in light,"that valuable church property has been realized, andordinances steadily dispensed ; for all which we joyfullybless Him from whom " cometh down everygood gift and every perfect gif t." But many of thesere n! s have been largely due to other causes than thatof jjastoral work. One such cause has oeen that wehave not been weakened and our strength paralyzedby discord and strife; and another is that our members,not only those in offlce, and those of age andexperience, but also the more youthful have shown amost commendable readiness to help forward, by personalservice, the work of God in the. Sabbath Schooland congregation. Aud now that we have got a flourishingSociety of Christian Endeavor, pledged to workfor Christ, we believe there will be no lack of lanorersto dress and keep the vineyard, of which the Fatheris the Great Husbandman.^Whilst, however, there are many otter things inyour address which I would gladly notice, 1 wouldonly farther say, that while it isnot without gratitudeand a measure of satisfaction, mingled with a deepsense of short-oomiug and insufficiency, that we catcha glimpse of the past half century, yet as we look intothe fleetingmirror of time, it is impossible not to feelthat our relation must soon be something of the past." But I say brethren the time is short." Soon "Shallthey who weep be as though theyjgept not, anjjhev _that rejoice as thongh they rejoicgGecamSju'sciyjctjjadd, aud they that work as though they wrought not."" The uight is far sptnt, the day is at hand." Thonghin the enjoyment of physical health and vigor, vouchsafedbnt to few, so as to be able to say as was said ofMoses, " His eye was not dim, nor his natural forceabated," yet I would ever remember, that "The nightCometh when no man can see to work." May thequickening power of such a thought stimulate us all," Whether we live to live to the Lord, or whether wedie we may die unto the Lord, so that whether we liveor die we may be the Lord's." And may " the veryGod of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray Godyour whole spirit and soul and body be preservedflameless unto the coming of our Loid Jesns Christ.Faithful is he who calleth you who also will do it.""The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord makehis face to ehine upon thee and be gracious unto thee;The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and givethee peace."The remainder of the evening to'a very latehour was sp^nt in listening to eloquent addressesof congratulation, from Epv. Dr. J. C.K. Milligan, Eev. F. M. Foster, Eev. Dr. G.H. Smyrhe, Eev. Prof. Steele, D D., and E'-.v.Dr. E. M. Simmerville. These addresses, allvery admirable, were interspersed with vocalsolos, duetts etc., etc., of a very high order ofmerit, unHer the direction of Prof. Sage. Afterthe Bi^ni diction, which was pronounced byEt^v. J. hn F. Carson, an adj mrnment was hadto the lecture room of the cai rch, where refreshmentswere served by the iadies, and thusended one of the most enjoyable evening entertainmnntsh congregation, very successful ever beld who social by are the gatherings.specially members noted of the 4 their for