Exercises At The Bi Centennial Celebration Of The First Presbyterian Church In Philadelphia PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... without them and those appointed to minister to them. The men who have served and are serving in this capacity are worthy of the Christ-like office they hold. As to the goodly membership of the church, the men and women who from the beginning until now have here been confessors of Christ, and sought to promote the interests of his kingdom, only a passing reference can be made. No church ever had from generation to generation a more loyal membership. The history of the church throughout has shown a certain most marked "Esprit du corps" which has unified it and made it strong. While devotion to and support of the men who have served it in the pastorate has been most pronounced, there has through all its vicissitudes been a loyalty to the church, a standing by it, a holding on to it, which has been most beautiful. Many there have been (and many still there are) who have said from these seats, "Thy servants take pleasure in the stones of this Zion and favor the dust thereof." It is impossible in this brief paper to recount their virtues, to enumerate their good works, or to tabulate their benevolent offerings. The record of these things is on high. "They labored and we have entered into their labors." But there is something most impressive in the thought of what the life of this church for the last two hundred years stands for;, in the churches which have sprung from it, directly or indirectly--is it not the mother of them all?--in the men who, as ministers and missionaries, as statesmen and jurists, or in humbler, but it may be not less useful, ways have served God and their generation; in the great company of devoted women, who by their prayers and such blessed ministry as only they can render have exemplified...