A Silver Jubilee; Celebration, the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church, Montclair, New Jersey, and of the Pastorate of Amory Howe Bradford, Its First and Only Minister. 1870-1895 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... YOUNG PEOPLE'S DAY. Sunday, June 9, was set for a looking forward to the future, and was chiefly devoted to the young people. In the morning the Pastor conducted the services, during which were sung Hymns Nos. 70, 125, 489, and M. B. Foster's Anthem, written for the words of the hymn, "O, for a closer walk with God." The address of the morning was by the Rev. Robert R. Meredith, D.D., of the Tomkins Avenue Congregational Church of Brooklyn. After expressing his pleasure at being privileged to take part in the celebration exercises, and his joy in the prosperity, the service, and growth of this church in the quarter of a century through which it has passed, Dr. Meredith gave a free talk of which we are able to present no proper report, but a mere digest. DR. MEREDITH'S ADDRESS. The past is secure. We often say that about one thing or another, and sometimes there is in it a note of carelessness, if not of hopelessness, with reference to the future, as if, the past being secure, that was enough. But to say of such a ministry and of such a work as this that the past is secure, is to say that the future is secure, for the kind of work you are doing together roots in the past only to flower and fruit in the future. So you will turn with this last day of these exercises, which very appropriately is the Children's Day, to the future with stronger faith and more assured hopefulness. The children belong to the future, and we belong to the past. The world belongs to the children, and the Church when we shall have gone will belong to them, and it ought to turn toward its duty to the children. It will therefore be easy for me to say the few simple, plain things I want to say on the topic assigned to me. Whenever the human mind begins to act in free and chosen ways, that is, ...