|
First Christian Church Denison, Texas The Denison Daily Herald
Monday, August 13, 1906 pg. 8 FIRST ANNIVERSARY SERMON Rev. George W. Lee Reviews the Year's Work Large Audience Assembled at First Christian Church to Listen to the Special Sermon The close of the first year's work of Rev. George W. Lee, pastor of the First Christian Church, was celebrated by a special first anniversary service at the church yesterday morning at 11 o'clock. A large audience, composed of members and friends, heard Rev. Lee's sermon and report of the work done during the year. The choir gave special music and at the close of the church there were four new additions to the church. Rev. Lee took for his text, Exodus xiv, 15, "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." Among other things Mr. Lee said,: "As a church we are a part of God's Israel, and that old command by the seaside thousands of years ago has been ringing in our ears and we have been trying to obey it. How have we succeeded? On this our first anniversary, as pastor and people, let us pause and look over the record for the answer of this question. "The Sunday school has been good, and is at this time in a flourishing condition. Brothers Drennon and Blacknall have been the superintendents and they are good ones. The Christian Endeavor, with Brother Robert Drennon as president, is also in a flourishing condition. The mid-week prayer meeting has been well attended, but it has not come up to our expectations. The Ladies' Aid Society and Young Ladies' Aid Society have both done a great work, and I hope that every lady of the church will join the societies and help the work of the church." Of the pastoral work Mr. Lee said: "We began our work the second Lord's day in August 1905. Sermons preached during the year, 105; funerals conducted, 19; Marriages performed, 10; pastoral visits, 1,328; additions to the church, 77 - 58 by letter and statement and 19 by confessions and baptism; letters granted, 17, making a net gain in membership of 60 to the church; money raised during the year, $1,225.35. "And last of all it is my sad duty to speak of our dead. Only two deaths have occurred among the membership of this congregation during the year, Sister Ida May Smith in January, 1906, and Brother A.D. Hay, in February, 1906. We pause on this anniversary day for a moment by these fresh made graves. We bathe them in our heart's warmest tears. We thank God that these loved ones have lived, and we praise him that they will live forever at his right hand. We wonder who will be the next to go and echo answers" Who? None but God knows; yet we well know that there will be a list in 1907. Let us therefore watch and be ready, for not one of us is sure that his name may not be on that list when another year shall have come and gone." Mr. Lee exhorted his congregation at length on Bible study, giving helps in that line, pleaded with them to gain a rich Christian experience; and besought them to work for Christ, for His sinning and helpless ones. In conclusion he said, "As your pastor I beg you, each and all, to make this a year of holy toil in the Master's vineyard. Be instant in season and out of season. Be like the frigate bird, which is seen in all climes. Men in the far north see him amid the icebergs and frozen seas, and men in the tropics observe him at burning noon, floating high in the heavens, with the sun shimmering on his splendid plumage. Far above the storms and tempests, whether of heat or of cold, he pursues the even tenor of his way." At the close of the service the board of directors of the church held a short business session and heartily endorsed the work of the pastor, Rev. Lee, as given in his report. Last night a large congregation heard the sermon on "Preparation Necessary to Meet God." Rev. Lee has made arrangements for a special Labor Day service for laboring people and employers Sunday, September 2, at which time an appropriate sermon will be preached and special music given. First Christian Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024  If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |