Ohio History Journal

Sermon by Rev. John Moncure.           221

 

 

SERMON BY REV. JOHN MONCURE, RECTOR OF ST.

PETER'S CHURCH.

 

TEXT-"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many

generations."- Deuteronomy 32, 7.

A hundred years in the history of a place affords a fruitful

subject for study. When we gaze through the vistas of past

events, and consider the whys and the wherefores, and when we

thus are brought into realization of the fact that the things

which once appeared to men as "through a glass, darkly," by

the light of a century, are brought "face to face" with us, we

are more than impressed, particularly if our meditations are of

that devotional nature which enables us to glean the "truth, as

it is in Jesus," from the passing years. Matters once considered

comparatively unimportant, when viewed in their places as links

in the great chain of events, which unites our time with past

ages, are not only important as eras in history, but as stages of

development of the plan which our Father devised for our good

and His glory.

To-day we stand at the finishing point of a century in the

history of Gallipolis. The words of Moses to the children of

Israel, when the work of journeying from Egypt to Canaan was

nearing completion, and a new life was opening before them,

will form the basis of our thoughts in this sermon. He enjoined

them to "remember the days of old," and to "consider the

years of many generations," in order that they might be con-,

vinced of God's wisdom and mercy. We view the history of

His dealings with our forefathers, and with us, in the same

spirit. The happenings of a hundred years, considered from a

national and local standpoint, have been impressed upon your

minds by the exercises of the past few days, and we need not

dwell upon them here. * * * The subject which we would

emphasize in connection with the history of our nation, state

and city, is that which is so dear to every true heart, the Church

of God. When we say that its growth has been great, we ex-

press God's favor and loving kindness in no slight degree. The

church was the comforting medium in America one hundred

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years ago, as it has been in all others of the world's ages, and as

it will be until "time shall be no more." The good and the true

became better and stronger at the foot of the Cross, and the

"weary and heavy laden" there found rest with Him who died

for them, as they do now. One point not to be lost sight of in

this connection is that the cause of true religion has kept pace

with the march of progress; indeed, men cannot but realize that

it has been the cause of all enlightenment of the ages. While

our country has extended her field of active operations, she has

also assisted in the extension of the Church of the Living God,

for which fact, 'tis needless to say, that the good and true are

devoutly thankful. Our interest is centered upon the progress

of that branch of the church to which we belong, the Protestant

Episcopal Church. The history of this body in the United

States during the hundred years has been a history of triumph.

Our separation from the mother church of England, and the

establishment as a separate organization in this land dates back

to but a very few years previous to the founding of this town.

In the " Handbook of the General Convention of the United

States," by Bishop Perry, of Iowa, appears these words concern-

ing the first meeting for organization of the church in America,

which occurred May 11, 1784: "A single sheet of foolscap,

faded and yellow with age, contains the records of the prelimi-

nary gathering of clergy and laity, out of which grew the inde-

pendent organization of the American Church." The work be-

fore the then very small body of workers was no easy one, for

in addition to the efforts necessary to push forward the organiza-

tion, there was a deep-set prejudice in the minds of the people

against the English Church, growing out of the animosities inci-

dent to the revolution, and which it was necessary to overcome.

God was with the noble band, however, and as His cause could

not fail, our numbers gathered in strength.

He indeed raised up His power and came among us, and

with great might succored us, and the efforts of the faithful for

His glory were fruitful. Our grand and comforting Book of

Common Prayer, modified from the English book by our

"fathers in God," and which was put into the hands of the

people, has been an inestimable comfort in matters of worship,

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Sermon by Rev. John Moncure.           223

 

and has rendered valuable assistance in our devotions, thus add-

ing one to the many proofs that God's word, in whatever form it

may be presented, is not bound. As a result of the work of a

hundred years, our church presents a record of which we are not

only proud and grateful, but which will serve to inspire us to

even mightier efforts under the leadership of God. The

days of old, and the years of past generations are thus the

mediums of assurance of God's favor and protection, and

hence of strengthening the faith of the workers in the gospel

field. Our influence as a church is making itself felt all over

this mighty country, and beyond the seas men " take knowledge

of us, that we have been with Jesus." As the preached gospel

carries its comfort to the weak and needy, we thank God that

our church is among the foremost of its workers, and of the

thousands who yearly seek refuge from the storms of life in the

ark of safety, our numbers are great, and our prayers fervent,

that it may please God to defend these, His children, with His

Heavenly grace, that they may be His forever, and daily increase

in His Holy Spirit more and more, until they come to His ever-

lasting kingdom.

We refrain from detailed statistics in regard to our growth,

but will say that only a few thousand communicants of a hun-

dred years ago have grown into nearly half a million, and prob-

ably a hundred clergy to nearly four thousand, and from no one

in the Episcopate, to sixty-six Bishops, actively at work in a cor-

responding number of dioceses and missionary jurisdictions. In

the State of Ohio, the progress of the church has been very

gratifying. The Diocese of Ohio was not organized until some

time in 1819, when that great and good man, Rev. Philander

Chase, was consecrated its first Bishop.

As the population of the State increased and cities and

towns multiplied, the church became stronger, being presided

over by the holy man just named, and his successors, Rt. Rev.

Charles P. McIlvaine, D. D.; Rt. Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, D. D.,

and Rt. Rev. Wm. Leonard, D. D., the present incumbent. In

1875, the diocese having grown to great strength, a division be-

came necessary, and the Diocese of Southern Ohio was organ-

ized, with Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Jaggar, D. D., as its Bishop. In

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this part of the field our lot is cast, and, under God's blessing,

we have received strength and consolation. Our Bishop having

been incapacitated from work by very bad health, in October,

1888, an Assistant Bishop was elected in the person of Rev.

Boyd Vincent, whose efficient work among us is greatly redound-

ing to God's glory. Lastly, but particularly, we turn our eyes

to the church in Gallipolis. Our meditations, while savoring of

humility here, are not unmingled with a sense of gratitude.

Work in the interest of the Episcopal Church was begun in our

town in the year 1840, when occasional services were held by

Rev. James B. Goodwin, a clergyman engaged in mission work

in the Diocese of Virginia. There being no church building,

these were held in the court house. The parish organization

was completed in December, 1841, when a vestry, composed of

leading citizens, was chosen. The first minister engaged was

Mr. Goodwin, and his work among the people is even now grate-

fully remembered. January 13, 1843, a committee appointed by

the vestry to secure a lot for a church building, obtained one on

lower Second street, on which a church was begun but never

completed, owing to a defective title to the property. Business

complications having arisen in consequence of this, a compro-

mise was effected and the building surrendered. In May, 1858,

the vestry purchased of the board of education the lot on which

the church now stands, and subsequently the present building

was erected and opened for divine service the first time on the

19th of December, 1858, the Rev. G. B. Sturgess being rector at

the time. On the 12th of April, 1859, the church was conse-

crated with the name of St. Peter's, Rt. Rev. Charles P. McIl-

vaine, D. D., officiating. During the years which have inter-

vened since that time, the parish has been served by eleven rec-

tors, whose efforts for the glory of God and the salvation of

souls we feel have not been in vain. There have been periods

of clouds as well as of sunshine; at times the condition of affairs

was very promising, and again, there have been discouragements

which required the strongest faith to face bravely. Looking

over our records, however, we find sufficient testimony as to the

fidelity of the workers in St. Peter's Parish, to encourage us,

and cause us to devoutly thank God. The names of some of

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the most honored citizens of our town appear on our commun-

ion list, and the numbers who have confessed God by baptism

and confirmation assures us that the love of souls has not been

lacking among the churchmen of Gallipolis. Many of them

have gone to their reward, and hence the memory of what has

been done among us is doubly sacred, in that we have our rep-

resentatives in that land where all is righteous.

To recall by name the ministers who have served our people

here would be but to emphasize what has been said in regard to

the work. This building should be held in sacred memory by

our people. At this chancel rail have your children been given

to God in baptism. Here the vows of God have been taken by

which many of you have enlisted in the armies of righteousness.

Up these aisles have swept the bridal trains, and from this sacred

place have fair and loving brides and happy bridegrooms gone

forth to fight together life's great battle. Before this chancel

have reposed for the last time the forms of those we loved, who

have answered the summons of death's angel, and from that

door been called home to their last resting places. Hallowed,

indeed, is the place, being the " House of God; " to many it has

been the "gate of Heaven." The effect of these meditations

should be of a strengthening character. We should, by the

light of past blessings see the glories of future success. Re-

membering the days of old, and considering the years of past

generations, we gladly believe that St. Peter's Parish is recorded

in the Everlasting Book as one of the mediums by which men

have learned the truth which has made them free. May this

parish continue its work of usefulness even unto the far distant

future, and by it may every year bring into the fold of safety

many such as shall be saved. God is true to His people, and is

a " rewarder of those who diligently seek Him," and the bless-

ings of the life which is gone are indications of that which is to

come to " the faithful in Christ Jesus," for He "will never leave

us nor forsake us."

"The flood of years," which has borne our city so far upon

the stream of time, is bearing us onward. As we assemble here

to-day to consider the lives of those of the past, whose places we

now fill, others will, ere long, have our lives to think of, when

Vol. III-l5

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226       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3   we shall have gone hence to join the unnumbered hosts 'of that other living, called run with patience life's race, or will we be as warnings of the dead." Will our example be such as to inspire them to the consequences of unfaithful lives? These are thoughts which suggest themselves in connection with what has been said, and their consideration rests with each individual, for "all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

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