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FAIRVIEW CHURCH CELEBRATES DIAMOND
JUBILEE OF FOUNDING
Examiner, 23 November 1932
(By correspondence, from Bridgenorth)
An epoch in the history of Fairview
United Church was marked by a celebration of the diamond jubilee of its
founding when special services were held last Sunday and Monday.
Rev Archer Wallace, M.A., D.D. of Toronto
was the guest speaker and gave two memorable and magnificent sermons to
large congregations which filled the church. // At the morning service
his text was Proverbs 20:18: "Where there is no vision the people
perish." After defining people of vision to be those who live more
for the things that are not seen and are eternal, than just for the
temporal things of life the speaker referred to the Fairview Church
build by men and women 60 years ago [1872] in which they and their
children's children might serve God and be reminded thereby that life is
eternal. He said: "Religion stands everywhere for the realities of
the unseen. The people of the world need this spiritual vision which
religion stands for testifying to the realities of the unseen." //
The people whose lives are hardened by repeated disappointments and hard
knocks need this vision to give them new heart and hope. Campbell Morgan
said: "Any man who could say flippantly and boastingly, "I am
an atheist," was a fool, but a man who suffered, and through it has
lost faith in man and God, and says it with a sob, needs our sympathy
and assistance.
"The builders of the church are
gone. Do you think as they look back from t he better land that they are
happy over having built this church? I think the thought makes them
happy over there this morning - and it is always morning where they are
now. They built for the future and the church and congregation gathered
here to-day is a living monument to their memory. Because they had a
vision their work has lasted through the years.
"Again the people whose lives are
narrow, who work is always the same, all day and every day, need this
vision of the church to open the windows of their outlook on life, that
they may see Heaven and forget the narrowness and smallness and
pettiness of their life work. Again the people whose lives are very busy
need this vision lest they become interested only in their business and
forget God and Heaven.
....
Dr Wallace took as his text for the
evening service, Acts 3:6: "Then Peter and John said, silver and
gold have I none, but such as I have I give thee. In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." // ...
Splendid music was presented by the local
choir assisted by Mr and Mrs Milburn in the morning and Mr and Mrs W.
Sidey of Bridgenorth in the evening.
Fowl Supper
On Monday evening a fowl supper and
entertainment was held in Fairview Church, when about 175 people sat
down to a most sumptuous supper. The following program was given, Rev.
R.J. Merriam, the pastor, acting as chairman, with Rev. R.D. Wright of
Gilmour Memorial Churhc, and Rev. Archer Wallace on the platform:
Musical numbers enthusiastically received. Morley Nixon, Harry Stalker,
and Max Roseborough. F.R. Clark gave several numbers of Old Banjo
Melodies, and Master John Lewis delighted everyone with two beautiful
numbers. Miss Edith Elmhurst gave three readings in a most enthusiastic
and humourous manner and Rev. R.D. Wright spoke briefly but warmly of
his appreciation of the people of Fairview, and congratulated them on
their anniversary.
Fred Bell produced the Minute Book used
by the officials at the building of the church and read the names of the
first trustees and the motions relative to the building of the church.
This part of the program was nicely presented and well received.
Rev. Archer Wallace spoke on the subject:
"Is the World Getting Better?" Dr Wallace is a most humorous
as well as a most practical and interesting speaker. His sermons and
lectures were full of helpfulness and interspersed with humour. and made
one of the most attractive of speakers for both young and old. #
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