Viewing page 4 of 20

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[blank page]]
[[end page]]
[[start page]]

Pastor's Address
[[line]]

Members and friends of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church:

Years have come and gone, leaving the fact clear, that we had our chances in the fields of opportunity to make prominently the fact, that we are worthy of the position we claim in this community, state and nation. We have said and do say now that no individual or institution can put on exhibition the undeniable fact that they are meritorious.
The moral law of the universe is progress and the institution or church which does not so plan its existence through its membership, must retrograde. Every member that passes idly over the earth without adding to that progress, remains uninscribed upon the register of humanity, and the succeeding generation will regard their lives as leaves. "Progress is the activity of the day, and the assurance of tomorrow," says Emerson. If our church life has filled the demands as truly as did the early church upon whom the people depended, for the true idea of the missions of life then we have the right to demand a place among them who would have all men look backward, instead of forward, so as to have a true example by which to regulate their lives. Bacon said, "Those who are the most ignorant as to all things that are doing, time is the greatest innovator." Another great thinker enjoined that "time is the greatest improver," also we have tried to improve every opportunity which gave us the public mind, though our stand has not always been a proper one. We have felt that we ought not to be over anxious to encourage innovation in case of doubtful improvement, for two reasons, viz. an old system must have two advantages over a new one. Once a system is established, is understood, our church has looked on the instruction given the apostle Paul when he was admitted to apostolic rank, as a demand for the moral law in the spiritual universe, that he should remember the poor saints, this our church has and is doing in a systematic way. The various auxiliaries are doing what they can under the circumstances to aid in the work of caring for the home.

(3)