The Gospel Messenger May 6, 1907 p 314 Vol. 46 No. 20

A few days ago the committee appointed by our late district meeting met at Juniata, a suburb of Altoona, for the purpose of looking into the condition of a churchhouse recently built there and also determining the propriety of organizing the members living there into a separate congregation. Our meeting there was very satisfactory in a number of ways. First, we found the place a very desirable one in which to live and establish a church. The location is fine, the place is new, but rapidly building up with a good class of people who are putting up fine residences, and who take a pride in making things look homelike. The house is well and conveniently built. and quite a number of members have bought lots, built houses and are making homes near the church. The present number of members living within the present boundary lines is about one hundred.

As this is a mission point of only a few years' standing and many of the members have only recently united with the church, they are not so well informed in our church usages as older organizations but they seem to be earnest, zealous and workers. And if kept under the care of a careful pastor we feel sure that they will make a good and active body of workers.

The organization was made by a unanimous vote, the necessary officers were elected, and the church for the present, will be under the care of its founder, Eld. J. W. Wilt. As the town and church is located in what was formerly a park, the congregation is named, the Juniata Park Brethren church. And thus one more congregation is added to the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The prayer meeting for Wednesday evening was one of unusual interest, the subject being, " The Power of Contentment." Phil. 4:11. The subject was discussed from several standpoints. There is a kind of contentment that is not commendable, such as is too often manifested on the part of lazy and indolent people who having food and raiment arc therewith content. They interpret the Scripture in its most literal and detached sense. Like the cow turned into a full bloomed clover field, they eat till filled, then He down, chew their cud and grunt in satisfied contentment. Then there are others who are never contented until they use all their God-given powers in doing their very best for themselves, for their neighbors, for the church and for God. This is the kind that Paul evidently recommends, as is abundantly shown by his life, and the condition under which he was placed at the time of writing this epistle, content, even while in prison. There are times and conditions in which it is hard to be content, and such are the times we need it most, because we need power to enable us resignedly to endure. And this strength can come only through the grace of God. "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthened

me."

There is still another class, and we find many of them in the church, who are never satisfied, never contented. They fret, they murmur, they chafe at every little annoyance. Their life is always out of gear with their surroundings; their neighbors, the church, and even God himself cannot make things just right for them. As a result of this continually blue spirit they have no power.

What we all need is to cultivate the spirit of the apostle Paul. Learn in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content. And we can do this by implicitly believing what the Lord has said: "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord."

On to-morrow the Brethren of Riddlesburg expect to break ground for th building of their new church. They have the means well in sight and are looking forward in glad expectancy when they will be able to worship in their own house. H. B. B.