New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-09
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
DEDICATION OF A CHURCH

The new Presbyterian Church edifce, at the corner
Of Fourth.av. and Twenty second-st, was dedicated
yesterday, with the customary cere Monies.
The edifce is of brown stone 100 by s. feet of the
Byzantine style of architecture without the interior
columns. The cost of the bGdiDg and furniture was
si2 loo. The walls OF the church, and the arched
and domed ceiling, are adorned with some very
effective architectural fresco painting, AID the ds-
mond. psped windows have rim Of stained glass AMI
are surmouLted by orels containing a Greek Cross.
ID the wall of the porch Is the inscription ia Greek,
20 luknos sutes to ernon, the LamD.ls tue
Light thereof Under the church 10 buried the re-
aims OF the Rev. ErskiGe Mason for 81 years pastor
of the church. and him, and to the founder OF the
church the Rev. Matthias Bruen, ataerected tablets
on the sides Of the pulpit. marble baptsnal font,
the gift of the ladies of the congregation STANDS on
tho tight Of ths pnlpit c.u... n.
Ferris, Chancellor Of the New York UniV crafty
Profs Robinson ard Skinner, OF Union theological
Seminary; Drs. Cox, Owen, Baiger, Prime, and
BuTchard.
hymn by the Rev. JOEL PARKER, DID,, the pastor of
tie church. The hymn vas surg ia the good old way
by the entire congregation After the reading of the
ten commandments, and prayer by the pastor,
Tie Rev. Mr.. FERRIS read the second hymn and
the PASTOR commenced the dedicatory sermon, by
ouDcing his texts the passage in Psalms, Thtt
may dsel In the house of tbs Lord all the days vi
"ny life 10 behold the beauty OF the Lord, aud 10
II quire in his tsmpe;" that in Ezra when the
buioiDg Of the temple They sang together, praiaing
and giving thanks unto the Lord, because hs is
good for bis mercy endureth forever toward lsr ae
aud the verse in let CorinthlDs, "Know 70 not that
"ye the temple Of God and that the spris of God
" dwelleth in yOul'
He proceeded from these to de luce the gradual
growth Of the idea Of the house Of the Lord frona
purely sensual abode for yisioly personal God,
to the purely spiritual, the living Church, as q
holy community in whi,h God dges, with his
Holy Spirit. Ii the conflict OF the Jewish
81 .hn 81
temple mentioned in the passage from Ezra. twas
tue that God was present everywhere still,
il we we're accustomed to associate his presence
with Q certain place, IL could not but engender
solemn ave, and that fear of the Lord which was
the beginning OF wisdom. But the Tuner &c npe,
The true house Of the Lord, was TIE Church; that
glorious living temple, and every member Of the
Church was q stone in it. He weighed the IN ,tsrial
with the spiritual Church, and be found 1t wanting
not only in essential beauty, but in the strength OF
IFS associations and the purity OF is influences. He
spoke Of the history Of the church, noticed the fer
vid pety Of two early elders, Brothers Taylor aud
in the church. This r.sieriI Church was passing
in its nature Ike the temples Of Naevsh would s..
Peters crunible but the living Cbu. ch would en-
dure forever. This church, be said, had reared a
church, had remodeled it so that II could hardly be
recognized, sDd now it had built this new church,
set il was still flesh with the dew OF youth,
and lie hoped it would live when not one
stone Of this church should beelsft upon
arother. The object of this material Church
vas but TO build up spiritual church Let this tenn
pie be sscredly devoted 10 the proclamation OF the
pure Gospel the celebration of Christian ordinances,
auo the offices Of prayer and praise. Let these walls
st1Ld Is & palace built for God Let this pulpit be
preserved alike from the cankerous power OF heresy
and the babbiugs Of speculative philosophy. Let
the pews Of this house be eyermo'e oratores OF de-
votion and from its choir may the pure incense OF
praise ever ascend. Let this ceiog, these arches,
az this dome be sacred to the reyeroerions OF all
ali The accents Of holy worship, All thus let this
ct urch in all its parts be dedicse a. long as II soall
stard to the Father Of Merces, To Jesus Chrst HIS
Son. our glorious medis'or, 10 the Holy Spirit, the
ssuc.ifer ard 10 God Tiiune, and blessed forever
more. Amen
After prayer By Dr.. Mott Of Union College, q
h,un written be sang 81 this dodicahon was rsaa
by Or. Cox and ongregstionally suog, followed oy
he Geology and the benedicton By the PASTOR