Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-10-21
DEDICATION HYMN.

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DEDICATION HYMN.
ny THE LATE REV. }. K. LORD, OF CINCINNATI
Iune-Duke Sir eet.
When God the primal light unseaIed,
And bound in spheres its golden bars.
Through all the glow ing vault there pealed
The chorus of the morning stars
When Christ was born, those notes again
Rang through the sapphire sprinkled space;
Iudea's hill sides caught the strain,
And earth gave back to heaven the praise
Aud when the promised age Of gold
Spring from the ruins of the old,
still louder shall the anthem rise
Meanwhile, along these walls whore now
our first glad sacrifice we bring,
That song shall echo till we bow
To sing with angels near the King
SERMON.
BY REV WV. H. LORD, ID.
Mr. Lord took for his text the 4th and
9Th verses of the I32 Psalm.
Twill not give sleep to mine eyes, slumber to
nlne eyeIids, until find out place for the Lord,
a habtaton for the mighty God of Jacob"
These words, said the preacher, were the
natural expression of David's piety King,
statesman, poet, warrior and counsellor, as
he was. all other desires were dwarfed in his
mind by his desire to find suitable earthly
habitation for his God. But his vow has a
wider application than its original intention.
To find a place, a throne, for God, in the
heart. is the first duty of every man for this
Is to build him a palace more precious than
any of marble and gold. These words, too,
have fitting application on this day of high
and thankful Joy. This noble pile is the
product of such a purpose as that of the
King of Israel We to-day realize the long
dreamt dreams. the hopes and prayers OF
wears Difficulties have been surmounted,
for in
debted to Gods goodness. David had to be-
oueath his unrealized intention to his son,
but we live to see the justification of our
foresight and the realization of our hopes
The intelligence and liberality which have
given to the State and TO the Congregational
Church this beautiful structure, have had
for their first motive the promotion of the
Masters work. To offer at His feet
measure of the wealth He has bestowed; to
make n good foundation for better work,
has been the object of all. The love of Christ
has found expression in this building hence
forth dedicated to His service.
Dr. Lord proceeded TO set forth as the
main topics of his discourse. The uses Of the
Material TenpEe-why we should have built
it, and why we should love it.
First- Because it will be an intellectual
landmark cultivating the best thought and
the best taste The form suggests the reali-
'.
stronger the impression of the truth. This
material building suggests backward and
forward. 1t Is 4 history and q prophecy. 1t
has a message TO men, of warning or of hope.
Mr.. Lord wrought in here a fine episode,
describing his emotions a. he trod, not long
since. the streets of a city OF the old world.
now sinking into thesea from which it rose
Venice the falling frescoes and sinking
shafts Of whose public buildings seem TO
echo: 4" Know thou that for these things the
Lord will bring thee to Judgment" He
went on with his own felicity of expression
and expressive rhetoric. TO point out the sig
nifcancc Of the various parts and decora-
tions of the church. its spire, pointing up
ward To q home beyond the skies the cross
on it's eastern front. telling OF salvation the
designs in the stained glass windows, the
lamb and open bible tho inscriptions on
the walls the colOrs which said he, cling so
iondly to the instructed eye. and bind us to
the chariot wheels of meditation, showing
that the Lord would be worshipped in the
beauty Of holiness. This beauty of color is
not mere source of sensuous pleasure.
What would the world be without the blue
of the armament. the silver of the moon the
verdure of the foliage, the flush of the cheek
and blue of the eye. Of all Gods gifts to
the eve, color is the hottest most divine.
The great architect has made it the accom-
paniment of all that is most precious. We
shall not worship in less holiness, if we wor-
ship in more beauty. Our building suggests
the greatness and solitary magnifcence of
God It is an argument against scepticism
It lends a new charm TO Faith. 1t forces on
lis the conviction of the nearness and love of
God Its open doors; the music rolling
through its arches: its floors moistened with
tears of JOY penitence, will answer the
question. will God indeed dwell with man?
Other uses are the culture of reverence !;
the culture of conscience the shaping OF
aims in life-all these were duly dwelt upon.
In defeating this church, we do not graft
" mere aesthetic sentiment. 1t is in its
beauty n hymn of praise. 1t will mould the
daily life, teach self denial and generosity !;
show that richest feelings come from
our largest offerings.
Another use will be 10 render more at
tractiye the polity and order of service of
our Congregational church. That church
is the church of our fathers, full of priceless
legacies of faith and hope. Its simple, beau
tiul and catholic polity is the very daughter
Of the King She has heretofore been so
beautiful and glorious within that she has
neglected the outer dress but why should
not her clothing now be of purple and gold?
1t will not do to despise the uses of material
beauty. We may make art our servant or
our master we have too much neglected 1T
as both. The day is past for Israel to dwell
IN tents or barns The essence of Puritan
ism was not hatred of beauty but love of
Christ. Our Congregational church has
fought noble battle for Christ, and it need
not now be weary of its work, nor fear to
adapt its means to future conflicts. A gen
erous, practical church. like ours. may well
dwell in a palace.
We give TO all the largest liberty. We
call every Christian a brother. and every
Christian church a sister church. We love
the freedom of Christ-the hospitality OF our
pulpits. We protest against exclusiveness.
When I see some good brother of another
church putting on the straight Jacket OF rlt-
ualism and ecclesiastical rules, 1 rejoice that