St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-10-23
From the Montpelier journal.
Dedication of Bethany Church..

The long cherished hopes of the friends
of the Old Brick Church in Montpelier
reached their Immediate fulfillment to-
day Oct. 15th) in the dedication to the
service of Almighty God of their new
edifice-Bethany Church. A large au-
dience was attracted by the occasion,
filling the spacious edifce to its utmost
capacity. The services were of a deeply
impressive character, and the effect can
not be lost upon even the most indiffer-
ent listener. 1t was, indeed, Bethany
season to those more Immediately inter
ested, whose memories cluster about this
time-honorsd church, and whose fondest
hopes are linked with its past, present
and future,
The following were the exercises.
1.-Organ Voluntary, II. I. Proctor,
Recommendations.
3.-Invocation, Rev. VIM. s. Hazen,
of Mortified.
4.-Reading Scriptures, Rev, f. /.
Carpenter, of Barre, 2 Chron. 6: 1927,
Heb. 10: 1927.
5.-Anthem.
6.-Prayer, Rev. Mr.. Copeland.
dedication Hymn, by Rev. J. X.
Lord.
S.-Sermon, Rev Dr. w. Fl. Lord,
Pastor of the Church.
The text was selected from the 1920
Psalm, fourth and fifth verses:
Il will not give sleep to mine ewes or
slumbcr TO mine cyelids till find out a
place for the Lord. A habitation for
the mighty God Of Jacob"
A brief reference to David as a king,
a statesman, :. poet and a warrior, were
the opening remarks Of this eloquent and
most able and appropriate discourse. A
resolution like that of the King of Israel
had produced the church that was to-day
dedicated-the result of the prayers and
hopes Of years, and of sacrifices of cult
waited religious sentiment. The intelli-
gence and generosity which had given
this church to the state and to the con-
gregation, had for its sole object the pro-
motion of the glory Of the Redeemer.
lie next sproceeded TO speak of the
uses of the material temple for moral and
spiritual purposes. lis lowest was the
intellectual culture, thought and taste it
expressed. but it illustrated Bishop But
ler's argument of the necessity for visi-
BILE church. The speaker was very clo-
quent and impressive in pointing out the
impressions. His allusion to the crumb-
ling ruins in Venice. where falling fres-
Goes and shafts sinking into the sea pro-
claimed 4 lesson more eloquent than
words, was well applied to enhance the
beauty of his theme. The church edi-
flee was an argument which addressed
itself in manner TO be cumprehended 10
minds that could not al first grapple
with the evidence, of revealed religion,
acknowledged and embraced by those Of
maturer years and culture.
Another of these uses of the church
was the cultivation of reverence, which
should hot be confined to the attendance
upon worship, but should be habit OF
the soul.
That part of the speakers argument
i'll behalf of the advancement of taste in
erecting church edifces by the Congrcga-
tionalist Church vas particularly happy
and forcibie The Puritan fathers were
respectfully alluded to for their simp!ici-
~ of taste, but no evidence was given
that their descendants could not with pro-
pricty contribute TO the warmer scnti-
ment- Of more cultivated and refined
3 g, Ia,
1t will not do 10 deSpise the moral uses
of material beauty. The day is past fer
Israel to dwell in tents or barns. There
will be time for that when necessity eX-
lists The essence of PuritGlism was
not hatred of beauty, but love of Christ.
Hardness, severity and dogmatisms could
hide themselves where there is the ut
most simplicity of forms. We should
exclude nothing that would make our
church polity more attractive.
Practical christianity may dwell in a
palace. The cordiality of the Congre-
gatioual denomination towards all relig-
ious denominations was appropriately
noticed, and most hsppy allusion made
10 the bowling of one of the towers on
the Catholic church in town towards the
Bethany church whilst being erected the
past year 1t protested urains: sectari-
anism, and had no Shib1lcth To- utter.
and no Procrustean bed GA which to
lengthen or shorten mankind. The old
est, wealthiest and most numerous church
in New England could afford TO be lib
eral.
The close Of this great sermon-great
in its conceptions, great in intellectual
power, great in lis majesty of religious
eloquence-was IN effort worthy the ma
ture mind of one of the most eminent di-
vines of the day, and We shall not do it
injustice by attempting any synopsis of it.
differentiation OF the building for
dedication, ID. Taft. Esq, chairman of
building committee.
1O.-Dedicatory Prayer, Rev. Mr..
Buckham.
1l.-Anthem.
12-Benediclion, Rev. Mr.. Tenny.