The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-02

DEDICATORY.

nha ne
nrcgations .ne of Camden N j. The new and beau
u ed6ce stands at the intersection OF Ihlrd street
and Bridge avenue, fronting on the former. 1t sup
plies the place of the destroyed by fire some two
or three years since.
The day opened propitiousy, ana the M iar weather
more than realized the antcipatons of the members
that the formal dedication of their church would
attract a large audience or congregation The pews
in the body OF the church were all well filed and the
galleries exhibited full complement Of Interested
participants in the time. number OF the dgnita-
Fies of the Methodist Church were present.
The dedication ceremonies will extend over this
afternoon, and continue this evening. They opened
at 10 O'Clock this morning.
The pulpit was occupied by Rev. Bishop Simpson,
and Kevs Russng, Perry, sovereign; Patterson
Ballard, and Whtecar, the last-named being the
The The services were opened with the reading of the
liturgy by Rev. Whtecar, after which Rev. Russling
announced the preliminary hymn.
Rev. Sovereign pronounced the opening prayer.
Rev. Perry read the first lesson from the Holy
Scriptures at I'd Chronicles, G: 1888,
Rev. Patterson read the second lesson from
Hebrews, 10th chapter.
rev ballard announced the second hymn
Rev. Bishop Simpson then preached the dedcatory
Sermon taking his text from the 9th Psalm; latter
part of the 9Th verse :"Worshlp Him all We gods"
in opening he congratulated the members OF the
congregation on the successful erection Of their
house OF worship, and called upon them TO magnify
the name OF the Lord. Then abiding to his text, ne
went into au eXplication OF it, saying that the
Psalmist took wide view of the nrovidence of God
and could see Him in every affair OF life. The
heavens declare His righteousness, AMI the many
voices Of dumb nature worship the great Creator.
Maker. Many things arise before him in the conem-
paton OF this text; we find in it and in dwelling on
II many reasons why we should worship God. But
there is one single line Of thought would present
TO you this morning That is, that the greater bless
ings are conferred upon any people the greater obi
cation they are under TO worship God. This thought
is suggested by the words of the teXt-'WOrsnp
Him all ye gods, by the word gods
in the hey margin ''iii' in Exodus judges" THAT
is thus placed over men to Judge them, Again, the
Psalmlst in saving that he would worship Jenovah
n
pubicly-openly. by the phrase used here, we mu st
understand all those who have conspicuous privi-
leges or superior blessings, whether they be of fame
wealth, domestic bliss, or a clearer revelation Of
God's word Aud these are especially called upon to
10 wOrship God whether they be less or more IA
vored still 10 the latter the injunction comes with
greater force Ana TINS Tor the reason that from
be required. The more blessings God is
pleased to confer upon me, the greater obligation
am under to worship linn III sincerity ana truth.
In proportion to the degree of heavenly benefit en-
iOyed-are To render in return to God. The heart
should feel the more gfattud as the greater favor
it enjoys. Where enlarged gifts bestowed, large
gratitude is demanded. We are TO worship Him for
every manifestation of Kindness in His providence
not simply for the gilt, He may hestOw upon our
minds. Are my chllulen healthy thea my gratitude
was ten years since. | am under the greater
obligation to worship GOD. Every gift of cod to
man lays MAJ under fresh obligatlOys 10 render
gratitude to Him. Ihe goodness OF the Almighty
CONNIE ced in youth, is extended to the maturest
age, and the older we grow the more grateful
where muGh is given n!ch VIII De required that 1t IS
the duty Of those receiving arh adVant lgcS II
ship God, but eCause taey are III such position N
society that the eyes OF the world are looking up
them. For a momenU now consider This truth. In
America-this favored land Of the wOrld-we
under special Oblgat MS to render worship to sod,
and the eyes OF other people are looking upon us to
SEE whether we perform this our duty. But as with
a nation, with any part on nation. Even If
eOn6ne my attention here to this spot, to this vici
mty can see that the people here are blessed very
highly and consequently under the greater obi
wOrSliD Wherever q
Of elevation, there should be- centre of religious
mower As we here iu this favored part of the coun-
try are an example TO others less favored around US,
should also take the greater care not to dishonor
God by refusing TO worship Him according to the
under special obligations to worship Him
because we cannot escape knowledge OF
the power OF influence Placed in an
influential POSITION we must prove ourselves compe-
tent TO I'LL it, and this alone can be done byreturnng
special homage to GOD. we sometimes imagine
that we are very humble, sometimes say so; but, my
brethren, do we not all know that as not single
atom Of sand on the shore is disconnected with the
composition OF the globe, so neither is any single one
of us disconnected from the mass Of humanity, nor
destitute of influence upon others. For this reason
a father is under greater obligation; for who can
tell his influence upon his child? For this reason
people in this community-in this congregation
even-whO stand as lights prominently in society,
are under the greater Obligation for in proportion TO
their position, so is their influence. Oh l wish
could Impress upon you this morning that in the
greater degree God has blessed you, are You under
obligations to worship Him.
The second thought connected with this subject is,
that blessings ana advantages are Increased,
so our worship which we pay ought to- have visible
relation to these increased responsibilities. Now,
may say that worship is purely spiritual; say,
however, that a true worship Will make some visible
manifestation. man may imagine that he can
worship God at home; so he can. But say that no
ma who wantonly absents himself from the house
of God and refuses to mingle in the visible
worship of the saints truly worships God Again,
when in this house of God, what more beautiful
sight than whole congregation kneeling before
God /? Then when bend the knee before
God, do we truly worship God with our bodies
as well as with our souls AS Methodlsts too, we
should not desert even external manifestations OF
inward worship. They are beautiful, they are
Scrptura, and let us cling to them. Again, true
worship is not only marked by visible manifestations
but is accompanied by offerings that us. What,
some will say must the idea OF money be brought
into our religion? Do you not sing OF a free grace
Yes We do, but then to advance the cause of reli
gioE there must be sacrifice. Read the Scriptures
Old and New, and you will find that sacrifice has
never been absent from devotion; sacrifice exhibits
devotion What did Jesus Christ, our Saviour
sacrifice? He sacrificed more than enough to suf
fee the needs of whole world. Priests and
ministers cannot serve without sacrifice. How car
they serve without being sent? And in order t
being sent there must be sacrifice. All the machi-
merry for their service must be provided ] tell you
that man cannot acceptably worship God unless
he is willing to take something of his and give it tC
God But then this something is TO be in proportion
to what God has given TO us. Under the old dis
pensatOn, if a man could not bring the greater
sacrihces he was ordered TO bring even tht
handful OF nour, and that was acceptable
10 COO; Tor ior II was r,,i IN proportion to wha
all estimate our "uty in this respect Sometime
men fancy that aS they grow In wealth. power, in
sini lty This Is a great error; the reverse is tn
ttuth. The words of the text return upon us-"Wor
snip Him FL ye, gcds!" That is, all we rich an
powerful; all ye who are n influence or postio1 a
yc who are prosperous, worship God. When
atictlon We are ready To worship; in blessing yo
forget TO- Is this right? on why will men iorgt
ing them? Is such conduct wise?
Then let this favored congregation worship Got