The New York herald., 1870-12-19
WEST FlETY-THIRD STREET BAPTIST
CHURCH.

The Mystery OF G0d!iness-Dcdicntion Ser
vices-Sermon by Rev. w. III. Pendeton.
The new Baptist church on West Flfty.third street,
having but recently been completed, divine service
was held there yesterday for the first time. The
Feast Of Dedication and memorial services con-
nected with the opening OF the new house Of wor-
ship took place daring the week, and were attended
and assisted by all the shining lights Of the Baptist
Church. Yesterday the new edace was dedicated,
and large number OF persons were III attendance.
The new building is in the
NORMAN GOTHIC STYLE
OF architecture, and is seventy feet wide by 100
deep. The entire front Of the building is composed
of the stones that served the same purpose In DR..
Cheever's church, which formerly stood at the
OF Union square and Fifteenth street. The stones
were all numbered and removed to the new loca-
ton, where they were erected In the same form.
The structure Is adorned with two towers, one of
which on the east reaches an attitude OF 10
feet and the other eighty-fve feet.
THE INTERIOR
Of the new edihce is very beautiful indeed. The
pews, galleries ana all other wood work
is or solid black walnut. OF elegant finish
and graceful design. The platform on which
the pulpit rests extends from the back
wall thirteen feet, and is built OF black
walnut aud elegantly carpeted AT the back of the
platform, behind the pulpit, there Is an open bap
tlstry, having two entrances, on either end, from
which marble steps and screens lead down to the
basin. The baptsry Is surmounted by an arched and
pedimented canopy, supported by twenty columns
of different varegated marbles. The church VIII
seat 900 persons and in its general construction
and arrangement is equal to any in the clg.
The services were opened with prayer and the
singing Of the l1lth hymn, after which there was
THE SERMON,
by the pastor, Rev. William H. i'endeton, who took
for his text-"And confessedly great is the mystery
OF godlness'' Il. Timothy, Ill, 10y These words,
said the reverend speaker, have not been inaptly
called the magnificent form Of an apostolic creed.
fnn
sages in all the Word OF God IA passage comprising
within It's brief compass several fundamental arl-
pa articles Of evangelical beIlef, and was a con-
densed system Of divinity IN which the several doc
trines OF Christ are revealed. The great char
and His mystical divinity proven. The
Gospel is frequently declared to be mystery,
and II Is disclosed for our belief simply the faith
OF its divine origin. First among the Gospel truths
the apostle places the divine incarnation. which IS
one or the fundamental truths upon which the doc
trine OF Christ must rest or fall. Here the speaker
produced many arguments to prove the divinity OF
man would come to tho conclusion He was divine
a perfect God ana perfect man. When the stone
was rolled rom the sepacnre , ana ,ne q cruced
and we are therefore forced 10 the conclusion that
He was either the
GREATEST IMposroR
that ever lived, or else that lie was the dear and
welbeloved Son Of God.
He spoke of the treatment these truths received at
the hands OF men. They were rejected on account
OF their mysterious character, and the same argu-
ment Is advanced Dy modern SceptIcS In regard 10
the incarnation, which is the revelation which all
others rest. This Denied an Christianity sinks into
a grave from which there Is no resurrection.
All true
RELIGION MUST COME FROM GOD,
and He must pe manifest in It,. In our reasonings
our starting point is ourselves; but as we know not
own origin, reason can give no answer and this
natural religion can never raise the soul above the
doubts and perplexies into which 1t Is
plunged. The conclusion therefore Is that there
is higher revealed religion coming from God
founded on divine revelation, and II from God is
orjOnc fpY Eohh cell ia n m
clusOn, he said, these truths, being divine, became
inallible, and to renonnce them because they were
mysterious would be to return to chaos. we should
let our faith IN them increase, and show It by our
love for Christ
THE PRAYER OF DEDICATION
was then offered by Rev. A. G. Palmer, u. d. who
prayed long and earnestly for the success of the
Object for which the church was built-to bring
SINNERS to Christ At The conclusion Of the prayer
the dedication hymn, beginning
o. bow Thine ear, Eternal Onei
On Thee our heart adorlng calls;
To Thee the follow oil Thy Son
Here raised, and now devote these walls,
was sung, and, with blessing from the pastor, the
services ended.