The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-02
FIRST BAPTlST CHURCH.


Dedication scrvices-Sermon by Rev. DR..
The new church OF the First Baptist Society OF
thus city, on the corner Of Park avenue and Thirty.
ninth Street. WAS dedicated WITH appropriate
services yesterday morning The society has ex.
listed for over century, ana Is one over which Rev.
Spencer Gone SO long presided. The new church
has cost the society $3.50 O0O and Is constructed or
brown stone, Is 90N feet on Park avenue and 90
feet on East Thirty ninth street. and built IN the
style Of the second Gothic period. An arcade OF
iron columns separates the nave ana aises
and supports arches OF richly moulded
story. The arch over the pulpit
recess and baptistry with its jambs and corbes is
also constructed Of that stone. The aises thirty
SIX feet In height the clere-story walls forty six
feet, ana the ridge OF the nave seventy Eight feet;
the roofs are all open with handsome trusses ex-
posed to view. The baptistry Is arranged differently
from the method usually adopted and Ii q promt-
1t screened from the chucrh the pool Is an Octa
g0n, with an internal diameter OF eight feet, one
enclosed moulded ssne
arched ribs on the s0nit The pool Is enclosed by
n the aGn + o % @
Ing. The pulpit recess Is decorated in rOlychr0me
In oil and has several tablets on which are inscribed
several suitable selections from the Scriptures.
The rest OF the building is finished ia plain TINS;
in general the woodwork Is OF black walnut, with
chestnut panels. The church can seat about one
thousand persons, ana it was taxed 10 the utmost
yesterday morning, to accommodate the large num-
Der present. extra seats being needed in the aises.
several hymns by the congregation, Dr. E. L. Taylor
offered fervent prayer, after which Rev. DIR.
Thomas u. Anderson, the pastor OF The church, de-
lvered sermon and offered up an eloquent dedica-
tion prayer. He took for his text-"And II Christ
be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your
faith also vain."-I Corinthians XIV, IA.
!, Before delivering the sermon the Doctor stated
Gated q house to God. OF the 40S persons who be-
longed in Gold street one male member and five
female members still are living, and two men are
Still living that wUrsmpped in the first house that
was built IN $780, In the southern part OF the city.
The hour that celebrates the entrance of Christian
fill the heart with Joy You have seen days OF en-.
couragement and days OF encouragement Some
OF the com nunty who were engaged in the work
ton of the WORK on earth. Now that our work Is
finished we should feel spirit of gratitude that
turns to God noS Spirit Of Joy that turns to men.
the value Of the Gospels proclamation according
to the words OF the inspired writer Risen Christ
IS not synonymous with living Christ; 1t means
like our own. The incarnation did not end In the
resurrection or the Mount OF Ascension. He did
mol assume our nature only FOR earth or to expiate
thought that Christ His throne Is as near to us as
Christ on the cross We are In sympathy with Jesus
1t was ON the first day Of the week when lie an.
peared 10 His disciples. as If to hallOw the day.
would dedicate this house as the united contribu-
would not separate the present from the past. It
Is haltowed by one hundred and nine years; not an
humble Offering, not Q trembling word OF praise on
stand to-day. II Is oil for God ana would not
change single point; II Is like the hOmely features
tnat cause me 10 recognize friend priced above
OF all.