Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-26

crucifed; how to cling to it was to lose home,
friends, and honors; for Paul was not wholly un-
like other men; was member of the Sanhedrim,
and shared in worldly honors before espousing his
masters cause; but all of these things were then
beyond his reach; still he cared nothing; rather
glored in the cross and gave up all to travel over
mountain and sea that he might promote the glory.
So it is now, the world Is one side, Christ and
his on the other, and when the cross is taken
up the world and its attractions must be wholly
nOunced; yet how different Is everything; we may
cling to the cross and still be surrounded by all the
blessings of life friends family and home; Heaven
is smiling and earth is glad every hand blessings
surround our pathways; we look back and see Paul
alone in the mountains, walking in narrow path
along the side of high precipice an Outcast-sac-
rifced unto the world and the world sacrificed unto
him; we ourselves go singing and shouting to the
promised land. In these days many OF us bear and
endure the cross but do we glory in it as did Paul
when it forms such barrier between him and the
whole world9 He then explained the true mean
ing of the as the symbol and standard of the
whole Christian religion, and how it showed the
great sinfulness of sin. The man who views sin
lightly will feel little need of Savior; he first must
feel the terrible character of sin going deep down
in his heart; he then will feel the great need of
Savior; he comes to realizethe depth of the stain
and pollution so great that nothing but the arm Of
omnipotence can take it away and give man an in-
heriance in glory. The speaker dwelt upon the de-
pragity of the hearts of those who could so put to
death one against whom no charge of wrong-dOing
could be brought, and passed to notice of the inn
mutability of Gods laws which are universal in
their requirements; and, like the laws of nature
are everywhere, in the minute and vast. Whose
trangresses must die; though death may not be i'm
80,
gress the laws of God; but Chrst's dying satisfied
the law that we might be saved; and thus we are
made to see the wonderful goodness of Cod for had
he not loved us in our sins we could not have been
saved. 1t is plain to comprehend his love for the
saint; but that he loved the wicked of the world is
shown by the giving Of his only son to die for
them it is a saying worthy of all acceptance that
Christ died to save sinners" God remembers that
we but dust and loves still, and will love us
to the end of time The attraction of the cross and
Jesus on Mount 0iyet was also made the subject of
beautiful illustration by the speaker; being held
up as drawing all people and all nations of the
earth up to it, for in blocking all men may
triumph over the world and be drawn up to home
in glory.
He closed by welcoming the people to the church,
gorying in it only as it brings people to the cross
of Jesus, and dedicates their hearts to Christ; fifty
quoting the lines:
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Thee.
Fen though 1t be cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song snail be
Nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer TO 1hee.
The above is but mere skeleton of the eloquent
sermon preached by the Bishop, and listened to
with the deepest interest by the audience.
A brief intermission in the exercises was taken,
during which an opportunity was offered for the
friends of the society to make substantial offerings
to the church, with what success will be when
we state that, in less than half hour, something
over twelve thousand dollars was raised The
giving began with thousand dollars from Hon.
George M Buttrick, followed by q like sum from
friend whose name was not given, and also another
thousand as q memorial to the late N. R. Parkhurst
by a daughter. Gifts of $500 rapidly followed from
Mr.. Geo Holt, Dr.. Warner, DIR. Robbins, Parker
Holden, Lyman Jones and VIM. S. Clark. The re-
malnder was made up in gifts Of $780, 500, S25, $40,
S. aud smaller sums. The 500 gifts were over
thirty in number.
The service of dedication was then conducted by
Bishop Simpson, the doXoogy was sung, and the
benediction closed the services at halfpast five
O'Clock.
THE EVENING.
At halfpast six O'Clock, the feast of dedication,
prepared by the ladies Of the parish, was partaken
of in the vestry the proceeds netting very liberal
sum towards furnishing the church.
AT halfpast seven O'Clock, the company repaired
again to the church, where they were called to
owing to the illness of the presiding officer of the
afternoon, Rev. Loranus Crowe, presiding elder of
the district E would occupy the chair Prayer was
made some congratuatory remarks on the happy
auspices of the OCCASION saying it had been one of
the most OF llte as showing the
progress of Methodism in this city, where not
many years ago there was but one church. strug-
Cling for existence, while now there are four well
organized churches of this denomination.
Rev. j. d. Twombly, of the Bromfeld street
church, Boston, another former pastor, was next
introduced. He said the beautiful ediice which
they had dedicated that day, in its architectural
proportions and TASTE must for the present at least
rank the star church of Worcester the credit for
which was due to the zeal and Christian enterprise
of faithful and earnest workers in the cause.
That eloquent preacher Offorty years experience,
Rev Mark TraftOn, of Broadway church, Boston,
was then introduced as minister orator and poet,
and entertained the assembly for an hour with q
poem, humorous, pointed and full of interesting
references to the early history of Methodsm in this
country in contrast with the present time the gen.
era topic being suggested by the visit of jesse Lee
the first minister OF the Methodist denomination in
Massachusetts, to Boston, in $780, his preaching on
the common, and his fight therefrom to escape be-
ing burnt as hereto. Now, fifteen churches of
this faith In Boston and vicinity point their spires
to heaven, and their colleges, seminaries, &C.,
among the prominent institutions of the land, en-
dowed by the Cla1ins, Shows and other wealthy
benetaetors Of the denomination. Trinity church
had the same architect and builder as Broadway
church, where he was stationed, and much resem-
bed it IN its beauty and proportions, and he con-
graduated his hearers on having secured SO fine an
edifce to worship in
Rev, Fales H. Newhal, D. d. of Middetown
university, former pastor, said he could hardly
realize that fifteen years had passed since he was
stationed here, but when he compared the former
modest edce On Park street with this the contrast
true index OF the great progress of Methodism
here. He had greatly enjoyed the day, and trusted
his old friends would go on to even grander works
in the future.
Rev. j. 0. Peck, of Trinity church, Springfield,
next introduced, and said he was proud to come
from the finest church in western Massachusetts, to
the finest church in central Massachusetts,. He
spoke of the advantage of building grandly; and
made appropriate alluson to his former connection
with another church in this city, whose edifce was
nearly completed, and was similar to this in some
of its appointments, indicating the progress of
the cause. He congratulated his hearers on the
large amount OF S12 900 to which the subscription
for their church had reached that day.
Rev. Mr. Smith stated that next Sunday after
noon there would be q reunion of the Methodists of
the city at that church, on which occasion his.
torical DISCOURSE embracing statement oil the rise
and progress of the denomination in the city and
county, would be preached by Rev. Daniel Dorches-
ter.
The proceeds Of the levee in the vestry amounted
to about $500, which added to the subscriptions for
the church, makes the total sum raised during the