The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-07-12
CORRESPONDENCE.
Dedication Of Deer Creek Harmony
Church.
NEAR HoPEwEIL Y ROADS, !
July 9th, 1871. (

July Jun, 1871.
Mr. EDIToR: Being in the country for q few
weeks for recreation and health, and learning
that the new Harmony church, (Prcsbytcran) was
10 be dedicated yesterday and the popular Rev.
DR.. Smith, of the Central Church, Baltimore, was
expected to preach the dcdicatory sermon, / at.
tended upon these services. At 3 O'Clock very
large congregation had assembled, notwithstand-
ing it was in the midst of harvest and week
day. There were present the venerable Rev.
Wm Finncy, SO well known and universally be-
loved by everybody in Hartford, that il is useless
for me to say anything of his history as minis
ter and citizen. This old ediice (Harmony) was
erected nearly forty years ago as the first effort
from Churchville, and the pulpit was filled by
Mr.. Finney every other Sabbath afternoon, for
many years. Mr.. f. continued this mission I'M
til age required him to retire from active pasto-
raj labors, when Harmony was organized into
an independent church. Since its first erection,
lIavre de Grace, The Grove and Bel Air churches
have all been organized, and are also the efforts
Of Churchville, during the faithful mnistratons
of Mr. Finncy.
The pulpit, yesterday, was occupied by the
Rcvs. Finney Johns Doth former pastors) and
DR.. Smith, all of whom participated in the ccre-
monies. Rev. Sam'l NJ. Baylcss has been pastor
of Harmony for nearly seven years and is great
ly beloved by his people-the most of whom are
his relatives. A few years ago twas decided to
erect larger building, as the old one was too
small for the congregation. This decision was
carried and i'll the erection of the present house
the most beautiful country church nave seen IN
any place The building committee VINO, L
learn, was composed OF MI: Benlahh SILVER,
MIR. John A. Silver, Mr.. j. kalsln ana Mi.
VIM. Silver certainly are entitled TO, ana nave
received a cordial vote of thanks from the con-
gregatlon. Time and space Wlli not permit to
give detailed description OF TINS very chaSte
and neat structure just now.
The dedlcatory services yesterday were cX-
ceedlnSly interesting and proiitapic. Among the
other ministers present were Kew. Mr.. COOK OF
Havre de Grace, Rev. Mr.. Paxton OF Churchville,
Rev. T. ID. Fnney OF Bel AR, Presbyterlans, and
KEY. l.. u. Heron, M. ", OF Darlington. Inc
audience was composed OF trcsDyteriais, pom
sides OF Methodlsts, 7. Episcopallans and Or
thodoX Friends-all OF whom looked and acted
as II they were "all one IN CHRIST;
The opening services were by MI Johns and
were very affecting. DR.. Smith TOOK for his text
part of Luke V: 1.-THE people pressed upon
him to hear the word of God" The theme OF
his sermon was the TIE Word Of God-the BIZ
bic. lie said that God had manifested Himself
three separate times to the world-in Its creation
in the incarnation ofthe WORD, ana III Ills writ
ten word. This latter Is the Blblc. 1t Is the
Oldest book. 1t Is the source OF all That Is wise
and grand and beautiful. Shakespeare and Ho-
mer drew their inspirations from it. History,
Science, Astronomy, Geology all are indebted to
it for their foundation. 1t has Withstood all
opposition. 1t has been locked up In cloisters,
burned in the flames and kept from perusal, but
it still lives and will live on until 1t has accom-