The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-05-02
ID 6 DIG CATION
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

During the fall and winter of 1868, the Pres
byterian Society of this place, having become
convinced of the necessity for new church
building, came to the conclusion to tear down
the old and erect new building, which should
not only be q credit TO the cause they served
but an ornament as well TO our city. Ac-
cOrdingly building committee was appointed,
plans and specifications made and contracts
awarded. In the early spring Of 1869 the work
of removing the old church commenced, and
soon after the foundation for the new one was
laid and the work begun. The building was
under cover before winter set in, and the lee
ture room being finished early in the winter
of 1910, services were held thefein. and it
continued to be used up till Sunday last,
when the dedieatory services were held in the
audience room. Some delay was occasioned
in completing the church, by want OF funds,
and as il was not considered desirable to incur
debt, but little was done towards completing
the main building until the fall of 1871, when
sufficient amount having been pledged work
was renewed and brought to completion in the
winter of 1872. Then came the furnishing Of
the church, which had been undertaken by
the ladies, The result of all this effort was
that on last Snbbath morning, the church COM
Pleted, and in all respects free from debt, was
presented as free will offering to the Lord,
with appropriate dedicatory services.
At half-past ten o'clock on Sunday morning
the large audience room Of the church, capa-
bic of seating over seven hundred people, was
well filed, and with the anthem allow Lovely
is Zion" by the choir, the opening services be-
gan, ReV.s Chase of Clyde and Bacon Toledo,
assisting the pastor, DR.. Bushnell, who deliv-
cred the dedicatory sermon:
THE CLAIMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
Hebrews 10; 81 and 2j.-And let US consid-
or one another to provoke unto love and to
good works. Not forEaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner Of some
is, but exhOrting one another"
The whole gospel of Jesus essentially in
wolves the idea of publicity. Piety belongs in
the closet, to be sure, but its home is not in
the eloister The disciples Of Jesus are ga
city set on a hill" that men may see their
good works The doctrine is TO be taught to
GALL nations" 'church" is nothing other
than an organized assemblage Of christian be-
levers, whose function it is to 'shine as lights
in the world holding for the word of life"
These thoughts will prepare you for the re-
mark that the christian sanctuary built for the
accommodation of the christian assembly IS a
needed appliance of the christian church IN do
.ng her ,eOrk for God and man. And from
thess thoughts may pertinently arise the in
quiry: What claims the public a0Orship of God
has upon usg MuItitndes habitually neglect
it, Others are unsteady in attending it. It
is only the Jeto who steadily maintain it. If
the habitual practice of Onr people as a whole
ought to be taken as an indication of their
judgment and if that Judgment be- just instead
of building sanetuaries we ought TO pull down
every house Of worship, and disband every
church. And yet, all ought TO attend the piib-
lc l0orship Of God. shall not attempt to
canvass SO brood a subject exhsustively.
Some important VeiWs / must pass by as be-
ing suggested by the remarks already made.
/ present three points:
let We SHOULD ATTEND THE PUBLIC WoR-
SHIP OF Con F0R THE SAKE OF THE WE'LL BK-
ING OF THE COMMUNITY. Goodness is profit
able unto ali things, having promise Of The
life that now is, as we'll as Of that which is to
Come" Here we are, fellol0s in life's business,
companions in litss satisfactions and soTroWs.
We have character, and ! reputation TO
make and maintain as q community, no less
than as individuals. II we be known as q
Well-behaved, industrious, godIy people, this
viii make us the happier. This will attract
to US well-behaved, gOdly, intelligent people
Property will be safer for it. and more valu-
able. Every man of ability and integrity in
business added to our population, is a gain to
the whole. Every family of education, of
moral purity and OF refinement is q gain TO the
whole. These houses of worship sdorn the
city and commend it TO the favorable regard
of the best class of visitors. This house is
worth more TO the.cily than it has cost. In
these churches are taught the highest prinei-
pies Of commercial industry and integrity
as well as the truths Of religion In them the
principles of virtue are ineucated, and tho
practices of vice are reproved. The commu-
nifty. morally and commercially, cannot spare
the sentiments which induce men TO build
these churches. Who are "the salt OF the
earihf" What is the extent of public obliea-
ton 10 christian institutions? The
Lord's Day is a day of rest from toll. This
christian institution has made for itself place
in the habits Of society. Shall it be a day of
gOdIy consideration ald worship; or day for
pleasurs-seeking and carousing given wholly
to the interests of this Worldg Which is best
for the moral and industrial interests of the
community 1t is only necessary to suggest
these reflections and questions. They indi-
cate the public value of the sanctuary. To
sustain the public worship of God, and the
teaching of christian morals is to use means
to promote the highest advancement of the
community. Every mans interests are inter-
woven with the general interest Every
mans power and influence are the power and
influence of one man. By your life you speak
to other men. You eIhort them. On which
side shall your voice be heard? What is yonr
practical voter
"a. We should attend public worship Toa