Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-04

uuuufcu uOudio III Oluci SoOu doSCtoJ Oub
of which we think the sum- can he real
lied.
After the reading of the foregoing re-
port .
REV. DIR. A. J. BAIRD,
the pastorOf the church, arose and said:
ave propose to close our services at an
early hour this morning, so as to allow the
ministers who are present TO go To their
regular services, but wish to make few
remarks. We are glad TO see so many of
our friends with us at this dedication of
our new building. IL is an ordeal for
people to pass through 10 erect a church and
that ordeal is greatly augmented when it is
necessary to tear down an old house in or
der to build a new one. This neoessitdtes
the church going into other places to so
journ temporarily. Under these clrcum-
stances so many things tend to distract the
members Cf the church and cause differ
enceS of opinion, vet for all this
we have had no difficulty.
ave went ont from the old chJEch two
years ago. Some who started out with US
with bright hopes, on this glad day Of re-
turn ale not with us; they have been Gale !
home to their rest.
Il wish TO acknowledge right feTe our in
debtedness 10 MckeudIee Church. We
would have worshPed it'll them all the time
iftheir house hadbeen as la &c as their hearts
but it was not. We have occupied their
church in holding our prayer meetings, and
are very grateful for the privilege. Our
Masonic brethren have been very kind Ia
us, and we found accommodations in their
hall. / would say 1 think We have not
harmed it, but have sought to bring about
hallOwed associations. A thousand thanks
to our Masonic brethren for their kindness
TO us. To our brethren of McKendTee
Church would say, they may have Occa-
sion to tear down their building to erect
another, and hereby extend an invitation
TO them To come and worship here.
Eight years ago | preached To a little
congregation Of fourteen members. The
next Sabbath to seventeen and the next TO
a congregation of twenty-one. Now you
see what we have grown 10. We have
lived in peace with our brethren. The
.'OneneSs" i'm the church in Christ Jesus
is very preciGIs to us all. / have for a
long time desired that we might have a
church building sufficiently large that We
could all worship therein. We have one
now. Fraternity is my idea The recog-
milton Of Christ in the heart is the orc true
brotherhood.
"Some say, lis there not danger Of wor-
Shipping this house instead Of wOrshiping
GOd?" Ny friends, we have no fear Of that We
bear in mind that the time will come when
notOne stone will be left upon another that
will no; be thrown down, even of this fine
building. We want TO make this the rule
always. He who is here first shall
have choice of seats. The horny
handed man of toll shall have
seat in front if he desires. We
desire not thai this shall be place 10 sit
down and rest; it is a place of work instead
Of rest. We extend an invitation to the
world to come i'm aud learn with us Of
Jesus Christ. That is the meaning Of that
organ; when il speaks with its trumpet
tone, it saws, "COme to Christ and worship
Him." We have passed through strange
and trying times. We had hardly laid our
foundations until business was partially
suspended in consequence of the disease
among the horses. Then came the pesti-
lence, and after that the financial storm.
But God has been with us al all times and
has brought us safely through.
''NOw, YOU will join us in giving this house
TO God. take pleasure this morning in in
PRODUCING to you our friend, DIR. Beard.
Just one-fOUrth of a century ago last Thurs
day l received my diploma from him, and
just One-fOuTth of century ago, at this
hour, preached my first sermon, and he
was with me. Singular as these cOinciden-
ces may be, they have been a source Of
pleasure to me, and take sincere pleasure
i'm saying to him this morning: flake this
beautiful hall to God; take il and bestOw
il where il truly and rightfully belongs.
Now, we will stand on our feet, with bow
ed head, while our brother gives this house
to Cod
a feTyeut prayer was then offered by DIR.
Beard. and the services were closed with
the dOxology and benediction.
At the regular morning service, which
began at II o'clock, the sermon was
preached by DR.. Beard, who read the 10th
and 10th verses of I'd Chronicles, chap. 6,
the 9Th and 9th verses Of Psalms 81, and
the LIST verse Of the 62d chapter Of Isaiah,
but said that these verses were only intro
ductOTy, as he would take the new build
ing which had just been dedicated as the
subject of his discourse. Upon this subject
he preached an interesting sermon, begin
ming with a description of religious wor-
ship previous TO the erection of churches,
and concluded with recital Of the objects
and purposes for hich the building just
dedicated was erected.