, 1874-12-21
FIRST SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH..

Dcdcatory Sermon by Bishop Harris,
The inaugural tled;catory services OF tho First
(Swcdisi) Methodist Episcopal Church, located
on tho northwest corner of OnEk and Market
streets, woro hold yesterday morning in tho
lecturo-room, Tho auditorium boing atill In nn
Incomplete condition. There was worry largo
congregation. Tho services woro conducted by
tho Presiding Elder. N1r. Shogricn, wllo was
assisted by tho 1lev. Mr.. Andnrnon Of Chicago;
tho Roy. ar. Hadstr'n1. of brooklyn, aud tho
Tt. Rev. bishop 1larflu.
Aftor the usual religious ceremonies lad bccn
observed. tho Dshop proceeded to upenk. saying,
by way OF prefacc that it afforded him unfoiguol
satisfaction to meet 10 large aud Intelligent q
congregation of Swedish 1tctlodists, more
especially as ho had beon recently sojournor in
iho scandinavian Kingdoms, whero lle had eeon
tue light of God made manifest by tho progrces
Of the Church. llo Ind been very deeply i1n-
pressed by ny satisfactory religious experiences
G'ncd, wonderful work Of (lod in tho Kingdom
OF Sweden; nor wcro Norway and Denmark bo-
hind in Tho glorious work. Having had this
gratifying experience, thoy could. not wondor
that lie fot moro tlaan ordinary prilo in sneak
ing to tllcM OH 60 sacred MI occasio,,--tho ppcn-
ing Of now tcnplo Of the faith for the glory OF
God.
lIo would take bin !czt from tho prophecies of
teah" oc. Thiu waa the languaso Of 'uy pfopeoy ia
and of promise. It nnfolded Il moro bcRintiful
page in tho history OF tho world, aud gayo prom
is9 l o. moro general knowledge Of God. Yen,
a f ta, sven IRON a ~ h'sheat to tho hu1.,blest
name. Tho coming Of thu. splondid ora was
lookal forward to with lopo and joy by milIiona,
IhonIands Of tho prol,dcst spints known to
Church 1iatory had toilcd, fought, prayed, md
Ghurch could nhow long limo OF holy men
prost!Ate before God, With extended lands,
Gs;9at, rr;yiG!; 1S5 v1o .as t9 1 glory Of universal
sion fo!' sinful lnan, would not prostrato them
solves llefore heayen for that blessing?
People woro fond Of questioning whether God
would not btiug eomc power, more eiliceit than
any thlts Lad yet heen tried Gil tho hcarts Of
men, iltto tho work Of religion to ,nnko nluners
como to Joalsa This wRH owing to tho ekeptical
fool'ng OF the times. aud WINS not tho fault Of
religion. Ncyer was llGro an opportunity for n
moro glorious revival. and ho would apsuro them
TINT tlfao WAS no way to bring human souls to
gtnco cstopt 10 tcnch thcm knowledge Of uod.
Without that knowledge ouaon Ind pilot. Ifthoy
knew Jcgus not. how could tAoy lovo lIim2 II
ahoy na e. noyer , hoa:a @ Of God except MS an a-
prophecy ol Jeremiall. uttored 7d0 yeara before
tho BIRTH Of Christ, reproycl nnbolior aud rayo
Chr!stiars' assurance df u bottor tin.o coming
They shall all know No, from tho lowcut ovon
unto the greatest"
This .re at end could only l,o accomplished by
rroacllit,E tho Word Of God. They Ind njways
to raturi to tho roal remedy for sin, tecauso it
lad th9 Divine t inspiration ind sanction w icl,
nae maze u fo, potfn6' ho H. was to bcus Ht
of God. Tho mission of chrlst A,s"tsnSH on cari4
WAS cotsu1rinated in Calvary, but tho nocoaa.ty
for oyange' 'lzins did not there terminate. His
1hey wero not Alraid to assert It. Illoy did hot
ekulk III out-of-lhe-wny placcB to proclai1u tho
truth. They went Into the midst OF tho jews
right into Jes'halem, wllero stood pilnto'a ha,l,
basoly g'yon over to an igsominio,ls death-and
tLcro preached that the ALan who l,ad died u,,o
tie crosH WIKI indeed, tho so. Of God.
ILoy pointed to TIC utono rolled back from tho
II has e'4sou.r Thoy pointed to Mount
Bluwad Tho Hscred peak FROM wlic}. ilo lad
mounted alyoyo tho clouds mid aseondod into
lloayen. Tlsolr wurdh carried with lhe1n couyc-
ton.
The seeds ct tho faltl wero planted, and from
tint time I'LL Ill now, nearly LOLA yculs, lilo work
ct salvation Ind tcen going forward. Il4o ma
tiona wcro uyoty, lonr, growing out Of tho dark.
tlat light which wns otornal Tor tho soulH Of
mon. Therefore,, tho prcsohlng Of Tho Goapol
wan tho only true WY IN which 70 bring tAu poo
l'o to Christ: Firm In this belief. tho
minority should bind up tlloir loinH, aud 90
hublimn cotlueIoueness that tho truths which,
they spoke wo,o so!oMnly sttosted FROM oHhigh.
Tho lloy. air. lladstsum of Dloukly.,, tllon
nlado low encouraging rc,natks,. III whicl, Ao
state.l lllat lo "aa n years old tlsat ln was tho
t!rHt Scandinavian missionary wio over preached
in TIM! MnEuago in tho unted Atntnu. ind tho
tttt MotAoslist minister who oycr lifted up ha
yo!eo for lilo glury Ut God III Illinois.
The Presiding Eldor uall that ho lind stass-
tieal atntomont to rcad to tho co.gle-
gatioa. 1t empracod thu following points