The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-10
Dedication Of the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church.
Full Descriptions Of the Sanctuary and
the Services in Il
Eloquent Sermons by the Rev. Drs, John Hal
and Wilson and Addresses BY Drs Yer
milye. Adams and Paxton.
SKETCH OF THE PASTOR.

the Filth avenue Presbyterian church. Two years
Aao the site OF Its new church edinee was plot Of
ground bare and unsightly, and now one OF the
largest ana nnest OF our city churches mas been
erected here--a temple OF worship, IN its stately
dimensions and In the grace and beauty Of It's
architectural proportions challenging universal
admiration Though not wholly completed ea-
ternaily its interior finished anu In readiness
lof church worship. It's formal dedication took
place YESTERDAY and yet the very essence Of the for
maIity was the absence OF form. dedicatoey
prayer brief and simple, made up the formula
THIS ard nothing more. There was in 1t that sug-
gestve OF the austere simplicity or the early Cal
Vinists; but there we're other attendant exer-
sises giving 10 the occasion an Interesting as well
as an historic character.
Although eleven O'Clock was the hour an
nounced for the services TO begin, the CROWD
began TO come much Garner. The immense
concourse throngng 70 The church soon FILED
every pew below and the long galleries and the
alsles and standing places by the walls, and even
the steps leading 10 the pulpit lew minutes
before eleven O'Clock the organ began playing
a low subdued air AT arst. and then the volume
or sound increased until IL svelled into grand
diapason OF Juniant and triumphant expression.
Meantime Rev. DR.. Hal, the pastor. made his
appearance from rear door and assembled the
pulpit. He was accompanied By Rev. DR.. 5. ).
Wilson, OF Allegheny Seminary. and moderator OF
y
gown, but the other clergyman was devoid OF
any sacerdotal vestment. As soon as the
organ ceased the reverend pastor made brief
prayer aud then read some selections from the
Old and New Testaments including me descrip-
ton OF the dedication OF Solomon's Temple
hymn was next sung. IN which the congregation
Ioined-that grandiy solemn hymn. beginning.
Before Jehovah's awful throne.
The unison OF the 1000 and more voices gave
singing And now ensued the prayer Of dedication
py Rev. DR.. wilson. All heads bowed. IL
seemed an extemporaneous prayer; but whether
1; was or not IL was couched IN the most apostle
language. was marked OF choice graces OF express
sion and In its dedicatory phrases, clear and
simple o solemn and earnest dedication OF the
newly erected sanctuary to the worship Of God.
This was the dedication. In these few utterances,
put IN the form OF prayer, the completed temple
had been consecTated 10 Christian worship.
The sermon or DIT. ball. as given below, Is its
own best eulogy A rail- and commanding 1gure,
high and intellectual ioreneao, square chin ana
amouth denoting innexble 1rmness, there's stlll
clearly outlined traces or mis- Celtic descent his
hair l. quite gray, but keen intelligence flashes
rom his eyes, and It Is evident that ne - sim Ia
the tun possession OF both vigor or mind and
Dooy. Though not striving evidently for exuoer-
ance OF Thought or splendor OF diction. ne rises
At times TO strains oil imprisoned eloquence.
The rand argument
soard IN gorgeous nlsht linking earth
lil the mind, all It's faculties and power.
Lay toanng, seifsurrendsred 10 the deep
He came up 10 the highly raised expectations
OF him. Every body listened with the proioundest
interest. The sermon was clear. logical and
torcpe, and in IT'S illusions, bries though they
we're 10 the growth OF the Church. specially In
leresting. singing the Doxology concluded the
Al
put OF the church the means OF easy and speedy
Exit were admirably illustrated and a. univer-
rally approved.
Fon details Of the afternoon and evening ser
vices are given below. They were only repetliions
Or the vast crowd In the morning. most forcibie
discourse was that given " the Rev. DR.. Wilson,
and the addresses in the evening were OF the
most appropriate and entertaining character
me day viii long be remembered. Is will always
orm al alod dies In the record OF the church's
history.
In the morning. after the ordinary opening
exercises and the ervent dedicatory prayer Of DR..
wilson, the Rev. Or. Hail preached
THE SERMON,
taking his text from Kings eighth chapter. lat
ter clause OF eleventh verse-"For the CORY or
me lord had nnsd the house or the Lord.r Tne
house OF tina LORD. said the reverend gentleman.
mere spoken OF 10 solOmon's Temple, Just COM
prayer ana praise. The glory that nled It was the
cloud that was apparent TO the senses Of the
people. IL had oeen promised 70 Moses long
ago that tnls glory should ali the house wnen 10
was nnished, aud that promise was made good,
a. we have seen In the book OF Exodus. The effect
was overpowering upon the senses Of those
VINO stood BY that they we're unable 10 continue
tneu mlnistrations, for says the texs '9ne
glory OF the Lord had filed the hsuse OF the Lord.n
"A ow hal Int Ms INN IN
20 thoroughly and really DID those VINO were
present feel that the Lord was there, that
they we're compelled 20 suspend the ordinary
services in whlcn tneJ we're engaged. This was
me Ola Testament way Of manliesting Him VINO
iwela 10 IL In life inaccessible and full or glory.
tt was the old Testament way OF taking posses
sion OF tue new building that was prepared for
shem and vas now being Welded up 70 Him. He
whom zoe heaven OF heavens cannot contain was
thus disclosing 70 Bis people HIS readiness 20
abide with them ana continue among them 50
long a. tney had the broken heart and the con-
trite spirit and so long as they tremDed a. nis
word Between this Jewish temple so completed
ana the house in which We are assembled here to
ia, there are many points OF contrast deeper and
more mpOrtant than those that are presented 10
the matter or cost and extent These particulars
We oughs 70 notice IS we are gathered together.
The ue0rew edince vas one temple and there
could % no 0tnefs 10 nave SET up ahJ FHai
edlncs would have been rebellion against the Lord
Amigny. Itwould have looked toward
PoLYTHKIsM.
one lapd, one nauon, ore sempe-that was the
Lord's prescribed order Il not 80 with as
This 10 one OF many houses FOR the worship Of Cod
10 this nslghborhood and in this city. We ought
TO oe glad with . true JOY when the Lord sets up
rssn candleaueks In which Hia nght resides
There ls no real rivalry among churcnes 10 whicn
gNN.-
neip 20 every other true preacher and Is ioster-
ing and stimulating mat appetite that viii be
satisfied with nothing but the word OF the nvng
God. Thh edince a. Jerusalem was erected manly
by the royal munincence. Dsvia began snd Solo
mon completed u TIE one man q war, ana the