The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-20
LOCAL MATTERS.

CENTENARY CHUR III SUNDAY RRDRDIck-
TORY SERVICES re newly remodelled and
reconstructed Ce .ntenary Methodist church
was ftopened with appropriate rededica-
'oTy services on Sunday last. The elegant
anhience-ro' Jm, which was the sutjact OF
seneral a' .miration for It's beauty and com
Tort, was crowded 10 repletion. The Rev.
Dr. Ec wards, pastor Of the church. having
'a''eu as he stated, TO procure any ministerial
assh .tance for the morning service, conducted
the, exercises. which were opened by the
Whole congregation rising and singing the
long-metre doxology-
"PraIse God from whom all blessings n,w";
after which part Of the 9Th Palm was
repeated, beginning "God be merciful unto
Us and bless u.s." Then followed the open
ing hymn, sung by the whole congregation
~ love thy kingdom, Lord,
The house OF thine abode,n &c.
PRAYER was then offered, which was fol-
lowed by the reading of two appropriate
scriptural lessons-one taken from The 2Stb
chapter of Genesis, the other from the 11th
chapter Of the Hebrews. Then followed the
singing Of the hymn beginning
.sJesus, great shepherd or the sheep
DR.. Edwards announced bis text as taken
from Issisb, 1St chapter. 18th verse: Bring
no more vain o''lat1ons incense Is an aboml
nation unto me-" &c.
The object OF the discourse was to eataO-
lsh the proposition that outward religious
services, however punctuallY Performed as
to time and place, and however solemn and
devout IN eXterpal appearance, are an abomi-
nation in the sight OF God, unless the searf
be In the service and sin be renounced in the
life.
The sermon occupied little less than an
hour in the delivery.
The dcdicatory prsver having been Of
fered, the plstor stated that it was ne
cessary, 10 meet present demands, 10 raise
$1,000 as a dedica;ory Offering. A number
OF liberal responses were made when the
baskets were circulated, and on counting np
the result it was found that about 81, ,4O0 had
been contributed.
AT night the church was again crowded,
there being present representatives from
large number ofthe churches in the city. The
Rev. DR.. Granbery, pastor Of Broad Street
Methodist church; Rev. A. &. Blsdsoe. PAS.
tor of Trinity church, and the Rev. Is, r.
Woodward, pastor of Clay-street cnurcn,
were al present in the c1ancel and pulpit,
their several houses OF worship being closed
that they. with their congregations, might
participate in the evening services at Centt-
nsry. Dispensing with anything 10 the form
Of a regular sermon, The order OF exercises
consisted in singing, prayer. and the delivery
of appropriate addresses. The services were
opened by singing
s.All hail the power Of Jesus name"
PRAYER was ifered by Rev. 3. F. Wood.
ward. Then followed the singing OF the
Chorus
u need thee every hour;
which was heartily joined in By the whole
congregation.
Tbe Rev. DR.. Granbery then delivered an
admirable address suited to the OCCASION !;
after wblch the chorus was sung
"Saviour, Saviour hear my humble cry"
Then followed au e| quent and earnest
address bv Rev. a. c. BledSoe. An appeal
was nude by the pastor for liberal col
lection. which was generously responded
10 by the congregation. carrying up the ~uet
result tor the day 10 about s2,0oo.
Mr.. Cowan, late organSt at Dr. Reed
(Presbvtc.ian) church. and Mr.. Turner, or
srsn,st at the second 3 ipti>t church. assisted
iirs, Fox at the organ morning and nlght.
Miss Maggie Redford sang solo with great
sweetness, both morning and night, whlIe
the ba -k.IS were passing tor The collection.
The whole day was Cnc o. great interest,"
to the Cen ,cnary congregation. The psst"r
returned thar lis tu the public geufraiiy lot
their sympathy and co6feratIou IN the WORK
which had been brought 10 such a >atlsl'c-
| tory CONCLUSION.
The auuience.room, rs lighted up at night,
presented chJrmluS appearance. lDe
chanGcIicr, probably, Is the hncstln Virginia.
All of The gas fixtures are handsome and au-
mirably arranged, and taken ail.iu.ali,
it may be safely stated that the audience
| room, in point Of taste, elegance, ana cou-
fort is unsurpassed by any churcn IN our
city.