The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-23
For the Democratic .idrocaie.
A Church Reopened.


A very interesting meeting WAS held by the
United Brethren, in the Union church, near
Snydersburg, commencing on Saturday eve
ming and continuing over Sabbath, June 10th
and 18th The gospel loving people of that
| place had just repaired the church inside by
taking out an unsightly old pulpit and putting
in a neat new one. They also put in, where
there had been none before, an entirely new
altar railing, making u very neat altar place.
| The windows, doors and pews which never
had had any paint on them, although being
III use there for more than twenty years. were
all painted. Two new chandeliers with lamps
were put in the place Of the old ones. A
very handsome carpet covered the inside OF
the altar. The walls and ceiling were made
TO look like new with lime New hitchiug
posts and rails were put in where the old ones
werej the church on the outside and the fence
around the graveyard were made to look as
white with lime as the drifting snow. All
this certainly reflects great credit on the peo.
pie OF that community, and was a very pleas,
ant surprise to those who came there To- wor.
ship who knew nothing of the improvements.
| The services were conducted by the Rev. j
p. Anthony, editor Of the Highuay, Shire.
maustown, Pa, and Rev. J. H. Smoke, Pas
tor of the Manchester charge. A reopening
service was held on Saturday evening, con.
sistng Of sermon by Rev j. =. Anthony;
text Psa. 50-2. The theme WAS the Perfec.
ton of Beauty found in the Worship Of God
and IN the WOrshipper The house was near.
" hlled with an intelligent audience, who
listened very attentiyely. At the close Of the
sermon, the speaker read parts Of the seventh
chapter Of LIST Kings He then requested the
congregation to stand on their feet aud read
p rasaflNT tsa i
Scripture us he would repeat. This was done
in very impre ssiyc way. The sneaker then
formally named what was made new in Gods
House, aud gave them to God in very an.
prOprlate dedicatory prayer. On Sabbath
morning at an early hour the people from all
parts of the surrounding country came dock.
Ing IN and filled the house to its utmost ca.
paclty, and the songs of praise and earnest
prayers tloated upward toward God, from the
hearts and the lips OF the worshippers, per.
iuned with the sweet incense OF loving faith,
aud each waiting heart was made to feel the
gracious presence of that God 10 whom the
house was newly given. Following this was
another sermon by the visiting mdister. text
Rom. 3, g. theme "Christ's Death or Les.
sons at the Cross. The congregation was
frequently bathed in tears while listening to
the earnest words of this man of God
The-Communion was then administered TO
about seventy.iive persons, old and young. of
different denominations. The people then
with glad hearts returned home for some rest.
and refreshments, and at half.past two o clock
the house was again filed with children and
parents and young men and women, and some
interesting things were said to the children
by the ministers. All seemed to be delight.
ed, and II Is to be hoped, too, that they were
much profted. With songs or praise vet lin.
gering on their lips the congregation disper.
scd to gather again in the evening, when the
house was packed fall, to hear words from
the same man Of God, who again stirred the
audience with the word of truth. 4 cullcc.
ton for the support of the Gospel, was given,
amounting to Sll, and the necessary arrange.
ments were made for the expenses incurred
in repairing the house. On the whole. this
was an interesting and profitable meeting /;
long will it be remembered by the writer.
May Gods work continue to revive there and
elsewhere.