Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-14
ST. sTEPHEN's
DEDICAToRY SERVICES AT THE NEW
LUTHERAN CHURCH. -

St. Stephens Lutheran church, corner Ol
Duke and Church streets, a full description
of which recently appeared in the INTELLI.
GENCEH, was yesterday dedicated to the
worship of God, with impressive services,
in presence of very large congregations.
The decoration of the altar and chancel
with fresh flowers, ivy and other trailing
plants, was very profuse. The altar was
covered with a very fine cloth of royal pur-
pie, with gold bullion fringe and heavy
gold tassels. In front of it was a golden
sheaf of wheat, illustrative of the bread of
life, and upon it were a number of vases
filled with fresh and fragrant flowers Of
choicest variety aid skillfully blended
colors. Inside the chancel rail were sew.
cral large vases upon pedestals, filled with
blooming flowers and trailing vines. In
front of the chancel rail were placed row
of decorated flower pots, containing lilies,
geraniums, bigonias and many other su-
perb plants in bloom, and on stands placed
upon the chancel rail were several large
and elegant bouquets.
The DedicatOry Services.
Long before the time announced for the
commencement of the dedicatory services
QO:30 a. m.) tho church was filled to its
utmost capacity. Rev. F. w. Conrad,
ID. d., of Philadelphia, editor of the
Lutheran Observer, and Rev. ]. H. Menges,
of Grace Lutheran church, Philadelphia,
occupied seats in the pulpit along with
the pastor, Rev. Emil Meister.
The service was opened by the choir
under the leadership of Mr.. Adam Oblen-
der. singing with great spirit the beauti-
full anthem "When the Lord shall build up
Zion," with organ accompaniment by Mr..
Christian Offender. The dedicatOry psalm
was read by the pastor after which the
congregation sang tho German hymn
"Nun danket ale Gott."
Rev. Meister then read in German from
the liturgy, the established form prescrib-
the worship Of God, after which another
hymn was sung by the congregation.
Rev. J. II. Mengcs, of Grace Lutheran
church, Philadelphia, preached the dedica-
tory sermon, taking for his text the list and
I'd verses of the "a Psalm How amiable are
thy tabcrnacles, o Lord of hosts My
soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the
courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh
crieth out for the living faith"
The reverend gentleman spoke in Ger
man. After congratulating the cOngrega-
ton ON the completion of their beautiful
house of worship, to accomplish which
they had worked for some years past SO
faithfully and zealously, the preacher said
that it was generally believed that David
wrote the Psalm from which the text was
taken, while he was absent from the sane
tuary, and while longing to return to it.
From a contemplation of the psalm the
question arises, where has God His dwelling
place !! And the answer is, in the past and
in the future cternitics in all times
and in all things in the lightning
flashes, in the mighty storms and in the
mighty billows of tho deep in the hum
ble flowers of the field and in the spark
ing dew drops on tho meadow grass. But
especially has God His dwelling place in
the sanctuary erected by His worshipcrs,
and here His presence is manifested as
nowhere else /; here He dwells as the
Father Of His people, rs revealed through
His work here He manifests Himself
through the operations of His spirit here
lie dwells in the Holy Sacrament, and
here He listens to and answers the prayers
of His people, "How amiablc are Thy
tabernaclcs, o Lord of hosts y Not only
do We here enjoy the presence of God, but
the presence of Gods wOrshipcrs. Here
Christians assemble for prayer and praise
for mutual encouragement and mutual
sympathy for imparting and receiving
religious instruction and for building up
and sustaining each others hope and faith.
The sanctuary is the Christians home on
earth, because it is the Fathers temple,
and tho place where the Christian finds
especial comfort. In conclusion, the rev.
erend preacher pictured in vivid colors the
dreadful and perilous condition of the soul
who takes no delight and no interest in
the coming of Christ's kingdom.
AT the conclusion OF the dedicatOry ser
mon, Rev. DIR. Conrad offered prayer and
spoke at some length in behalf Of liberal
collection to assist in liquidating the debt
yet remaining on tic church. At the close
fhis effective remarks basket collection
was lifted, which proved to be unexpcct-
edly liberal. When the collection was
being taken up the choir sang the anthem
:: The Lord is in His Holy Temple A
closing hymn was sung by the cOngrega-
ton and the morning services closed with
Il bcnediction.
Afternoon Service.
AT 5 o'clock the church was again
crowded. Rev. DIR. Conrad preached in
English from Isaiah, I'd chapter, Sd verse.
His discnOurse was eloquent, impressive
and instructive. lie was followed by the
who based his discourse on the text found
Oh the eth chapter of Matthew, 4th verse,
''Lord, it is good for us to be here" Rev.
Dr.. Dr.Greenwald, of Trinity Lutheran church,
made brief address and dismissed the
congregation. During the services an
ether largo collection was lifted during
which the choir sang fine selection.
Evening Service.
In the evening the house was packed to
it's utmost capacity. After an anthem had
been sung by the choir, prayer was Offered
by Rev. j. S. Stahr. of Franklin and
Marshall college. This was followed by
congregational singing after which Rev.
Sylvanus Stall, of St. Johns, preached an
able sermon in English and was followed
by Rev. J. II. Dubbs, d. D. of Franklin
and Marshall college, who spoke eloquent
ly in German. During the evening service
there was another liberal collection lifted
and some fine choral and congregational
singing.
Further Services
This evening there will be chllaren's
festival and a presentation of Bible. A
sermon will be preached in German by the
Rev. J. Peters. of Mannheim, and English
speaking by some other clergymen.
Tomorrow evening there will he preach
ing by Rev. NJ. Fernslor, of Clay and
others.
On Wednesday evening the series of
dedicatory meetings will close the sermon
Oh the occasion will be preached by Rev.
S. Pister, of Baltimore.
.r.r v.uv,.