Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-12-03
conservation OF Trinity church.

Conservation Of Trinity Church.
Our Episcopal friends have at
last attained the reward of many
years labor IN the conservation of
the noble editice in which they wor-
ship. 1t is not for us now to emu
merate the obstacles and disap-
pointments which have thrown
them back from time to time IN
dependency and Encouragement,
but which have always been met
with renewed efforts and further
sacrifices. Suffice it to say that last
spring they had their church COM
plete in all its appointments and out
of debt, apd the conservation would
hove taken place even then, but for
the absence of Bishop Quintard
on visit to Europe.
On Thursday morning the long
delayed ceremony took place in the
presence of an immense congrega-
ton in which all Christian denoIni-
nations were represented.
The services commenced with the
entrance OF the Bishop and clergy
followed by the vestry and church
wardens in procession, reciting re-
sponsively the twenty-fourth psalm.
When the chancel had been reached
and the clergy seated, the Hon.
Judge Scales advanced to the steps
of the altar and read the deed of
presentation, which he then handed
to the bishop, and then the Rector,
the Rev. p. A. Fits, read the act of
acceptance on the part of the bishop
and the church at large. The con-
secratiun service of the church was
then read by the bishop, the whole
congregation standing. The regu-
lar morning service was then per-
formed with the appropriate les
sions, collects &c interspersed with
sublime strains of sacred music.
We must pause here to accord
our hearty commentator to the
choir and organist. 1t is certain
that as long as we have resided in
GAINESVILLE the choir of Tripity
church has never reached the prof.
cheney which it now manifests. We
have had individual singers Of
splendid ability but there has never
been as large a number of trained
singers capable of giving due ef
feet to the choral works of the great
masters as now, the principal pieces
executed were the Festival Ie Deuns
of Dudley Buck the Jit6iLGte in A fiat
byS. N. Penfield, and as an offertory
Handlers sublime Hallelujah chorus,
these were delivered with both ex-
preston and precision by choir
consisting of seven ladies and six
gentlemen in style which would
have done credit to the best choirs
of our largest cities. All this is
due to the cOnsummate musical |
science, tact and infallible industry
of Prof. Emery whose value as a
director of musical tatse in this /
city cannot be over estimated.
Thus far the service was read by
the Rev. w. G. Gray, assisted by
the Rev. @. M. Gray and w. Ora
ham.
The sermon was then preached by |
the Right Rev. Richard Hooker
Wilmer, Bishop of Alabama, it was
at once practical, thoughtful and
eloquent, its theme may be under
stood to be an answer to the ques-
ton, what are we here for, and
what do we want church for
The answer was for the advance
ment of Christian faith and practice.
Here the preacher protested against
any statements of faith and practice
which go beyond the original stan
dards which are the apostles
creed and the ten commandments
recognizing the fact that the church
has from time to time found it
necessary to enter its protest against
various forms of error in various
symbols of belief, many, among
which may be mentioned the thir-
ty-nine articles as held by this
branch of the church Catholic he
protested against requiring as q con-
olitiOn of membership, the belief of
any metaphysical subtleties or alb
struse doctrines or of anything but
the original declaration once for all
viz: the apostles creed.
In the same way he protested
against demanding as conditions of
any standard of prac-
tice beyond the universally recog-
nized principles of morality com
prised in the M osaic decalOgue. 1t
was, indeed, the duty of the minis
tiers to instruct and warn their peo-
pie of evil tendencies in practices,
and amusements limo
cent in themselves, but abstinence
from any of them, where actual i'm
does not attend their use, I
can never be demanded as a condi- (
ton of being received into Christ's
fold. Christ established his church
once for all and, in doing SO, estab-
lished the conditions of joining it,
and to these nothing can be added !
incurring the guilt of
schism. ]
At the evening service the SER {
mon was preached by the Rev. w.
c. Gray and the choir again distin-
guished itself by splendid per-
Torrance of the Gloria az EcceLSiS,
from MOzarts 18th Mass.
Friday evening confirmation was {
by the Right Rev. c.
L. Quintard d. D., Bishop of the ]
diocese, after our paper went to j
press.
". W. G. a.
The members of the Association
will hold their next regular meet