Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-10-05
ISLAND HOME BAPTIST CHURCH.
Dedication of this Handsome House of
worship, by DIR. Strickland.

Dedication of this Handsome House of
Worship, by DIR. Strickland.
The dedication last Sunday of that new
cpd beautiful church edifce, the Island
Home Baptist Church, notice of which
was crowded out of our last issue, wes an
event of extraordinary moment and impor
tanee in that thriving and growing COM
mum ty. The Almighty Ruler of the uni
verse, from his throne above, smiled upon
the day as well as the deed, and, al
though it was rather too warm for
comfort III the open sunshine, it was de-
hghJfully beautiful and clear day, and all
nature was caught up with the prevailing
smile. AS a consequence there was assem-
bled an immense congregation of people to
witness and participate in the interesting
services. Not only was there a general
turnout of the entire neighborhood sur
rounding the Island Home, and
in the South American " coun-
try, but Kno2 vile sent over a
v-ry full delegation Tue livery stables
were put to the test, many private vehicles
were brought into requisition, scores went
over on foot, and the whole hill was alive
with people who had turned out to witness
the dedication of this new house to the
worship of God.
The seating capacity of the church was
augmented by the addition of chairs along
each aisle, and into the room were
assembled all that could be possibly
accommodated, perhaps between 400 and
500 persons. Most of these were ladies'.
the gentlemen gaIlantIy giving way to them.
Seats were arranged at the side door, out
side, for the accommodation of some of
those unable to gain admittance, and others
were gathered throughout the grove, so
that there were perhaps more people outside
than in.
Tie excellent choir of the First Baptist
Church, with the addition of some others
of Knoxville's talented vocalists, opened
the exercises with music, with Mr.. Thos.
Richards presiding with much grace and
proficiency at the elegant new pipe organ
with which the church is provided.
The pastor of the church, Rev. G. w.
Brewer, then introduced Rev. c. H. Strick-
land, pastor of the First Baptist Church, rs
the officiating minister of the occa-
sion. DIR. Strickland took for his text
Genesis, 28th chapter, 18th and 18th verses.
tleman delivered a sermon of great power
and effect, highly and admirably appropri-
ate to the occasion, couche in language of
the very best selection, and delivered with
true, genuine and soul-stiring elo-
quence which held his audience
in such wrapt and uninterrupted
that the full hour consumed
in the delivery seemed scarcely half that
time. DIR. Strickland is one of our ablest
and most eloquent divines, and he did him
self all honor on this occasion The sub
ject of his sermon, and the main thought
was founded upon the act of the dedication
to God of the first place of worship known
to sacred history, as recorded in the text
and context.
AT the close of the sermon, after music
and an eloquent prayer by Rev. P. B. Nc
Carroll, two of the former beloved pastors
of the church, Rev G. l.. Bowling and Rev.
P. B. McCarroll, were called upon and
added some appropriate remarks, and a
liberal collection was taken up to meet a
small balance remaining against the new
church. DIR. Strickland and the pastor,
Rev. G. w Brewer, added some remarks
of thanks to the friends who rendered val
liable assistance, DIR. Strickland offered up
a solemn dedicatory prayer, the choir sang
the doxology, and the audience was dis
missed with the benediction.
PARTIAL HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION.
1t was under the pastorate of Rev. G. L.
Bowling some two or three years ago, when
the congregation were worshipin in a
humble and diminutive church house, that
the idea was conceived of enlarging their
capacity for worship The ground where
the old house stood was donated by Hon.
Perez Dickinson, the generous and philan-
thropic owner of that beautiful garden spot,
"Island Home. The site is a most
admirable one, lying on the line of the main
road, but little over two miles from Knox
vile in the border of the ''Island Home
farm, and just south of the farm house and
1t is a delightfully."- shaded
grove, constituted in mound shape, the
house occupying the highest point, over
looking the entire surroundings 1t was
little over year ago that the commence
ment was made on the erection
of the building, and now that it
is completed, it is the object of universal
praise 1t is neat, llain and unassuming
structure, yet constructed of the best mate
rial, on the most modern and improved
plan of church architecture, weatherboarded
and painted white outside, with becoming
cupola and belfry. The audience room is
80 by SO feet in the clear, of comfortable
and convenient size and arrangement, and
viii seat about 300 persons. The walls and
ceiling are pure white, with sky
blue firmament shaped back ground to