The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-21
THE DEDICATION.
BISHOP SIMPSON AT NORTH EAST
Interesting Services at the New M F.
Church-Names Of the Contribu.
tors to the New Edifice.

Church-Names Of the Contribu.
tors to the New Edihce.
The dedicntnry services at the new NJ. Z.
( Church at North East took place on SIM
day last. This is the third time this build
ing has been remnd-cd and re,letlicatel.
The first church was II small frame s;ruc-
I turr, and was dedicated by Bishop A>bury.
I in 1895, RevS. Isaac Robinson and James
| Moore being pastors OF the then circuit and
| Rev. II. Whatcoar, Presiding Elder. The
| trustees AZ this time We're William Howell,
| John George, David Sweeney, Jacob Jones,
| John Ford, Robert Hart. aud Samuel AL
! bridge. This building proved adequate to
! the demands nf the congregation until some
! time in 1886 when il was decided that, in
| view of the growth of the Sncietv, more
space and building more in keeping with
the times was necessary, and Il movement
was made towards the erection of Il new
house of worship. This movement was suc-
! ressful, and the result was the brick build
| ing recently improved and rebuilt, which
was erected some two hundred yards from
the original structure. The dedication, which
was conducted by Bishop Waugh, took place
in 1887. johnson Shippers, John {. Cazier,
John Ford, John McCracken. r. S Thomas,
VIM. Beatty, Thomas M,tiit We're then The
trustees, and Edward Kennard, pastor, with
David Daley, Presiding Elder.
Early III the year 1891 determination
| was reached TO enlarge and improve the
church. and rhe PASTOR Rev. Mr., Sheppard,
ably seconded by the members of the church,
went to work in earnest and the beautiful
elitice, just dedicated Gully described in
the issue of the Wing of January eth and
18th last), was the result.
THE ISFLI-N OF VISITORS.
AS was experted, the service drew a
large crowd. From early morning until the
time for the beginning of the service a con-
slant string of carriages poured into town;
also many persons came on foot. Half an
hour before the service began the large an1i
ence room of the new bulding was crowded
SO that many We're compelled to take seats
in the ;isleS and others TO stand. The CEN
trail figure, upon whom all eyes We're fixed.
the venerable Bishop, seated upon the
pulpit platform. with Rev. Mr.. Neill on his
left and the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Sheppard, on
his right. Age is beginning to tell upon his
tall form, but his eye is AS bright and |
piercing as ever, and he has lost nothing of
his power as n preacher during the past ten |
years since the writer hereof last saw him. |
In the chancel sat the Rev Alfred Scott, |
Rev. Mr.. Kemp, and Rev. W. S. l. Muir |
ray, former pastors of the church, and Rev. |
r. Snowdpn Thomas, a mem Der of he Phila-
delphia Conference, now resident near the |
town. The audience was shown to seats by !
Messrs. K. l.. Thomas, Jr.. G. +. Beatty,
John Devinney, and j. NJ. Thomas, who
acted as ushers, and the majority were
comfortably provided for, notwithstanding
the crowd.
Before the service began, Mr.. r. X. Long
land, of Philadelphia, who presided at the
organ, rendered an overture, proving him
self Il master IF the instrument. The SER
vice was then opened by Rev. Mr.. Shep-
prrd reading a selection from Scripture,
followed by hymn No. s62, " Enter thy
temple, glorious King" etc, by the choir,
lead by r. L. Thomas, Esq, AMI PRAYER by
R-v. Mr.. N-ill. Another selection of Scrip
tire was then read by Rev. Mr.. Kemp, and
hymn No. 7s0 Chow sweet, how beautiful
the sight" etc, was sweetly sung by the
choir, made mp of the best musical mate
rial in the town.
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS
ID; \ "a
profound quiet and most earnest attention
upon the part nfshiS audience announced
his text, which was from Romans 1:l6:-
For | am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ; for it is the power of God unto sal
walton to every one that believeth." Sc. He
first stated the circumstances under which
ST. Paul wrote these words, viz: He had
promised a number of times to visit the
Roman capital and preach the gospel. but
from various causes he WAS prevented till
the people began to think that he (Paul)
was afraid or ashamed to- 20 to Rome for
that purpose Rome was at this time the
center of the civilization ami science of the
world, and it was thought that Paul feared
10 present himself before so much refine
ment and talent and beauty and fashion.
In the words of the text he diSclaims this
idea and tells them chat he will surely come.
He then proceeded to give reasons why We
should not be ashamed of the gospel and To
refer to its power as compared with mate
rial power. Paul b"asted Of the power OF
God. He referred to material power rs ex-
hibited by the Roman nation, whose arm,
left nothing but misery in its track. They
overran surrounding countries and devast-
ated them. Wherever the gospel was sent
peace and joy followed. II WIS a power
that brought comfort and ease, took away
the fear of death and promised salvation
beyond this life. Rome boosted of the ex-
tent of its power True, it had swept over
a great portion of country, but it could moi
cover all. The gospel, on the other hand,
takes in all, Jew and Greek and Roman, all
the people of the earth. The speaker then
analysed the elements of shame Of the Cos
pei, and gave as its strongest component,
unbelief Belief, he said, was the natural
state, while unbelief was acquired, In sup
port OF this, he instanced the implicit trust
and confidence of childhood in all SORTS OF
improbable stories, Santa Claus, etc, and
said that the first cloud of unbelief begins
70 or-rshadow the mind when child find
itself deceived ami that all these things ar,
untrue, and it thus gradually becomes scep-
teal. He here warned parents against the
practice Of filling child's mind full of all
sorts of impossible stuff which will onl,
result in rngendering doubt of absolute
truths. "If the gospel is ii power for good,
the question arises, In what does this power
reside or consist! The first element ri
power is Thought of the gospel and tn,
power i'll these Thoughts Thought is an
INVISIBLE, INTANGIBLE POWER.
What thoughts are in the minds of my
hearers this morning? Thoughts of beauty.
of good, of b-nevolrnce, ami perfap
thoughts of evil How is there power il
thought? In nature we see power in TN
wind, the storm, in steam, etc. I have
power in my arm. Thought wi-lds tina,
power. Thinking makes me move thai
arm. When we go into a gallery of fine
paintings. what do we admire? The size
The color, OF the pictures? No, it is til.
thought of the artist thrown upon the can
vas thar gives it power. We 90 into IA bus,