Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-11

assembled to witness the interesting exer- cises.
 The dedicatory exercises opened with an organ prelude, which was very finely rend- cred. Then followed the long metre doxolo- gy Praise God from whom all blessings fow," which was sung by the choir and con- gregation with much spirit. Then followed Q fervent invocation by Rev. MT. Samson, pastor of the church. The quartette choir then rendered very finely selection entitled "Sweet Holy Calm" Rev. Mir. Samson then read selection from Psalms, com mencing ''How amiable are thy tabernacles o Lord of hosts" This was followed with the hymn from the Calvary selection, com mencing
 70 Thou, whose own vast temple stands,
 Built over earth and sea,
 Accept the walls that human hands
 Have raised to worship Thee"
 Then followed scripture readings by the pastor from 1st Kings, Sth chapter and be- ginning with the 22d verse. On the conclu- sion of the lesson the choir rendered s'Te Deum Laudamus," by Buck, in 8 very satis- factory manner.
 After this the rite of baptism by immersion was administered to two persons.
 The sermon of Rev. A. H. Strong, D. D., president of the Rochester (N. Y ) Theolog- ical seminary followed. The preacher se- lected as the basis of his remarks the words found in St. Matthew's gospel, xii. chapter xiii. verse: ''What think ye of Christ Whose son is he?" The eloquent divine in his opening remarks said: This question was propounded over eighteen centuries ago and has been living question since. The character of Christ is the standard of all excellence, even by enemies of the gospel. l am glad that the scriptures enable to swer this question aright to-day. Observe 1 then that Jesus Christ is the son of man, or Christ is man. When the New Testament tells us that he is the son of David, and we see him suffering on the cross, we cannot but believe that he is man. He had human 1 mind. He suffered, and it would seem that not until his twelfth year, when he reasoned with the doctors in the temple, did he realize that he was the son of God. In his infancy he foretold the tragedy of Calvary. Jesus walked by faith, not by sight. His was a growing knowledge, and all these tend \ to show that he was one of us, verltable man. I don't know that Jesus was surpris- ingly beautiful in his physical form. I don't l know whether he was large or small we l don't know, as the scri ptures are silent on | this point. Perhaps he was between the 1 two. He may have seemed to be the man of ! sorrows, yet to little children, when he took 1 them to his arms he appeared beautiful. l Who ever thinks of Christ man? He breaks down the barriers of the nations and makes all nations bow All the excellencies of both the sexes were in him, and gentle ness and virtue were his. All the noble | qualities found in Christ. The excel 1 lencies that we find in John, in Paul, Luther and all great reformers are only slight reflections of the character of Christ He possesses all the objects of per feotion and love, and so worship him as we | may and we cannot worship him too much. Hhrict fC f1,oi IIa ie,& &1,o 1fo giving man. He is the fountain head and
 new beginning of humanity. We believe that he who created human nature is able to
 re-create it. New science tells us that there
 IS more than one way of propagating the
 same species. In Christ we have life in the
 beginning of 8 race. He shall be the central
 source of 6 new spiritual race. Jesus Christ
 is the life giving man who raises up new 1 race.
 When asked who is Jesus Christ we must not simply say he is the son of man, but
 reverently say he is also the son of God. John saw the evidence of Gods deity, and
 so with Thomas and Peter. They saw his glory. Everybody who recognizes Christ I also recognizes that through hin,
 they have reconciliation through God the Father. The Christian doctrine of the
 trinity is nothing but a simple example of
 Christian experience. When it was shown that Christ left the world to save mankind it
 made him the center of human history.
 Around him all persons and events revolve.
 Nations rise in power more and more as they accept Christ, and history shows that na-
 tions who reject him fall. He was tempted
 on all points are, yet without sin. Iu
 ages when nations have lost fight of the hu
 manity of Christ, there Christianity has de-
 clined. We need Christ's deity as well as his l humanity. God must suffer if man is to gc 1 free, and he never could have suffered
 unless he had joined his humanity with mine 1 In Christs suffering judgment satis fled. Because he is God he can bring me
 to the very holy of hoiies. He make al
 atonement at his pleasure and make tht
 union complete. We need the humanity anc
 divinity of Christ firmly united. In this
 find the pledge of my gloriieation. We shal
 reign with him in heaven. He still has tn,
 pierced hands, the wound in his side for us Our citizenship is i'll heaven, and we look fol l. the coming of our Lord when our bodie ) shall be changed. We need to recognize hi divinity and his humanity, and recognize i now. No man knows what he is until h prostrates himself before this Saviour. Cal
 me thy servant, Lord what can reach thu
 dignity of thy true servant? To you whom 3 speak I beg of you to recognize Christ, ant I recognize him to-day. You may think yo1 , do not need him now, but the time will com , when you will feel his need. In life, il
 death, on earth, heaven, Christ Is my ant
 your only hope.
 : On the conclusion of President Strong discourse Mrs. Blinn sang in very etfectiv
 manner a selection entitled "Just as I am.
 Then followed the prayer of dedication b.
 Rev. Mir. Samson, the pastor. At the offer 9 tory the choir sang ''I will be glad" ? The interesting exercises closed with t hymn sung by the choir and congregation = commencing as follows:
 = Oh, bo1 Thine ear, E!erna, One!
 On Thee our hears adoring calls To Thee the followers of Thy Son . Have raised and devote tAese walls.
 The exercises closed with the benedictio
 by the pastor.
 . EVENING SERVICES.
 The evening services opened with an o1 t gan prelude followed with hymn by tn 0 choir entitled ''Sun of My Soul" After tn 0 opening exercises in accordance with the pub a lished programme Rev. H. M. Sanders of tn n Central Baptist church, of New York city ) delivered an able and eloquent dis - course. At the offertory the choi y sang 70, Rest in the Lord, :" from ''Eliiah. | The exercises closed with hymn sung b
 the choir and congregation and the benedie
 tion
 This church, rebuilt and freed from debt = is now prepared to continue it's career 0 l. usefulness in the community.
 7 Officers Elected.
 t Officers of the St. Joseph's society electe . for the ensuing year are: President, Joh @ Hopkins vice president William Sullivan 7 recording secretary, Thomas Daly tinancif a secretary, William Donnelly correspondin V secretary, aohn OBrien treasurer, Rev z Father McGiyney marshal, Frank Carlin