Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-07-08
Church Dedication.

A friend furnishes us the following ac,
count of the dedication services at San
Juan on June 25th: The dedicatory
services OF the new Presbyterian Church
on San Juan Island, were held on Sunday
last, the day being all that could be de-
sired: the beautiful and model edifice
with its pretty spire pointing heavenward,
seemed aglow with earth's and heavens
sunshine, the spacious audience room
within being filed to overlooking long
before the services commenced. The
pealing forth of the rich, full tones of the
fine church bell, and the glad, Intelligent
and expectant faces of the vast congrega-
ton, conveyed the pleasing truth to all
that JOY and gladness reigned supreme.
| An efficient choir was present from Port
| Townsend, rendering several appropriate
anthems and other choice selections. Rev.
A. L. Lindsey, of Portland, preached the
| dedicatory sermon, which proved, as
| usual, rich and rare production, sound,
logical and deeply impressive, very mas
| terpiece of burning eloquence, and was
| listened to with profound attention by
| the audience. Rev. John Reid, of the
Presbyterian Church at Port Townsend,
| offered the dedicatory prayer, after which
| a very interesting narrative of the history
of the church, with statement of the
receipts and disbursements, was submit
ted. 1t being found that extra funds
were needed, that the church building
might be dedicated tree from debt, lib
eral collection was at once taken up; but
/ Hnd hot off cfi
cial and voluntary contributions were
made, headed by NJ. r. Lundblad and
James McCurdy,. and after the lapse OF
few minutes it was announced that every
vestige of debt had been cleared of, and
that the building could now be dedica ted
free from financial incumbrance. Then
followed amid much rejoicing the solemn
act of dedication, which was conducted
in very impressive manner by Rev. DR..
Lindsey, assisted by the pastor, Rev. I.
J. Weekes. This being completed, the
audience was dismissed by all standing
and singing together that grand old dox-
ology, Praise God from whom all bless
ings flow" The picturesque site upon
which stands the beautiful church struc-
ture was generously donated by M. r.
| Lundblad, who also made a very liberal
donation of cash, with another liberal
contribution at the dedication. The
building, in its commanding location, in
the economy and taste shown in its con-
struction and equipments, and, best of all,
in its entire freedom from the leprosy OF
debt, is noble memorial alike to the
glory of God and to the devoted zeal of
its founder. Truly this sacred spot will
be an abiding source OF JOY and gladness,
CT blessings to the people and to strang>
ers whose admiring gaze rests on this
house of the Lord. Blessed, indeed, and
highly favored is that people, that com,
munity, where the sound of the church
bell is to be heard, where the spire points
ever to tile Fathers mansions above,
where many dear ones dwell; the dear
sacred edifice where the word is preached
and the songs of Zion sung; where gather
the friends of Christ around the memo
rial supper and the baptismal font where
the bridegroom. with his bride, crowned
with orange blossoms, is found, and
where, too, is brought the dust of the
sainted dead, garlanded with cypress,
tarrying little on the journey to its rest,
that the mourners might be cheered by
the consultations of the gospel. Sacred
edifice! may the blessings of God rest
| upon the community where it is located,
upon those whose toilful hands reared
the house, upon the devoted psstor and
people, and upon all who resort thither