National Republican., 1883-10-26
A petition from the New York state conven- :
ton requesting the same action was read and
the whole subject deferred.
An adjournment was taken at o'clock.

An adjournment was taken at O'clock
THE DEDICATION CEREMONIES.
Tho dcdicatory services were announced to
commence at 1880 o'clock p M but beiore
that hour the church was filled from hooT 10
gallery, and tho strains of the organ voiun-
tary fell upon the ears of hundreds vainly
seeking seats From the reporters table, I'M
der the south gallery, and Immediately to the
left of the pulpit stage, the scene presented
was beautiful and impressive. Inc 0ouy oi
the church is n semi mi.crcular amphitheater,
above and around which extends gallery,
aud both were filled to their utmost capacity.
From the ceiling depended a, chandelier.
ulittorng with half hundred gas
Jets, while around the walls were cIus-
tered branching candelbrums, each glowing
in the radiance Of half dozen jets. Flowers
in pots and vases white chrysanthemums,
and crimson roses lent color to each window
aud threw grateful fragrance upon the air.
Circular easements above the gallery floors
held stained glass panes, through which in
day time the light filters in bars OF crimson,
and emerald and purple flow. Fall tropical
plants occupied each angle of tho pulpit
their long glossy green leaves contrasting
vividly and pleasantly with the crimson
CARPET and the pearl.bluo walls. The general
effect was agreeable and beautiful, its sim
plicity increasing, not detracting, from the
impression produced by the purpose of tho
gathering.
touch, hushcd the murmurs Of the assembly,
who listened in perfect silence. Then Nine.
Kaspers pure sweet soprano assembled like q
flute note rich, soft, full of melody; Mrs.
True's bell.lik contralto chimed in perfect
accord and then from the whole choir the
full tide Of Christian song flowed in waves of
triumph on the air. The melody was perfect,
the effect superb.
At the conclusion Of the music Rev. DR..
Sweetzer read the eighth chapter Of Romans
= all E1a lnW nlR RlnN. tlra
divine, with side whiskers, and hair thin
upon the front head. He isa rapid and nerv-
Gus talkcr. with n resonant voice that dwell
ing upon its words as eager to hurl them with
extra force upon tho souls of his hearers.
PRAYER by Rev. DIR. Hanson, of Chicago, fol-
lowed the reading. In u low, deliberate,
musical voice, whose faintcst tones reached
every part of tho church, he addressed the
Throne of Grace in singularly impressive
petition.
The choir then rendered Nearer, My God,
to Thee" and Rev. DR.. \. A. Miner, of Mas
sachusetts, delivered the dedicatory sermon.
This famous divine is tall and strongly built
with a long white beard that adds to the high
intellectual expression of his face. Grown
gray in the warfare of holiness against sin,
like Moses, his eye is not dimmed, and tho
vgor of his intellect, the keenness of his
logic, the clear, distinct tones of his voice
still fresh and effective. His sermon was
delivered without notes. 1t came from a
mind sngularly well armed with the weapons
of theology, from heart evidently throbbing
with the pulses of an all embracing religion.
His theme, THE Uses of the Universalist
Church." was based upon the eighth to the
eleventh verses, inclusive, OF the third chap
ter of Ephesiaps. THE unsearcbable riches
ofChrst" filled the speakers heart and clothed
every idea in tho robes OF tenderness and
love. Tho Christian idea was an evolution,
but an evolution not from below. Tho pur-
poses of God run through all the ages. To
kuit people together until they should
receive aud bear His message was the intent
of God in the Old Testament, and how this
was done the speaker pointed to the Biblical
history Of the jews as to the manner. With
Christ came u fuller knowledge of God, not
SO much God as the master and tho strict
dscipliucr of nations as God tho father and
the friend Whv the Creator had selected the
Jews ls his chosen people was Gods mystery;
the mission of Paul to teach the broader and
the fuller truth of Christ to the Gentles was
equally wonderful. This was the conception
of Gods character which the early fathers OF
the church held. But when the twi-
light Of the dark ages foreshadowed
the somber night. that was to fol.
low civilized humanity, a goomiel
idea OF God prevailed. Finally Armnianism
should be saved. TO unite this with the Cal
whistle doctrine of predestination and elec.
tiou was one of the uses of the Universalist
church. The God whom believers in this
truth worship was the God of the Universal
lists. To reveal this God to the world is what
the Unvcrsalist church is doing
The Univcrsalist church is serving the
world as the expositor of this God and His
holy word. The preacher showed that the
objections to God and Christianity on the
score of the slayings of men as recorded In
the Old, and of the miracles in the New
were the objections of men who either die
not or could not think, and who showed
themselves incapable of reconciing their own
daily actions and beliefs with their professet
ideas on these subjects. The objector t
miracles pratcd Of laws which could not bC
violated. But laws can do nothing of them
s,lvcs. Men have power to obey or to breal
law. Men could transcend a law of nature b.
their voliton. Could not also the infinit
God? Have men read all the possibilities o
God? The assumption that God cannot b
superior to the laws he has created was boil
unphilosophcal and childish-it was absurd
Lastly, the UnivCrsalst church is serving
the world by erecting lalrier against inf
deity. 1t was doing this by enforcing ant
preaching the doctrine that God is love. b.
its efforts here it had materially modified til
Grecds of the other churches.
Following the sermon came tho dedication
prayer by Rev. c. II. Fay, of New York;
hymn, by Rev. Mr.. Fay, sung by the audience
standing; the statement and sentence @
dedication, by Rev. q. j.. Demorest; an ad
dress, by Rev, Caroline Soule, Of Pennsylvania
and the audience were then dismissed wit
the bencdictiop.
Tho programme for to-day will be a.
follows:
MornnG--s:30 o'clock conference meeting
$50 O'Clock business of the convention.
Evening-730 o'clock public services, sci
mon, Rev. Amos Crum, of Iowa.
delegate to tho convention stated to
REPUBLICAN reporter last night that the pre-
posed change in the profession of faith,
substituting the word Save" for restore
had been sore spot for over ten years III
church membership all over the Unite
States desired that this session of the CONVEX
ton should determine the question, and
has lle does not think that the subjec
which was rccommitted to the committe
Will ever be called up again. The church
arc equally divided on tho question. III
negative half fear that the change propose
might result in other changes in the cree
and therefore oppose it strenuously.
ID. p. Holloway Lodge.
A new lodge of Good Templars was inst
tutod at Market hall, corner First and
streets, sast night by Mr.. j, S, Gourlcy d
trict deputy, and the officers of tho graz