River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-02-07
Dedisation Of the New Congregational
Church.

/
Dedication Of the New Congregational
| Church.
Last Sunday the new church, the
erection of which has been watched
with much interest by our citizens,
was dedicated with appropriate cere-
monies. The Methodist Society in
friendly courtesy to their sister church
held no meeting in the morning, thus
enabling their people to attend the
services at the new church.
The friendly interest felt in the fin
al completion of the building received
an emphatic evidence in the large con-
course who were present, the number
reaching seven hundred, and being
the largest congregation that has ev-
er gathered for religious exercises in
this village. The building, although
crowded, was adequate at least to
Shelter the large gathering, and its
acoustic qualities were proved by the
fact that all could hear the preaching
and singing.
The pastor having failed to procure
speaker from abroad whom he had
invited, it was determined that no
special efforts should be made on this
occasion, but home dedication, de.
| irving its interests rather from associ-
atoms here, than attractions from
abroad. The sermon in pursuance of
this plan was read by the pastor him.
self, while In the evening, addresses
were given by Rev. Mr.. Gill and Rev.
Mr.. Blakeslee, each of whom had in
former times occupied the pulpit in
the old church.
/ The music was under the direction
| of Prof. Pratt, whose well known abil-
| ity in training choir and selecting
music for such occasions, did not de-
sert him. The clear voices of the
singers filled the house with harmony
as the grand old anthems were sung,
while in the hymns. the softer music
seemed to float away in the distance
with most pleasing effects.
The opening services by the pastor
were strikingly appropriate. at the
close of the opening anthem, ending
with the words, Lift up your heads,
O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of
glory shall come in" the preacher
with great earnestness and fervency
uttered the following prayer:
20 King of glory, enter now these
gates which we open wide to thee.
Come thou within these doors which
to thee are lifted up, and fill this house
with thy glory. Amen"
He then read from the 9th chapter
of I'd Chronicles the following verses,
as given in fact at the dedication OF
Solomon's Temple.
But win God i'll very deed dwell with men on
the earth? Behold heaven and the heaven of
heavens cannot contain thee how much less
this house which have builded
Have respect therefore, to the prayer of thy
servant, and to his duplication, 0 Lord my God,
to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which
! That thine eyes may be open upon this house
/ day and night, upon the place whereof thou
| hast said that thou wouldst put thy name there;
! to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant
| prayeth toward this place.
| Now therefore arise, Lord God, inta thy rest
1 ing place, thou, and the ark of thy strength:
let thy priests. 0 Lord God, be clothed with sal
walton, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
Then followed solo and quartette,
'sPeace be within thy walls and pros
/ Il IN
Rev. Mr.. Gill then came forward
and offered the prayer of dedication,
after which the choir sung dedica-
tory ode especially adapted for this
occasion by Prof. Pratt.
Rev. Mr.. Rogers, the pastor, then
arose and gave as his text, Except
the Lord build the house, they labor
In vain that build it. Psalms l27, /.
We regret that our space prevents our
giving more than brief abstract of
this discourse.
By these words our eyes are turned to-
ward Jerusalem, its temple, and the peo
pie who resort thither to worship God
in his glorious Sanctuary" This text
forms a part of one of those beautiful
"Psalms of Degrees" which these enthu-
siastic pilgrims sang with mighty volume
| as they drew near to Jerusalem, the City
of their King and of their God.
| The temple was the abiding place of
Jehovah, and they felt, that in drawing
near to Jerusalem that they were draw
ing near to God As they saw her walls
built, her gates established, their house
Of God preserved. it was an evidence 10
them that He who gave them all they
had and made them what tEey were.
| that He was still with them; the Author
of their blessings, the pledge of their flu
| ture years; and they sang; "As the noun
tains are round about Jerusalem, SO the
Lord is round about His people from
henceforth; even forever"
How fitting It is for us to take UP their
| song OF praise, as we enter into our tenn
| pie which we hope to make habitation
| for our God. Like them we have looked
| forward to this time with hope and glad
ness. Holy joy has filled cur hearts as
we have planned, and worked snd pray
ed, SO that to-day we sing with them
II was glad when they said unto me- r.,
| us b into the house of the Lord ~ 81
| feet shall stand within thv Bate. n r. =" r
salem, They shan. prosper that re t teaa
/ within thy palaces 'f'siisy
We are thankful to-day for the
reasons that the Israelites Were same
came III sight of their BE- os az,
They looked upon this o. .,oyad 80 90 49,
the glory Of the ter ,tv and hahoI I1;
that their God. = ,nle II 1 TIA 49,
had not for ,e cod If Their fa+ i,..si
ueaevAu .sken them, but was still con-
slAor ing to bless them with his pres
It told them that so long as he
sas with them, and worshiped Ia the
beauty of holiness" that they should
lack no good thing. Then again they
rejoiced for all of the sacred memories
which came to them as they stood within
the temple walls and knew that the Ark
OF the Covenant, which had witnessed
/ their whole history as people, was fill
| ing the Holy of HOLES.
As We come here to-day, we feel that
God is with us, that He is permitting us
a place In this community as Christian
Church. We have no future 10 fear il
God be with u.s. We bear the sacred
memories Of the past from the old into
new, and connect Our former trials and
trlumphe, our dear associations and pleas
ant friendships with this new building,
which from henceforth shall be to us ali
thatthe old was, with all Of the prom ang
future which le before Us.