The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
DEDICATION PRAYER.
Ry Rev. J. Eowrie Wilson, ID. D.. Pas.
tor of the Congregation.

tor of the Congregation.
Almighty and everlasting God. Father, Son
all God blessed forever! Thou art the Grea,
and Terrible God, the King Eternal, Immor
tai and Invisible-glorious In holiness, fear:
full in praises, doing wonders! CLOUDS and
and Judgment the habltation Of Thy throne
In Thine awful presence stand the cherubiIn
with yelled faces and feet and bodies, while
they cease not to cry, Holy, holy, holy, is the
Lord God Almighty, which Is, and which was
and which is to come, the whole earth is full
" We N adore Thee for all that thou art in Thy
self; for oil the wonders of Thy being, and OF
Thy grace; and for all that Thou art to us and
for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thou
hast been our dwelling place IN all genera
tions,
"Our God, our Help, in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come;
Our shelter from each stormy blast,
And our eternal Home"
But will God indeed dwell on the earth
Behold, the Heaven and Heaven Of Heavens
cannot contain Thee; how much less this
house that we have builded. Yet have Thou
respect unto the prayer Of Thy servants, and
TO their supplcation, o Lord our God, TO
hearken uuto the cry and TO the prayer,
which Thy servants pray before Thee to-day
that Thine eyes may be open toward this
house night and day; that Thou mayest
hearken unto the prayer which Thy, servants
shall make in this place. And hearken Thou
TO the supplication of Thy servants, and OF
Thy people Israel, when they shall pray to-
ward this place; aud hear Thou in Heaven
Thy, dwelling place; and when Thou nearest
forgive.
We rejoice before Thee, Lord our God,
that Thou didst put into our hearts to build
an house, to be called by Thy holy and awful
and glorious Name, the House of the Lord OF
Hosts: and that Thou hast crowned with sue
cess our efforts, as 1t is this Jay. We bless
Thee, Lord our God, That Thou didst move
the hearts of this people, as the heart Of one
man. to bring here their , c1sty o6atl9ns IL pms
and their prayers, to rebuild from It's ashes
the burned sanctuary where our fathers had
worshipped: that after our long and weari-
some privation, during the which Thou didst
signally and tenderly watch over us, we. are
privileged again to assemble for worship in a
temple that we may call our own:
And now that our labors in building 1t are
ended, and our fondest anticipations more
than realized: now, that the head-stone is
added with shoutings of Grace, grace unto 1t,
nothing more remains for us but to make Its
formal and solemn tender to Thee, and to
place its title-deed in Thine hand.
Assembled here to-day for this purpose,
summoned by its sweet-toned bell-the offer
ing of the little ones to Thee-we do humbly
and earnestly invoke Thy presence in this
Thy House 10 ratify and seal this solemn
transaction. Thine 1t now is, placed wholly
at Thy disposal, In Thy full possession, as an
earthly dwelling place OF the Most High God
so fur as man is able to do such O thing-by
this formal covenant, which to us Is irrevoca-
Now, therefore Arise, Lord God, into Thy
resting-place, Thou and the Ark Of Thy
strength. Let the King como into His gar
den.
Let the cloud of Thy glory descend and
abide in this house, and Thy train fill the tenn
pie. Here condescend to Vouchsafe unto US.
and at all times, visions Of Thy reconciled
Face In Jesus Christ our Lord Here meet
strengthen and refresh them with gfimpses Of
Thy glory. Here comfort the bereaved and
the sorrowing, giving unto them beauty for
ashes. the oil Of Joy for mourning 1I!, and the
Here reveal the Christ to poor lost sinners,
that clearer light may mark the road that
leads them to the Lamb. grant, we beseech
Thee, that this house may ever be the scene
and theatre of Thy spirits power. And may
His continued, abiding Presence be its distin-
gushing glory. Here may the gospel, Thy
blessed Word, be proclaimed in all it's fulness,
all the people. TO this end clothe with power
Thy servants who shall here minister before
Thee. Preserve their lives from evil, and
their teachings from error. And when at last
be said OF this one and Of that one. that they
were born here. May the glory OF this latter
house be greater than of the former. May an
influence and power proceed from 1t that
shall make glad the city OF our God. And in
all our approaches to this sacred place may
we be made TO feel that the Lord is indeed In
His holy temple. that all the earth may keep
silence before Thee.
Hear US, we beseech Thee, in this our hum
Bile earnest prayer of dedication; and may
the beauty OF the Lord our God be upon US,
and establish Thou the work of our hands up
on US; and ALL in the name OF the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Service by the Choir.
Psalm 100, Second Part.
Before Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations bow with sacred joy:
Know that the Lord Is God alone;
He can create, and He destroy.
His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made US of clay, and formed us men;
And, when, like wandering sheep, we strayed
He brought us to his fold again.
We are. His people, we His care,
Our souls and all our mortal frame:
What lasting honors shall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to Thy name
High as the heavens our voices aise:
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
Wide as the world is thy command,
Vast as eternity Thy love;
Firm as rock Thy truth must stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.
LONG METER DoXoLoGY.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above. ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The benedictlon was then pronounced by
DR.. Grler.
PEW VI n ruonpcor n