Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-11-02
CONSECRATED.
INTERESTING SERVICES AT ST. MATTHEW'S
Pc CHURCH, YESTERDAY, ~
Tho Church Being Free From Dsbt is COnsscrated to
GOd-Bsautiul Flowers, Splendid Sermon,
Fine Music, q Delightful Reception.

Ell6 AsVSSkeAs
Yesterday st. Mathews, P. E. Church
was formally consecratsd, and the occasion
was q most suspicious one.
The cons ecration was imbue1 with adoi-
tional interest owing to the fact that 1t was
the celebration of the tenth anniversary o.
Rev. R. Rush Swope's rectorship. During
these ten years sos, 600 have bean collected
and expended by the parish for all pnr-
poses, and when Rev. Swope first assumed
charge of the congregation there was q deot
of $40, 900 on the church, which was grad
usly reduced t, something over 500
in the early part of this year, when an
effort was made by the vestIy to liquidate
the entire debt at one time, and the gen,
tlemsn who took the matter in hand
worked go theoretically that they soon sue,
ceeded in getting enough money pledged
to do this, and to day the church stan d.
free from debt, which is certainly Halter
ing condition.
Rsv. Swope has attended 4SO funerals
married % couples, baptizs I'd $50 persona,
and $50 have been confirmed, the number
of now numbering 300, and
the church in every way Is in more pros
porous condition than at any time IN lib
history.
The services were set for 1890, aud at
that hour, the auditorium ofthe handsome
Church building, at the corner
of Chspline and Fifteenth streeta, was
we'll filled with the members of the CON
gregstiop, while many OF other denomlna-
tions were also present.
A committee of ladies consisting of Mrs.
J.V. l. Rodgers, Mss Belle Armstrong,
Mrs. Thornton, Miss Eflie Russell and
Miss Sara Cecil, had decorated the church
in beautiful manner, with natural
flowers and plants. Ths windows were
banked with cut, and potted chryssntbe.
mumS, of Marschel Neil and Sophana roses,
yincus, terms and smiisx. The lecturn
was very PRETTY trimmed with
flowers, ferns and smilsX, several wresths
of white chryssnthemums depending from
The aides. The reading desk was mass
of flowers, and a number Of handsome
pieces were dispo ,ed about tina walls.
The rear part Of the chancel WAS per-
feet boz of bssuty aud fragrance, being
prettly arranged with drascenas, be-
eoniss, palms, and other flowers and hot
houss plsnts, which were furnished by the
Schneider green house Mr.. Oscar Schneider
also gave the laliss valuable assistance In
their work. The decorations as whole
were certainly beautiful and the otor OF
the flowers miueling with the pure Dir OF
perfect au.u mn Ivy lent additional charm
TO the scene.
Ri. Raw. Bishop George W. Peterkin, OF
the Diocese of West Virginia, official ID I,
bsiug sss'sted by Raw. Mr. Morrill,. Of
Washington, Pa Rev. Wm. Harrison, OF
Philadelphia; Rev. John Wood, OF Mounds.
vile; Rev. NJ. Moore, Of Parkersburg;
Rev. Mr.. Amber, Of Fsirmont; Rev. MI,
Campbell, of Bellaire; Rev. DR.. Thomas g..
Addison, of Washington, D. c.; Rev. DR..
MorrelI, of st. Luke's Church, Island, and
Rev Dr.. r X. Swope, OF st. Matthews.
The Bishop and the clereymen were re
ceiyed ct the entrance Of thu church by
the Vestrymen, Messrs. j. d. Dubois,
Mai. Alonzo Lo,ing, L. S Delsplaiue, Sr,
Spaulding X. Wallace, A. Allan Brock,
F. ]. Hsarne, and R. NJ. Browne, who
stood Oh either side of the centre aisle I'M
ill the Bishop and clergy passed up into
thu chancsl, repeating the T wehty-fourth
Palm.
Then the ritualis!ic ors'cfation services
were proceeded with Mr.. J. D. Dubois,
on the part of the veltry, formally releas.
ing the church 10 the Bishop. Rev. Dr..
Swope read the sentence OF co 1secration,
alter which the Bishop Closed the service,
and thu regular servics of the day was
read By visiting clergy.
The sermon Of the occasion WAS preached
by Rev. DR.. Addison, rector OF St. Mat
thew's Church when it was located at the
corner of Byron ard Twelfth stleets, and
who laid the corner stons of the present
church building. 1t was an interesting
and eli queut discourse and very appropri-
ate to the occasion. 1t dealt with the char
gcter OF Gods temples and their sacredness.
Whe the Lord is praised, wherever a
prayer is offered up to the Throne, even
though it be in the wilderness, it becomes
0Oly Vi uOllSc. Inc puipU Oahhob uo
brought down to the level Of the forum be-
fuse the Divine inhstus ever present lifts
it above worldly things and inspires the
preacher who teaches the word Of God to
mankind.
DR.. Addison's sermon was listened to
with the closest attention. At it's conclu.
sion the regular services were ended in
The usual m amer, sfoer which communion
followed, large numbar remaining to
plrtake Of it.
The mu,icll programme for the occasion
was undoubtedly the finest ever heard in
tie church, both AZ to its character and its
reno ion by the choir under the direction
of Mr.. John E Msndel. The personnel OF
the choir ives as follows: Sopranos, Mrs
Topping and Mrs. Geo. B. Caldwell; con
traltos, Mrs. Pesbles Tstun and Miss Ida
Irwin; teaors, Mossrs. Howell and Mende'
bssJos, Massrs. Hammond aud Zulsuf;
lrglnist, Mis-, NJ Ty Wilde.
ri