The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-03
OPENING OF ST. PAULS CHURCH.

Last Sunday morning, Feb. 26, the
new st. Pauls church on Prairie avenue
and Thirtieth street was opened for the
first time for religious worship. The
morning was one of the most severe of
the season. After the rainstorm of Fri
day the weather turned quite cold, grew
colder during Saturday night, and Sun
day the mercury was far below zero
and cutting wind added to the discom-
fort OF the hour. Nevertheless the morn
ing attendance was large enough to hand
somely fill the capacious auditorium. We
estimate that 500 or more were present
at the service.
The services of the morning consisted
of the usual Introductory and responsive
services, the reading of the Scriptures
Il Kings viii sslections by DR.. Cant
well; prayer by DR.. W. H. Ryder, and a
sermon on "The Meaning of the Church
Edifice," by the pastor, Rev. J. Coleman
Adams. The sermon will appear on our
second page next week. 1t was every
way appropriate, and devoted, after
few words of congratulation to the par
ish in the opening, to an explanation of
bule, the cruciform form of the church,
the dome with slight from on high" the
organ, the communion table and the
font were the special points of the church
and it's surroundings which were drawn
upon for spiritual suggestions.
DR.. Ryier's prayer was all that such
prayer should be-concise, solemn, ten
der, with interviewer memories of the
dead and devout petitions for fidelity in
the sacred membership of the church and
for prosperity in the new edifice.
Let us pray. Our Father who art in Heaven,
as we open the portals of this building for the
public worship of God, we desire to take Thy
name on our lips and worship Thee with rev.
erence and love. Thou art our God. We be-
lieve in Thy love. We recognize Thy SOW
ereignty and we have seen the abundance of
Thy grace. This is an hour of deep signif
icance to us. 1t is also one of great import
anee. Here is to be our religious home. Here
of his beloved Son. our Redeemer. Therefore,
o, Lord, let Thy benediction rest upon us.
We come with no new gospel. We have no
new plea to make 1t is the same gospel and
the same cross as of old. We come to recog-
nize the same ark of the covenant removed
to this new place. This is our home and the
meeting place of ourselves and our God.
Therefore we ask Thy benediction on this
OH ita 70 off oil tha har
ship, the Church Universal everywhere, and
on all good men and women. Hear US, o,
Lord, and grant our supplicatiops. Help us
the days that have been aud the days that are
to come. The Lord be with us whether in the
flesh or in the might of the spirit. Oh, the
mystery of this life, how perplexing 1t isl We
thank Thee for the immortal life that makes
time and eternity one. May we work on
hoping and trusting that the things that are
dark may be light, by and by. Weare as a ship
upon the sea. battling with the mighty waves,
but we can see the harbor in the distance,
where we shall find peace and safety. So
is it with us, and we ask for Thy help and
guidance in so conducting our lives that
we may reach Thy haven of eternal rest at
last. These things we ask in the name of our
Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
The choir rendered some choice music
for the occasion, and the organ, under
charge of Mr.. Earl Brown filed the noble
church with resoundinR melody. 1t was
an impressive service and passed off sat-
isfactorily to the large congrega ton.
The floral decorations we're not profuse,
and in good taste. The announcement
was made at the close of the exercises
that the pews would be rented some even
ing next week, and that the dedication
would take place Tuesday evening,
March 6, at 8 O'Clock.
1t was memorable day for st. Paurs
parish. Notwithstanding the severity of
the weather, the congregation was fairly
Of the new neighborhood
and the parish at large. The congregs-
ton will soon grow accustomed to it's
new surroundings, and we take no risk in
saying that all will soon feel very much
at home in the new st. Psurs. May the
blessing Of the good Father rest upon
the new enterprise throughout the years.