The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-03
AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING.
FIRST PUBLIC VIEW OF THE COURT
STREET CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS.
The Large Congregation Afforded Rich
View of What Can Be Accomplished
by United Effort-A Delightful Pro-
gram and an Edifying Discourse.

| must DE seen IN order 10 be appreciated
Everything has been so thoroughly
changed that the spacious room, which al
ways looked unfinished, now is one OF the
most beautiful in the country.
The church was crowded yesterday
morning and night, aud every one ex.
pressed their admiration and pleasure with
the services and surroundings.
Mr.. @. Ernest Forsdck is the organist
of the church, and his selections for morn.
ing and evening service were beautifully
rendered by the following ladies and gen.
tlemen, who kindly volunteered to assist
him and the congregation on this auspi-
cious occasion: Mesdames Berry, NJ. Ii.
Peasants, Carrie Ullathorne, +. w. Tay-
lor, Sophie Richards, Mcintyre, and
Mcssrs. Newmeyer, w. II. Sonlield, Eich.
olz, 7. Mcintyre, ii. II. Harvey, Talbot
| Marin.
Below is given synopsis OF the sermon
by the pastor, the Rev. III. A. Jones.
"laggal. H. Q. The glory of this latter house shall
be greater than the former saith the Lord oi
| hosts and IN this place will | give pea G, saith
| the Lord Of hosts"
1t Is appropriate that we should con-
mence our service in our beautiful room
| upon the day when two.thirds of the
| Christian world begin their church wear
the first Sunday in Advent
Haggai is the first Of the three prophets
who lived and taught after the restoration
OF the Jews from Babyionian captivity. II
Is generally supposed that lac returne
| with the Hebrew cXies h. g. $50. Zenut.
babel and Joshua, the grandsons of the
last King and High Priest OF Judah, with
| upward OF $4,000 Of the captiycs, after a
tedious journey oi four months, reached
| Judea, they having received permission
| from Cyrus TO rebuild their city and tenn
| pie. They carried with them the sacred
utensils which had been restored,
and donations from their countrymen
who remained behind. Again the
busy sound of implements rcsounded
throughout Jarusalem, yet joyful as
the occasion was To the younger
men, this was counlerbaanccd by
the lamentations OF those who remem-
bercd the Temple OF Solomon in all It's
glory before the captivity. Added TO their
poverty and the oppression OF their enc.
mics, this well nigh discouraged them in
their arduous work, and 10 encourage and
strengthen them The Lord sent Hagg,i,
and he said: "Who is lett among You
that saw this HOUSE. in her first glory? And
how do you see It now? Yet be strong
saith the Lord, and work" "Ihe glory of
the Temple is not in il splendid building.
but in INV presence aud the manifestations
OF my power. II my presence is not with
you, vain the splcnt0r and appointments
Of wealth. As | cOyenanled with Abra.
ham and his seed, and led them through
the dark DAYS Of Eyyptiln ton lnge and the
fierce trials OF the wilderness 10 their per.
nianent establishment in the land which |
gave unto their fathers, - will BE- with
thee, for the glory Of this latter house
shall be greater than the former" Ia
comparison, the latter house was VASTLY in
fcrior to the former
We need not dwell upon the won drous
beauty oil the Temple Uf solomon. The
wealth and AT OF the world was poured
into Jerusalem Tor lis embellishments
Marble, cedar, iron, brass, silver. ivory
gold, precious stones, tapestries, all that
art, skill and taste suggest was Ccntcrpd
on lions llill 10 erect q house for God.
"Fnr here lair science nufscd his infant fro
Planned 1y TIE ARTIST NIL ni friendly tyr.
Then toward thr pilicr, tnrl DO awful slaie,
Toe tciup.1 n'.nl ,is everlasting gnic
40 wnfkmsu's steel. uu run nuns axis ruug
lake some tall pain tbc no.selc,, fabric ,Iaung
Majestic sIltnre'"
When tii. gary,,,us sdlnce vs. completed
"fhcn salem spread biz suppliant arms ahrad.
Viewed Tie dc'cynding lame and b'c.ct the prcs
Cnt Cod"
For God hal descended and taken pos
session Of his house, Ills awful glory ap.
pcaring between the chcrubims.
For 400 years, suffering all tho yicssi.
iudcs Of war, this building stood, until II
was utterly demolished by Ncbuchadncz-
AR, King Of Babylon, who carried the
sacred vessels with the people OF Judah
into captivity.
80 wonder that the hearts Of the oxiles
failed them when attempting 10 ertct
temple out OF the ruins and rubbish oi
the old.
Critics have coniendcd that tho temple
built by llcrod forty yOan before Christ
WIS altogether n new structure. but IL IL
certain that II was built upon the iounda-
ton Of the second temple. whose walls had
stool the tooth oi time for go ycarA
What circumstance verified the proph.
osY Of llaggt? II WIS not only vastly
inferior rs a building, but, according 10
Jewish tradition, II lacked In five pariicu.
lan which added glory 10 the lln,t temple.
The ark OF the covenant, with its merry
seat, and the oycn'hadowing chcrubims,
was lost when carried into Babylon, with
liz sacred treasures the two tables Of the
law. the pot Of mama and Aafon's fod
that budded. II WIS said that an ark was
made for tho sacred tomplo in close imita.
ton Of the first Ia which Ezra's copy u
the law was deposited. but no glory light
ever shone between the chcrubims again.
Tho Trim aud Thummim Lost ils glory
the sacred frs no longer glowed upon the
altar, and lastly the spirit u prophecy de-
parted. We must look beyond these,
then, for the glory Of the latter house.
llagsni answers "FOr thus saith the
Lord, II Is n little while, aud will shake
the heavens and the earth aud
the desire u all nations shall come. and |
will fill this house with glory saith the
Lord OF Hosts" Commentators differ as
10 tho meaning Of theso words, some be-
Loving that they have special reference 10
the presence Of Christ in the temple dur.
ing his life and ministry, aud thus filling
the house with divine glory and ndi.
ancc. Others again, and doubtless
the correct Interpretation, Is that
the whole IA n mctaphorical description OF
the Church Of Christ, aud Of the spread Of
his gospel among the nations Of the world.
Tho latter have contained q court for the
Gentilcs. The former house had but two
courts, one for the priests and ono for the
Israelitca. Tho introduction Of Gcntiles
within the precincts Of tho Temple WIS a
step towArdthe introduction Of tho nations
into the covenant OF grace, through tho
blood OF him who was both priest and vic.
tim, who, having passed within the veil
threw down tho middle partition and
4 III -. a.
aiar OF aud made them one. Having OBJ
satnaI ra.lafn nftan for fta ana t,taal IIiyh