Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-03
GIVEN TO GOD.
DEDICAToRY SERVICES OF THE
EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
Bishop Bowman breaches Able Ser
mons-The Services Successful In
Every Sense of the Term-Large
Audiences Present.


The dedication of the new Evangeli-
cal church in this city yesterday was
grand success in every particular.
Although the weather was very
gloomy in the morning and threatened
rain almost momentarily, yet before
the appointed hour the mouse was
crowded with an attentive audience
which listened eagerly to q plain, but
powerful and practical sermon by
Bishop Thomas Bowman, Of Chicago,
Ills.
His subject was Earth and Heaven
Reunited" Text Gen. IS; 10, %. We
would like to give in full his address,
but space forbids. He first pointed out
the providence of God for his children |
which he beautifully illustrated. He
next emphasized the fact that religion
and not wealth, OF fame, makes men
cOntented and happy. God deigns to
dwell with Man whether poor or rich,
black or white in palace or howell. Sin
has made a chaSm between God and
man which man cannot bridge. He
has tried, but in vain, for centuries.
| PHILOSOPHERS, morals, creeds, cere-
monies, ETC., have proved utterly In
adequate for reuniting God and man.
| Christ came who was both divine and
human and effected an atonement for
our sins upon the cross. Here the
speaker portrayed the sufferings death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a
most affecting manner.
The Bishop believes in the old kind
religion which is the power of God
unto salvation.'' He disliHes all cold
ness and mere fOrmality in church
services. He is an eloquent and
earnest speaker and makes deep i'm
preston upon his hearers.
FREE OF DEBT.
Before the close of the morning ser
vices the remaining Indebtedness was
cleared away. The sum of 5000 was
called for and in very short time ST.
0OO was received in cash and subScrip-
tiOns.
In the evening the house was again
crowded with All interested audience
while many were turned away because
they could not gain admittance. The
bishop delivered another mastery ST.
mon on the subject Of The Heavenly
Choir,' wherUup0n the building was
formally dedicated to God. Thus
ended an even!fu day in the history of
the Evangelical church i'll Abilene.
THE CHURCH's STRUGGLES.
About three years ago the cOngrega-
ton purchased a small chapel on
North Spruce street, where the mem
bers, only few in number, managed to
hold their regular services against
many disadvantages until last spring.
Then they undertook to build a more
, appropriate place OF worship with the
, result that they have now one OF the
5 hand<omest church structures in the
t city. 1t is frame but Hastily built and
5 contains all the modern Furnishings
that go TO make worship pleasant in
f these days. Much of the success OF
S the undertaking is due to the hard
working pastor, Rev. NJ. G. Platz, who
' with the board Of trustees has been I'M
t firing i'll his efforts to arrange for a
f suitable meeting place for his congre'
: CATION. The Lord has prOspered them
abundantly in their labor and crowned
their efforts with signal success.
5 Bishop Bowman made many friends
at Abilene during his brief stay in the
city. lie is very pleasant gentleman
and powerful preacher who is not
afraid to stand by the ancient land
, marks while he marches through this
as he called it in one of his sermons
crooked world" The new church
not only does credit to the society, but
: is an ornament to the city Of Abilene.