Evening journal., 1889-04-08
NEW CHURCH DEDICATED.


A Prosperous Future Before the
Church.
A large congregation filled st. Steph-
ans lutheran Church, on Tatnall street,
Yesterday morning when Rev. Benjamin
| Sadtler. ID. D., of Baltimore. followed bv
Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer of st.
Stephens Lutheran Church. Philadel-
phia, and w. A. Sadtler, pastor of the
church, entered the church from the
ante room at the rear and walking
around the front of the platform and up
the steps at the other side, began the
dedicatory service by repeating:
How amiable are thy tabernacles, o
Lord of Hosts.
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
for the courts of the Lord, answered the
other two ministers.
Lift up your heads, o ye gates, and
the King of Glory shall come in, re
peated Dr. Sadtler, and the others re-
sponded appropriately.
who is the King of Gloryg' asked
DR. Sadtler.
''The Lord of Hosts, He is the King Of
Glory" replied the other ministers.
The choir of the church, fourteen voices
in number, led by Professor G. b.
Rhoads, with II. F. Robelen at the organ,
then sang the .'Gloria Patri, and DR..
Sadtler offered prayer.
Before the ministers had entered the
church. the choir had rendered mot a
Sparrow Falleth."
Continuing the beautiful and impress
sive dedicatory service OF the Lutheran
Church, Dr. Sadtler, standing at the
altar, read part of the eighth chapter OF
First Kings, the account of the feast Of
the dedication of Solomon's temple. A
portion of the second chapter of Ephe-
SLAMS was then read and the creed was
repeated by the congregation, all stand
ing.
Then with outstretched hand and i'm
pressive voice, Dr. Sadtler declared the
| building consecrated and set apart as st.
Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Wilmington, with its pulpit. altar and
baptismal font, to the service of God
| Most High. Rev. Mr. Schaeffer offered
prayer, closing with the Lords prayer, in
which the congregation Joined.
The regular service for the fifth Sunday
in Lent was then begun with the Litany,
the choir singing the responses. The
epistle and gospel were read and the
hymn GLORIOUS Things of Thee are
Spoken. sang.
DR.. Benjamin Sadtler then preached
an earnest, and though not particularly
eloquent. an interesting aud instructive
sermon on the ~ verse of the % Psalm
Zone thing have desired of the Lord
that will / seek after; that | may dwell
in the house of the Lord all the days o.
my lite, to behold the beauty of the
Lord and enquire in his temple" In tbs
course of his remarks, DR.. Sadtler saiC
that Pol years ago the first Lutheran ser
vice in America was held in Old Swede
church, this city, and that the first trans
lation for the heather was the transla
tion of the Luthers short catechism int
the Indian language by the Swedish pas
tor of the church
Professor Rhoads sang TOO Oft, Alas
during the offertory.
The services closed with the hymn
Rock of Ages" and the benediction b.
Rev Mr.. Schaeffer.
Rev. Samuel Laird, D. D.. of 81
Marks Lutheran Church, Philadelphia
preached in the evening. The service
. was opened with two anthems by tn
choir of St Andrews p +. Church, lea
! by John Craig After singing these al
! thems the choir returned TO its ow
church.
I A beautiful pyramid Of growing plant
/ surmounted by a large palm, oceupie
the middle of the platform. The flower
e were Bermuda, candidum and Gala lille
. with ferns. daisies cinerarias and hyi
/ cinths The old inscription Of the HOUSE
. hold Of Faith Church on the back wa
r had not been completely effaced and line
! of smilax with lilies covered it.
| As.l ,ealr-
3 Household of Faith Church, has bee
repainted and completely renovated il
side. The walls are now cream, the Gel
ing light blue. Both will be frescoe
when the congregation can afford il
e The trusses at the top of the slantin
d ceiling are of a light shade of gree
n trimmed with brown The windows a
e of ground glass with stained edges. I'll
gas fixtures are dark blue The pews a
e of black walnut and the other woodwol
!. Of the same or in pine in natural finisl
>. The aisles and platform are carpeted
red. The pulpit furniture is of blaC
:. walnut, upholstered in crimson plus
!. The pulpit is of black walnut and Il
g alter Of black walnut and ash
s, This church has had remarkably su
cessful growth, and doubtless has
prosperous future before it. Its neuclel
was a Sunday school held in the Coz
S mercial College rooms in the Institu
l. Building last September. The first preac
lr ing service, at which Rev. w. A. Sadtl'
Y. pastor of the church. oiiiciated, we
q. held in the Commercial College early
n, October. Thesfrst Sunday.in Novemt
te services were held in Fletcner Hall
Us the Peninsula Methodist Building, viii
Of room was occupied until yesterday. Re
in w. A. Sadtler was installed pastor
" the church on December 2, in Fletcl
r., Hall. Evening services will not be h'
until after May l.