The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-06
NEW CHURCH
METHODTsTs DEDI0ATE a house
or WORSHIP AT GREENYTLLE.

or WORSHIP AT GREENYTLLE.
Bishop Andrews Address-He Sees the
Decline of InfdeIity and Denies the
Existence of "a Conflict Bety<4n Re-
IigiOn and Scfence-The Church Debt
Reduced.
Yesterday was a great day for the
Methodists of Greenville. Their hand
some new church at Ocean and Linden
avenues, which was described in yes
terday's SUNDAY MORNING News,
was dedicated with appropriate cere-
monies.
The beautiful interior was dedicated
for the occasion. Tall, waving palms
were grouped with artistic effect upon
the PLATFORM, and against the large
organ which looms up back of the
pulpit there rested a large cross of
rare roses.
The services began at half-past ten
o'clock in the morning with a volun-
tary on the organ by Mr.. J. G. Petit.
This was followed by the Doxology,
sung by the congregation. Then the
choir chanted a selection, and the Rev.
DIR. Lowrie, Presiding Elder of the
Jersey City district, made a short adj
dress. The Rev. W. e. Keifer, pastor
of the church, read the One Hundred
and Eleventh Psalm, and after a hymn
had been sung Bishop E. g. Andrews
delivered a discourse on the progress
the world has made during the past
century under Christian influence.
In Christian countries, the Bishop
said, was nearly all the wealth of the
world; immense resources, and the
highest and most widely diffused
knowledge. They also have the freest
institutions and the of the
world. They have the military power
of the world and the only question
today is, will the Christian church do
its full duty? There is not SO much
sSepticisIa in the world today as we
think.
THE DECLINE OF SKEPTICISM.
The Bishop noticed, he said, during
the Centennial, that there was not a
bit of Ingersollism in the celebration,
but that God was acknowledged
through it all. He next traced the
growth of infidelity from the middle
ages down to the present day, and
said that he was sorry to see some
ministers noticing the so-called con-
fiict between science and religion, be-
cause there is no such conflict. Let
science and religion go on doing their
own work, and they will come together
as they must.
The conflict between belief and I'M
belief is less at the present day than it
ever was. Great as been the growth
Of people during the past century,
the growth of the church has been as
great.
The Bishop then dwelt upon the
improvements made within the
Church, and said it is not so many
years ago since the church ~evinced..a
tendency to magnify trif1e3 and omit
weightier matters of the law. He,
himself, could remember the time
when it was considered a sin to wear
whiskers and there was some discus
sion as to whether buttons should be
worn on the back of q coat because
they were unnecessary. On one oc-
casion a good presiding elder vas
badly shocked at the introduction of
a flute at a choir rehearsal.
The spread of the missionary field
next occupied the attention of the
Bishop, and he told how, not a hun
bred years ago, when at a preachers
meeting in England a brother pro
posed to convert the heathens in
foreign lands, the presiding officer told
him to sit down, and added that when
the Lord wanted the world converted
He would do it without any of their
assistance. This, the speaker de-
clared, is a missionary century.
The Bishop closed his sermon by
congratulating the Society upon its
handsome edifice.
REDUCING THE DEBT.
The Rev. d. w. Couch, of Brook
lyn, made a strong appeal to the con
gregation to wipe out the debt in
Cured in erecting the new church,
which now amounts to $12, 900.
His appeal was in a measure success
full and a large sum was realized.
Another service was held at two
o'clock, in which the Rev. G. d. Chap
man, rector of Grace Episcopal
Church. participated, and at which
Mr.. Robert R. Dougherty, one of the
editors ofthe Methodist Sunday School
publications, made an able address.
Addresses were also made by visiting
ministers, and the choir gave some
excellent music.
III tli0 CfElllAlS LAlC lOAlldA QCQlCdLlOll
took place. The Rev. d. w. Couch
conducted the opening exercises, and
the Rev. William Il. Blakeslee read
the scriptures. Presiding Elder Lowrie
preached the sermon, and after the
choir had sung an anthem and further
offerings had been made, the church
was dedicated according to the ritual
of the Methodist church.
Presiding Elder Lowrie conducted
the services, and Mr.. r. Simpson,
president of the Board of Trustees,
presented the building to be dedicated
as a church for the service and wor-
ship of Almighty God.
There will be services at the new
church every night during the week
except Saturday. This evening there
will be d reunion of the former pastors
and on the other evenings there will
be scriptural readings and addresses
by prominent clergymen and laymen
and singing by the various Methodist
choirs of the city. The Rev. DIR. Butt,
presidento of Drew Theological Society,
will preach this evening, and on Fri
day the Rev. DIR. 0. III. Tiffany, of
New York, viii occupy the pulpit.
Not Fanny ~Davenport's Brother.
AA- A -