Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-07-15

Reopeuing of Second Presbyterian Church

Reopening of Second Presbyterian Church
Yesterday the congregation of the Second
Presbyterian Church re-opened and re.dedi-
Gated their handsome new edihce. The
. building was filled with large and atten
| tive audience and the exercises were of a
IN ost interesting character. On the pulpit
lay all old Bible, found in red turkey mo
rocco. which the pastor announced was the
. first Bible ever owned by the congregation,
having been presented 10 the church by Or.
WIN. Harper, in January, 1915 1t was from
. thI. rare old volume that the Scripture es-
son was read by Rev. ]. NJ. Nourse. The
exercsas began with voluntary, 70 be JOY
full - excellsntly rendered by well trained
Choir. After the prayer of re dedication, the
history of the church was read by Kew. ). l.
Vance, a summary CT which ls given below.
la conclusion Mr. Vance thanked the build
ing committee icr their faithful and efficient
service and congratu ated the congregation
son coming back to their new church, I'm.
burdenei by debt.
Following the history was the sermon OF
the occasion by Rev. w. w. Moore, D. D.,
' Professor of Hebrew in Uncn Theological
Seminary. Va. Dr.. Moore is a speaker of
fine preseEce and 81 lendid voice and held
the close attention of his audience from first
to last. His effort has been pronounced
one of the finest ever made in an Alexan'
dria pulpit. He took for his text Psalm
. 81 3: "GlorlouS things are SPOKEN OF toee,
city of God"
First sketohing the glory OF the Jewish
capital and the devotion OF the Jews to the
| CITY of Jerusalem, he passed on to describe
| tb, gories CT the christian church Of which
Jernaalem WAS the type. Ia mastery
manner he described the futile efforts made
to overthrow christianity. The church was
everlasting, founded on rock uuchanging
amid all the changing past. Three hundred
and nIaety millions of protesting christians
10 day. fsotn the dozen disciples of nineteen
centuries ago. Turning to the future he clio
ouently sketched the glorious destiny OF the
church, and concluded by reference to the
import of such occasions as that no" ce'e'
brated.
After great crises in tho history Of the theo'
cracy the Prophet Samuel erected commemora-
ike pillar which he named "Ebenezer, That Is
'5toHe of help" SAYING Hitherto hath Inc Lotu
heIpeG u.s." After still greater Crisis In the
bisto,v OF Abraham, when Jehovah had provided
81 ram for sacrifice in place of his son, the father OF
tho faithful called the name of that pla"e "Jeho.
Yah Jireh." that is the Lord will provide
The one looks gratefully backward the
s Yer looks cheerfuly forward Particularly
OF =; however, are you, my brethren, on this
i]a occasion because here your Ebenezer
nsppy %oyah j ceh" came together. To-day you
80, 80 t6o occupancy ola renovated sanctuary
,ra = - ION dedicate spacious aud beautiiul
$50 ou ~, worship Of our covenant God To-
Az in oI;an y. Nrselves once more with that
o"S gu .I T., 49,, ste mission is to conquer the
Ii, 80 - J, 'dsi. AS listened to your
nastor road the noble >ofe OF 'nts sonet ~
church, AS listened to tho e'stofy Oh STu Sit W.,
tulness throughout the past al ton.s will, the
loving kindness in browning yo nepe, fo his
completion OF this beautiful 81 - noorio
worship said to nyself-assuredly sueso E ppop,e
of G ID may appropriate ly name this !bicb tbc
GER" Aud al thought OF the future 80
Lord has apparently set before you, with a. - 90
eat and gifted pas;or vi II able session an ~
active diacona:e, vita strong and compact b5~
OF conservative christian people, and with such an
90 uipment as you have in this attractive ana
commodiOus building-l said to myself assureaiy
the members of this church may appropriately
name the day "Jshovsh Jireh'-the Lord VIII
provide rejoice with you, my brethren in this
glad hour. the whole church will rejoice with
YOU and will echo the prayer that dod may make
YOU a thousand fold more fruitful IN his service
henceforth even than you have been hitherto.
The Presbsterians may we'll be proud OF
their new church. The architect was MIR.
Glenn Brown, of Washington, one OF Alex
audria's young men who has already attain
ed very enyiable position in his profession.
The building is modern in its style of archi-
lecture, as shown in the above cut, massive
and imposing in it's exterior, aud beautifully
sinished with windows of cathedral glass and
trimmings Of atone. Standing on the corner
of Prince aud st. Asaph streets, it s great
Improvement 20 that part OF the city and
of the handsomest structures In Alexsn
a., Within, the church is even more beau.
VS., .ho,u without The main auditorium,
ea;shad !, eah.wood and colors to harmon
i ina ,bsrawith bss seating capacity of GOO.
40 ,;aht ard ora ,efpl gallery runs across the
- oxtramitr At the north end and
ahova and hack of the pplpit is the choir
gallery, scientifically Constructed rs reearus
sconsfics To the east OF this gallery 10 an
infant class room and to the YVES, cusi. ~.
narlor Underneath these and naftn OF the
main auditorium is the lecture room, WIN
seating capacity of 200. and so arranged soa'
il can be thrown into the main andience
room at moments notice.
The church liz seated with ash pews, fur-
nishsd Sy Messre. NJ Ruben Il Sons, OF THIS
city. A magnificent set OF pulpit furniture,
IN mahogany, upholstered in terra.cotta
plush, adorns the platform, in front OF Whlch
Il the communion table to correspond. The
ntrnetor OF the building was Mr.. VIM.
" ~. 10. who has done h;a work we'll and to
u'oo 'sfsctiou CT the committee having the
tue so,' charge, The brick work was done
bv Mr JOSEF jo 10 CLARK <, .,,,
a. 't &C.. roora thu century.
oFia ioi .,o,e ,,;ddle 81 the iS.h century some
so ap1u' English FSu aud Irish settles living
around Alexandria form " '"e ~ sew lnlo
society for worship amt az i ,o,s. were
Granted q charter, uaaer .ths iolerstlo non
act oae Presbyterian church. = oout 100
| their first CHURCH building swas -, sfecteo
du uu n' tue minialrg of toe Rsv. Wh'sm
"a Thorn NJ To.
sey, with other gentemen. by direction G.
the Synot of New York aud Pnllade'Pol a,
came to Alexandria aud organized the ffes-
bytery Of Baltimore. -oo