Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-15
TN NATURES TEMPLE
Three Thousand Persons Assemble
TO Hold Religious Exercises.
UNION OF GERMAN PROTESTANTS.
Celebration of the Commencement of the
Hebrew New Year.
TALKING TO THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS

Seated on the pavilion at Silver Lake
Grove Yesterday, surrounded by forest of
trees. which were donning their autumn
raimeut golden leaves, were about 5000
people who had assembled to attend the
first union services OF the German Protestant
churches. Four large congregations, COM
posed of members of st. Peters Evangelical
Church, Allegheny; ST. Johns, Sharpsburg;
ST. Peters, East End, and the First Church,
of Millvale, flocked to the devotional exer
cises at 2 o'clock. The choirs from
ali four churches were in attend
ance, and sung hymns in unison.
The exercises were conducted by Rev. w.
Schaeser, assisted by Rev. W. Helmkamf,
Rev. F. Baltzer and Rev. Paul Zeller, pas
tors of the four congregations represented.
The services were opened by a HYMN by
the Millvale Church Choir. At its con-
ciusion Rev. W. Schaeter offered PRAYER.
Impromptu sermons were made IN English
by the four ministers. after which sermon
in German was delivered by each.
The first sermon of the afternoon was de-
IIvered by Rev. F. Baltzer. his text was
taken from st. Luke xiv, %, "And yet
there is room" He said:
A WARM WELCOME.
SIN calling you together here to-day to
union service we were hope ul that you
would attend in great numbers and make
this dav successful one. The presence OF
so many has exceeded my most sanguine ex-
pectation The purpose of this union serv-
ice 1 need not outline, as you already know
for what reasons we assemble here to-
day. 1t therefore devolves upon me
10 extend a welcome to the En-
glish-speakiug people present and to
ask their cooperation in the work
we have undertaken. The object upper
most in our minds is to help the poor and
sick among YOU, and with this end in view
il was decided to meet as whole. There is
only one thought that / would like TO i'm
plant in your minds and that is the text
upon which I speak to-day. These words
are familiar 10 us all. They are chosen from
the parable OF the marriage feast, through
which the Savior has shown that those who
condemn the word of God are forever denied
the fruits OF heaven. At the great events
which the Bible tells us OF, the tables were
suread and heavily laden with the finest of
oriental food. The long dining hall
was brilliantly illuminated, the gilded
walls reflected glistening splendor, over the
GHlGLllSOeO anu the long TOW Ol
tables fairly glowed with gold and silver
ornamentaJion. Nothing was left undone
10 make ready tor a royal feast and when
the servants went forth to bid the guests to
enter and partake OF the collation., they with
one ACCORD refused The Master did not de-
spair at this unlocked for proceeding, and
summoning His army of servants said, Go
thou quickly to the market place. in the
streets aud lanes of the city, and bring
hither the poor, the manned, the halt, the
blind, and the servants replied, Lord, it is
done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there
is ROOM
THERE is YET ROOM.
acknowledging the past remarkable ,ac-
complishments in the great field of practical
Christian love- we nevertheless must confess
that there is yet room. l am incapable, npr
would the time permit, to refer you to tae
numerous hospitals and orphan hom4
throughout our great country erected for tht |
unfortunates. But vet there is room for |
more of them, and as the necessity OF thess |
institutions is undisputed, we should fill |
the want.
with pleasure we view our great phi
lanthropists donating millions of dollars for
libraries and music halls, but intrt these
places the sick and needy are noe taken,
neither the homeless; but to what greater
Christian purpose we could use such insti-
tuUions were they provided for those unfor-
tunates." An appropriate hymn was sung
at the conclusion of Rev. Mr.. Baltzer's dis
course.
The next speaker was Rev. Mr.. Helmkemp.
He addressed the audience for half an no ur
on True Humanity ONLY to Be Found |
Within the Fold of Christianity" He said: |
Obedience and faith in the Lord are the |
requisites of true Christian, and he whose |
faith in the Lord is not implicit was not true |
Christian, but mere hypocrite and false |
prophet Many people professed to be re-
ligioUs, when in reality their interest in
Gods teachings is but mere sham.''
Rev, W. Helmkemp also delivered a
short sermon and was followed by Rev. W.
Schaeier, who offered prayer in conclusion.
The services were terminated in two hours
and half by the benediction and the
singing of hymn by the vast congregation.