Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-19
THE FIRST SERMON.
New Shadyside Presbyterian Church
Dedicated Last Night
WITH A MOSTIMpREsSIvE SERVICE
Magnificent Structure. Complete in All
Its Details.
BRIEF HISTORY READ BY TIE PASTOR

The new Shadyside Presbyterian Church,
at the corner of Anderson avenue and West
minister street, was dedicated last evening to
the cause for which it was. built with inter-
esting and impressive ceremonies. The
church is one of the most beautiful in archi,
tectare and complete in its arrangements of
any in the city. It's seating capacity is
about 1000. A dome 100 feet in heIght rises
from the center of the building.
The exercises were conducted by the Rev.
r. NJ. Patterson, D. D.. of Philadelphia,
Moderator of the Synod of Pennsylvania.
He was assisted by the Rev. DIR. r. S.
Holmes, pastor of the church, the Rev. S.
II. Gordon, the Rev. DIR. II. T. McClelland,
the Rev. DIR. w. J. Holland, the Rev. Dr.
j. P. E. Kumler and the Rev. DIR. Will
lam P. Shrom. A chorus under the dIrec-
ton OF James P. McCollum added to the
occasion.
The exercises opened with an organ pre-
lude, followed by an anthem by choir. The
Doxology was sung by the congregation,
after which the Rev. S. r. Gordon delivered
the invocation and the Lords Prayer. An
anthem by the choir followed. The memoir
ial was next delivered. The historical ad-
dress was made by the pastor, the Rev. DR..
Holmes, and the responsive by the Rev. DR..
McClelland and the congregation. DR..
Holmes, in his address, reviewed the history
and growth of the congregation from its es-
tablishment.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
The organization of the congregation was
the result of Sunday school started in
Shadyside in 1861 by Thomas Aiken and Will
lam Negley, who were members of the East
Liberty Church. The school was opened on
Aiken avenue with 40 pupils 1t continued
until 1866 when congregation with % men,
hers was started. II has now increased to over
400. The first church was built in 1867 on
Aiken avenue. The membership soon grew too
large for it, and in 1879 second structure was
put up on the site of tho present one. The
present structure was commenced in 1883. Its
cost will be about Sl0o00U.
At the conclusion of the pastors address the
responsive was made by DR.. McClelland, and
the congregation reciting alternately Scrip
tural passages suitable to the occasion.
After hymn by the congregation, the bless
ing by DIR. Holland and the congregation was
reciIed in similar manner. A second hymn
by the congregation and the dedication was
pronounced. The dedication was commenced
by the pastor and at the end of each sentence
the congregation interjected: I'VE dedicate
this house of God with JOY" In conclusion all
said:
"And now, in the presence of God, of angels
and OF men, we, the congregation OF the Shady
side Presbyterian Church of Pirtsburg, do for
mally. and without reserve set apart this build
ing and solemnly dedicate it as a church of
Christ, in the name of the Father. and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen"
FIRST SERMON IN THE CHURCH.
The dedication prayer was made by the Rev.
DIR. Kumer. After a hymn by the congrega-
tion the first sermon in the new edifice was
preached by the Rev. DR.. Patterson. DR.. Pat
terson referring to the dedication, spoke of its
solemnity and the sacredness with which the
structure should be regarded. When in the
House of God he said, he felt an inner con-
sciousness that it was good to be there. 1t
should be held sacred because in it the All
Holy One is worshiped and recognized and be-
cause an association devoted to His service
worship in il, and there God specially reveals
himself to his worshipers Il is His earthly
court where they can look up to Him in prayer
The church, he continued, is not considered
with enough reverence. It is often degraded
and the ministers in it secularized. IL is de-
grading to allow anything lower in it after 1t
has been dedicated to God and made holy by
worship. 1t should not be used for any other
purpose, and political gatherings or entertain
ments of any kind should not be permitted
in it.
At the conclusion of the sermon an anthem
by the choir, prayer by the Rev. DR.. Shrom and
a hymn by the congregation concluded the
dedicatory services.