Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1891-02-05
CHURCH RE-DEDICATED.
REQ PENING OF TRINITY A. Nj.
T.. CHURCH, GOULDTOWN.
imposing services. Sermons by
Bishop Wayman and DIR. Lee.

undergoing repairs since idsb 0eptem-
| ber, was formally re.dedicated and re-
opened for divine worship Sunday.
The church has been remodelled and
heightened, its seating capacity in
creased about one-half and recess
built in the end for the pulpit. The
seats were made modern, new pulpit
and pedestals placed In the church, and
handsome new pulpit furniture OF high,
plush mahogany chairs provided. The
church has been handsomely painted.
and the walls and ceiling beautifully
papered with wall felt, etc. A base
ment was added to the church and q
heater placed in it. The aisles and
platforms were newly cArpeted, the
| choir position was changed from the
| gallery to the cas- side of the pulpit
and an elegant new organ has been
| purchased.
The whole cost of the improvements
reach about 81, 500, nearly ell of which
has been paid or its payment sub
scribed for Yesterday; about 1926, was
taken in cash contributions yesterday.
The church was densely crowded at
all the services; the dedicatory sermon
was preached In the morning by Bishop
A. w. Wayman, who also dedicated
the edifce at the close of the sermon.
The pulpit, altar and table, were
prettily ornamented with flowers in
| full bloom, and ferns
The Bishops discourse was founded
upon Christ's inquiry ofhis disciples as
to who men said he was, end his ex-
clama.ion, Blessed art thou Simon
Bar-Jona; for flesh and bio I'd hath pot
revealed it unto thee, but my Father
which is in heaven. And 1 say unto
thee, that thou art Peter, and upon
this rock l will build my church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it,"
The Bishop only incidentally touched
upon the usual course of dissertation
upon this theme of controversy be.
tween the Catholic and Protestant
Church, but his sermon dealt more
with Peters sublime confession of
| Christ.
Bishop Wayman breaches with great
solemnity and dignity; his language is
very tine and polished. and he speaks
with great deliberaticn and impress
iveness He rode the circuit, of which
Gou'dtown was then a part, in 1916,
and he referred with much feeling to
the then heads of this church, who
have all passed away.
The great sermon of the day was
that of Rev. B. f. Lee, editor of the
| Christian Recorder, who preached in
the afternoon. Mr.. Lee is native of
Gouldtown, but went West near thirty
years ago. He graduated from Will
berforce University, preached and
taught school in the Southwest several
years, subsequently filed professors
chair in. aud finally became President
of his Alma Mater, from which he re
signed and was elected by the general
conference of 1884, editor of the Re
corder, upon Editor B. T. Tanner be-
ing made Bishop
His sermon Sunday afternoon was
based upon Isaiah liv, 2-3: Enlarge
the place of thy tent. and let them
| stretch forth the curtains of thine hab-
itations; spare not, lengthen thy cords,
and strengthen thy stakes. For thou
shalt break forth on the right hand
and on the left"
| His sermon wa 4ne of profound
hought and reflection. He said in
the course of his sermon, that it was
we'll that among men there were found
to be those of conservative tendencies,
that there we're those who would re-
strain the impetuosity of the Jealous,
and who would deliberate upon the
effect of causes and undertakings
calculate the costs of them, and make
| inquiry as TO where the means were to
be procured.
Religious thought was becoming
less and less intolerant and Christian
men were becoming more liberal mind
ed, yet doctrines and religious tenets
lost none of their efficiency.
Fifty Years ago or more, Methodists
thought they must wear only certain
kinds of garments and adornments,
and that their churches must be mod
eled after schools of hardlined plain.
ness, but Methodists had become more |
liberal, grasping the true ideal of hu-
man civilization but losing nothing of |
The old Methodistic fire and spirit of
he fathers, nor the religion of Christ
The civilization of the age sprung |
from the church; the higher the plane
OF christianity the higher wes the civil
ization. Throughout the dark ages
the church, and the church only, pre-
erved the light of learning.