Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-26
WITH INCREASED FACILITIES.

WITH INCREASED FACILITIES.
The Congregational Church of WALL
iHgferd Remodeled and Enlarged
Mt n Cost of $15,
Dedicatory Exerclses-A Sermon by
DR.. BehFAnds.
WALL1NGFoRD, Feb. 25.-The dedication
services in recognition of the enlargement
of the Congregational church were held
this evening and the increased seating
capacity of the edifce was severely taxed
in spite of the weather. 1t is more than
year since the work of remodeling began
and now that it is done, the result is one
to be proud of. An addition of 80 feet
has been built on to the rear which in
creases the seating capacity by about 300,
making total of over thousand. The
organ now stands in loft back of the pull
pit with roomy quarters for the choir.
The parlors and rooms for Sunday school
and other purposes in the basement pre-
sent q charming and homelike appearance.
In fact tho whole appearance of the church,
from top to bottom, is artistic, and an at
tractive place for worship, and with few
superior In the state. About $15, ZOO has
been expended in the work.
This evening was the first time the con-
gregation have seen what has been done
and the expressions of satisfaction were
unanimous. The exercises were of an ex-
tremely interesting nature. Rev. F. E.
Marble delivered the invocation and Rev.
David Stone read the opening selection
from the scriptures. Rev. Charles h.
Dickinson, the pastor, gave brief histor-
ical outline of the 216 years of the church's
history.
A group Of thirty eight families, he
said, frst came to WalGngford from New
Haven and came with the same purpose
with which their brethren thirty-two years
earlier came to New Haven, namely, tc
found free theocracy.
Here the puritan character was developed
to it's ideal degree. And the records Of
the town and church are free from many
scandals which were characteristic of sc
many colonies along the shores of New
England. He sketched the work and
career of each passionate of the church.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr.
A. j. F. Behrends of Brooklyn. He de-
ivered mastery discourse on the subject
of ''Christ's Atonement," and held his al
dience in wrapt attention.
It gives me, he said, genuine and great
delight to be permitted to be with you in
this hour of your rejoicing.
Continuing, he said the pre- eminent mes
sage of Christianity to the world is not the
display of pompous ritual, for the worlc
had that before Christ was born. Chris
tiahity is not a religion of the letter, but
religion of the spirit.
Nor is the pre-eminent message morality
There is primitive gospel, and upon dis
section of the gospels we find its fngel
marks everywhere.
This message of Christianity to thu
world is Christ's death. Do we have al
intelligent conception what relation hi
death has to our redemption? have come
to feel that there is more to be found GU
clans together. I would refer you tx
the eighth chapter to the epistles of tn
| Romans.
Here Paul states the ultimate, and il
view of Christ's death that the fulfllmen
| of the law might be in US. 1t is the end il
view which lends dignity or glory to tn
| event. Ch1ist's death means nothing with
out this end in view. Without this il
| means nothing when you say he died be
| cause he loved us. Love may be sentiment
al and meaningless. Penalty does not sat
isfy justice. You enact laws that the,
| may be obeyed, but justice is only salts
| fed when there is obedience.
Why could not this requirement of tn.
law be fulfilled in us without this sacrafic
on Christ's part.
There may be in us the wish to be hol,
but the achievement is in none of us. II
| these days one hears so much about evolu
| ton. 1t is quite interesting to see hov
popular old ideas with a new dress on d.
| become. Evolution is really the old doc
trine of original sin. The occasion of tn
! incarnation was the presence of sin among
| men.
Christ came into this world natural,
and into representative relations will
mankind. He came in the likeness of sin
full flesh. And God condemned sin. Tn
| justice of God knows no other satisfaction
than that sin has been overcome in tn
blessed Christ.
The most marvellous thing of all is tn
spotless character of Jesus, and he wa
tempted with no abstract temptations
What a splendid victory was that gainet
in the wilderness.
The atonement was personal experienc
in the life of Christ, and that makes it pos
sible for him to be our Savior. And t.
be more than mere article in our creed
| Professor L. o. Brastow of the Yale the
| illogical seminary delivered the dedicator,
prayer.
| Inc music rendered during the exercise
was of an excellent quality, particular,
Batiste's offertoire in D minor rendered OF
tho organ by Mrs. Thomas Peers and a sole
sung by Miss N. E. Brown. The floral dec
oratians about the pulpit and choir lof
were profuse and artistically arranged.
$4,000 for Foxwood.
DANBURY, Feb. 25.-Foxwood, one O.
| the star stations of the Ridgewood farm
stables, was sold yesterday afternoon t.
DR.. Walker of Palmer, Mass, for Sc, 200
The horse, six-year-old, has record o.
$50.