Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-05
THE WEEK OF PRAYER
Its Celebration Begun at the Vari.
Gus Churches, Yesterday.
DEDICATION OF A NEW BUILDING.
Cumberland Presbyterians Hold Services
in Their Church.
DIGESTS OF NUMEROUS DISCOURSES

The Shady Avenue Cumberland Presby-
terian Church, East End. was dedicated
yesterday morning with appropriate cere-
monies ~
The church appears, from the outside, to
be a very small one, as the amount OF terri
tory on which the pretty little edihce was
erected is limited. But every advantage
was taken so that now the auditorium will
seat about 600 or 200 people. 1t is so con-
structed that the church and Sunday-school
rooms can be thrown together. The audi
torium is seated with opera chairs and the
Sunday-school room with movable chairs.
The furnishings and architecture OF the
church is very pretty. Above the center is
an immense dome so constructed as to add
greatly to the light of the church.
In the afternoon a union service was held,
in which all the ministers in the East End
were invited TO taGe part, and the majority
o. them accepted the invitation to at least
lend their presence. After Rev. Mr.. Morris
led in prayer, Or. Chalfant, of the East
End NJ. Z. Church, made the first address
in the afternoon. He was there to rejoice at
the success OF the enterprise which adds an
other agency of carrying on the workings OF
the gospel in the East End.
STILL A WANT OF CHURCHES.
He declared that that section of the city
is not even fairly supplied with churches.
D.. ChaIfant then took up the question of
sectarianism and declared that the day is
past when any man would declare that he
would rather commune with the devil
Rev. DIR. Stanton, of the Shady Avenue
Baptist Church, declared that he was glad
10 be there. Il have been looking around,
said he, land 1 can see but two things
needed to make this first class Baptist
Church. The collection boxes should have
longer handles and what an elegant Bap-
tstry that dome would make if it were only
inverted. The Cumberland Presbyterans
were formed by little salt of Armenianism
leavening the Calvanism in Cumberland
county, Tenn. At last it reached out as far
as the East End of Pittsburg, which is as
near heaven as can be reached in this world.
Now, to continue this evolution OF religion,
10 make Baptist all we would have to do
is to convert them into the Congregational,
form church government and then soak
them thoroughly in that inverted
dome" The pastor here suggested that it
would rather be little church revolution.
Dr. Stanton continued by showing that
the churches are very closely cemented,
and doing even better work than if they
were united under one head. His entire
address was eloquent and interesting.
VERY YOUNG CHURCH.
Rev. DR.. Wilson in his address made a
lbrief mention of the history OF the church.
Three or four years ago the church occupied
a little room on Frankstown avenue, but
! finding it necessary to secure more CON-
modious quarters, secured the lot and built
the church Just dedicated. He said that
more churches are needed in the East End.
In all the churches, both Catholic and
Protestant, the seating capacity is not over
10000 while tnat section of city the has
population of 10000.
DR.. Wilson then took up the subject of
church sustenance, and aid: "Pittsburg has
4 very public spirited citizen who now makes
his home in New York. He has made him
self famous by building immense libraries
in Pittsburg, Allegheny and Braddock.
Recently a minister asked him for SUBJ
scription to assist in building Methodist
church in Braddock, and he replied: 4
don't give to churches Nor would ],
retorted the minister. IF l were in your
place I'd do all l could TO destroy them. ,
Not that replied the philanthropist.
They are all right enough, but l don't give
nv money that wav' They are all glad
enough for the civilizing influence of the
church. but very few like to help support
them
Following DR.. Wilson, Rev. DR.. Butler,
of the Christian Church, made an address,
and the exercises were closed by an address
by Rev. De Witt NJ. Benham.