The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-07
TILE BLIND PASTOR.
Thomas Houston to Be Or
dained a Minister at
Knox Church Today.
HIS GOOD MISSION WORK.
Opening Of the Tabernacle Of the
Testimony--Local and Gem
eral Church Notes.

Today the Rev. Thomas Houston. the
blind evangelist, will be ordained as a
clergyman. The services will take place
IN the JOHN Knox Church, where he has
tor the last two years been doing excel
lent mission work. There will also he an
installation service. or rather the services
OF ordination and installation will be COM
bined, and the Rev. Mr.. Houston will be
installed as pastor of that church. Two
years ago the Rev. Mr. Houston came TO
Jersey City to do evangelical work,
also to pursue theological course OF
study In the Union Theological Seminary
IN New York. from which he graduated
in May, after creditable examination.
While he was studying the Scotch Mis-
sion building was given by George e.
Mckenzie, for the establishment of a
mission. Mr. Houston has had IL In
charge ever since its organization. and
under his supervision the membership
has increased enough in two years to
make it an independent church, whic h
was done In May, aud Ii IS now known as
the john Kuox Presbyterian Church.
HOW THE BLIND CLERGYMAN STUDIED.
When Mr.. Houston entered the Union
Seminary ne took IL cotnplets theological
course, with the exception OF two class
1cai studies. While speaking to friend
he sAid:-'l did not have rs much diff
Guilty In committing my lessons as one
might suppose on account OF my blind
ness. OF course had set Of text books.
aud every night my wife read my lessons
to me. In class - I had point print, to
enable me take down the lectures, SO in
that WAY managed very we'll. It would
have taken me three years to finish the
course il | had not omitted the two
studies, so / took just the necessary
branches and finished In two years.
The services this afternoon will be very
interesting. The Rev. David Mitchell,
the pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian
Church will give the charge TO the ciergV-
man. and the Rev. Alexander McKeivey,
of the First Presbyterian Church, will
give the charge to the people, and the In
stallation sermon will be preached by the
Rev. Charles Herr, of the First Presby-
terrain Church. After this week the hours
for the services will be changed. Til ere
will be a regular service and sermon
every Sunday morning at half past ten.
and In the evening at half-past seven; the
Sunday school session will be held In the
morning at nine o'clock.
TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY
The new Tabernacle Of the Testimony
on Bfamhali avenue Is flais he'd, and the
first service will be held in ir this morn
ing. There viii be no particular service
Oh ucQ1ChtlOte Dub bOuAf ~ WAL uE QpcNcA
with q convocation, with seven alt-day
services and continue until next Sunday.
1t has cost fifteen hundred dollars to re-
build the edifice. Before it was secured
By the Faith Curists. the building was
the old Madison Hotel. The trout has
been changed In Gothic style aud tiled to
the TOD, with q smooth frame roof falling
over 1t. Upon the roof are painted
in large white letters scriptural
verses, and over the front door
is q reflector with 200 lights. 1t Is stan
in design, and has the motto Jesus
Onlys' inscribed on 1t. The entrance Il
broad and opens into q vestibuie, which IL
finished In oak. The doors are self-clos
Jag and covered with dark green cloth
The auditorium il q large room. and it il
handsomely frescoed and papered. Thf
platform Is circular. and back OF 1t is {
large Lecture room which, by sliding back
the doors forms part of the auditorium
The pulpit stands in the centre Of the
platform, the organ being TO the left Of it
Ali the woodwork is Of oak and instead
of pews folding chairs are used. There is
general look Of ease and comfort about
the place. .
After the convocation there will be
regular services on Sunday in the moru-
ing and evening, and meetings will be
held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
aud Saturday during the week.