Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-10-29
M. L. CHURCH DEDICATION.
The New Edifce Paid for and Dedicated
Last Sunday.

Last Sunday.
Last Sabbath was Il glorious autumn
day, and was celebrated us 4 great event
in Methodism in Audubon. The new
ediIicc, grand and complete, was dedi'
Gated To Gods use, and in such u spirit
of Christian unity and fraternity among
the various denominations as can but
result in giving an impetus To christian
endeavor in the whole community, Ser
vices in the other churches were aband-
oned for the morning hour, and pastors
Joined heartily in the services which
consecrated the new Nj. Il. ediiice to di-
vine worship.
There were present within the altar
Rev. ID. G. Franklin, presiding elder,
Rev. Il. Il. Ilcenliritz, pastor, Reys. A..
W. Armstrong and J. b. Harris, former
pastors, Rev. Il. Dickinson of the Pres
byterian church and Rev. X. A, Smith,
of the Baptist church. The choir CON
sisted Of Mrs. u. +. Hooker and Miss
Minnie Leeper, soprano, Mrs. s. Il. Van
Scoy aud Miss Flora Wilson, alto,
MeSsrs. d. G. Abrams and W. Il. Cope
land, tenor, Mcssrs. A. III. Roberts and
Prof Repass, bass, and Miss Jennie
Dawson, organist. An audience APP
proXimating 600 occupied the audi
forum.
After appropriate and well executed
music by the choir and Scripture read
ings by Revs Dickinson and Smith, the
presiding elder delivered the dedicatory
sermon, an effort fervid with christian
love and human fellowship. The fol
lowing brief outline, from the notes Of
the speaker fail to do justice to the
mastery effort, but will serve to indi-
cate the line of thought pursued, and
which was eloquently ampliIied.
TExT-2nd Chronicles, 9th chapter ana Ais,
verse.
IL has been my privilege to be present and
participate IN many services similar to this. To
me such day is extraordinary. II Is the cul-
mnation of long cherished hope and desires on
the part of Gods people, and the promise OF the
brighter, happier, more beautiful days of the fu-
turc. Such an event awakens thought, qnickcns
faith, stimulates effort and II rightly Interpreted
gives promise OF pcntecOstal haptisms OF Holy
fire, God with MS, and the shout Of the saved
blending with the chorus of the skies, 1t Is not
enough that you In the providence of God have
been successful In bringing together from var.
ious quarters this material and shaping and
fashioning by sldlliul touch aud genious, this
beautiful harmonious structure. IT'S not
enough that when the lights are eXtlnguished to-
night and this place becomes silent, and You sit
by your fresldcs In your homes to talk over the
triunphs of the day; when the echo of song,
sermon and prayer shall lingcr In your soul as u
bencdietion. But there must be this added con
summation without which, all that went before
or that may follow, Is as nothing. Namely: Tie
longing, anxious, soul absorbing desire OF Solo
mon, crystaizcd and realized IN your faith and
experience, as the browning glory NJ al your Ia
boris The special presence of God In this tenn
pie as his fixed abode, and the abundant oIu-
sion OF his promised blessings on all who shall
now o. hereafter frequent this Holy place. The
dedication OF the Temple, scene Of imposing
grandeur, magnificent IN all It's appointments,
special preparation for setting 1t apart for Holy
uses. The assembled congregation OF Israel
Solomon kneclIng In the midst of the Court
spreading fourth his hands toward Heaven, CIV.
Ing utteramcc to this memorable praynr, ne.
housekeeping God ~ the Lord. seeking help,
pleading the promises, pleading forgiyncss for
sins, closing with this glorious climax the
breathing OF an anxious heart. Now therefore
arise oh Lord God into Thy restlng mace. THIS
followed by the immediate answer, the fire
coming down from Heaven, consuming the sac.
rilice and the Glory of the Lord filed ~ House
Note the result when th" ~''lldrcn OF Israel saw
now ths re came down and the Glory Of the
Lord upon the House they bowed themselves
with their faces TO the ground upon the pave
meut aud wprshiped and praised the Lord, say
ing "for lie Is good for His mercy endllreth
forever" II such marvellous results were pos
sble In those days, what Infinitely richer bless
ings may we not expect under our more perfect
dlspensntion, For that Temple was but n
shadow Of good things TO come. The things are
now present OF which those were u shadow In
the past The fire OF the Holy Spirit comes down
TO consume sin. To apply the word, TO convert
the soul. Tho possibilities Of the ehyIch are in
hnitcly greater tptidy lhan ever before. The
Holy Ghost present to inspire, to infuse life, TO
save, to send marvellous prosperity. No Evan
gclist equals Holy Ghost power coming down
from above Look up, our help cometh srum
the Lord, which made Heppou aud EARTH Cry
out and shout ihuu lnhab!tant Of Zlc. for great
Is he liply Que Of IsF:el In the midst OF thee,
IhH purpose OF this church Is not to furnish u
place Tor mere entertainment Men are tlyn"
all about you. If God Is honorud II
,Lo az, an. 10 saved. The glory Of
me earthly courts OF his House
wnen sinners are converted. All desirable pros
perity follows upon the fruits OF the spirit thus
produced. This is the important message.
"Jeslls came to save sinners" IF | could de-
liver but one discourse TO a congregation COM
posed of all the nations of the globe this should
be my text Christ Jesus died for our SINS
This is the text that has rung round the world
wherever pure Christianity has found voice.
May Il be the watchward here.
The highest type Of spiritual JOY is found in
the performance OF Gospel work of this char
acter. Feeling discipline, trample under foot
enthusiastic doctrine. "There are not few
Christians who, If they would take their fingers
of their own spiritual pulse and lay both hands
TO gospe. work, would realize the most delight
full sensation they have had since the day of
conversion" We need TO bring much sympathy
into this work to have the spirit and mind of
Jesus. Have heart life and soul in the work.
Oh brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother.
Where pity dwells, the peace oil God Is there,
To worship rightly, Is TO love each other.
Each smile hymn, each kindly deed prayer.
Follow with reyerent steps the great example
of Him, whose holy work was doing good,
SO shall the wide earth seem our Fathers Temple,
Each loving life psalm OF gratitude
Then shall all shackels fall.
The stormy clangof OF Wild war, music DER the
earth shall cease.
Love shall tread out the balefnl fires OF anger.
And in its ashes, plant the tree OF peace.
In closing the presiding elder ex-
pressed belief in the increasing power
of the church in all lands, The NJ. b.