Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1891-01-08
BRlDGETON, N. j., THURSDAY. JANUARY 8, 1891.

by Rev George S. Sykes, and the
reading of part of the 9th chapter of
Hebrews, by Rev. Joseph L. Roe.
Bishop Andrews took for his text the
words "God is a spirit" from st. John
4th, oath.
| RAISING $4,000
The GREAT FINANCIAL Work OF THE
| DAY.
When the Building Committee held
their last meeting Saturday evening,
they found that if the church was ded-
lcated free of debt, they must raise
during Sunday, S16,O00-a gigantic
task surely, but the members were
sanguine, and when the Trustees pre-
sented the church to the Bishop, it
was free of debt, the people having re-
sdepond nobly.
When DR.. Spencer began asking the
people to assist in this great work,
there had been paid on the church,
30,350.37. $1,11O.94 still remained in
the hands of the Treasurer. OF this
amount $40, 1886 90 had been borrowed.
There had been collected $21 ,23600 on
subscription. The church needed
$l5, ,0O0 to pay off the debt, but it was
desired that $4,000 be raised to make
up for possible shrinkage and interest.
A dollar collection was taken, and then
large subscriptions were asked for.
One gentleman started with $1,000, and
several $500 were given. Then $3.50
and $500, and the $100, $50 and $25
| seemed to roll in, keeping two Secre-
taries as busy as they could be. When
been subscribed. In the afternoon,
| the Sunday school responded with a
most bountiful spirit, and $S05.00 was
raised When the evening service open
ed and the collectors again began to
| work, there bad been subscribed S14,-
10000. 1t was but a few moments
later when the sum had been rounded
out to sl6,2370O.
AN ORIGINAL POEM.
PRETTY LINES BY MISS RovILLA BAB-
COCK.
Mss Rovilla Babcock wrote the fol-
loving beautiful poem which was read
Sunday afternoon, during the exer-
cises by Miss Vertie Ware:
Dear friends. it is with grateful hearts,
| We welcome you to-day;
For God has blessed His people here
| In an uncommon way.
Who would have thouz hit some years ago,
Say eighteen, twenty, or more,
That on the fourth day of this year,
In place of those old stores
Would stand a structure such as we
Might well be proud to own
A building not of wood or brick,
As some desired, but stone
You wonder why success has come:
We answer NO one shirked:'
But old and young. the rich and poor.
All had mind to work.
Yes. cen the the stones which form these walls,
A lasting record bear,
OF sacrifices in the lives
OF those who placed them there.
Say not it is extravagant
In us this great outlay
We never give thing to God
| But we receive our pay.
And now we have grand c7aach home.
| Much finer than our own;
We love it all the better, too,
| For Feeling what we've done.
But, in the midst of this glad day,
Our minds turn to the past:
We think of dear departed ones
Who've found their rest at last.
And wonder if they can look down
And see us gathered here,
Enjoying what they so much wished,
| And worked for, year by year.
They sowed the seed, we reap the fruits,
| Though latter many days..
We may not know why this should be,
! Gods ways are not our ways"
| But this we know. that all the wealth
| And beauty here displayed.
| Will profit nothing in the end
| Unless some souls are saved.
| In giving up this church to God,
| Let's give our lives to Hin;
And may it be our chief desire
| Lost souls for Him to via.
| And, should He call us soon or late,
| To meet Him face to face,
May we join those who've gone before,
Saved by immortal Grace.
THE DEDICATION.
THE BUILDING FORMALLY DEDICA-
TED BY THE BISHOP.
The church was formerly dedicated
in the evening. After the collection
DR.. Spencer sang, at the request OF the
Bishop, Ninety and nine," remarking
that he had been the first to sing this
selections on American soil. D. P.
milford, d. o. Frazeur, d. s. Blew,
VIM. Terrell, 8. M. Allen, d. E. Smith,
c. W. Shoemaker A r Garrison and