The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-20
CHURCH WITH A NEW NAME
The Fifth Presbyterian Dedicated, to Be
Known as the Westminster.
A Congregation Was Twenty Years in Com.
pleiing Its Building-Revival Services at
Blackford.Street Methodist Church.
OBLIGATORY EXERCISES.

Completed Building Of the Fifth. Now the
Westminster, Presby terrain Church.
Nearly twenty years ago. at the south
west corner of Michigan and Blackford
streets. a church building was begun. The
edlfice. known as the Fifth Presby terrain
Church, never grew higher than one story.
however, owing TO inability to secure funds
for its completion. Pastor after pastor
failed to induce tho contribution OF enough
money to make the building what it was
originally intened it should be. So for years
services were held in the half-fnished
structure. temporary roof having been
put in position when 1T was seen that the
completion was so far In the future as to be
indefinite. A little more than a year ago
Rev. s. 5. Altman became pastor of the
church, and short time prior to his taking
hold work on the building had
been renewed. He was faced. by
$1,000 debt and split the con-
gregati0n. but he went to work with will
and the debt was soon paid off, During ths
past year sixty-five new members have
joined the church, and there has been
raised 1900, with which amount another
story has been added ana the structure
practically completed. The interior needs
some finishing touches, which it will re-
ceive when enough money is contributed,
and it is also the purpose to have q gym
naslum and bathrooms on the lower floor.
which was formerly the auditorium. The
seating Capacity of the new auditorium is
about five hundred, and the room is airy
and pleasant and its acoustic properties
Yesterday the church az completed was
dedicated and It's name formally changed
to Westminster Presbyterian Church:
The auditorium was completely filled
pnpt n made sDsHs in by pams ferns
pOtted plants and flowers. Special serv-
ices were held to mark the event. the
choir, under the direction of j. A. Allison,
rendering some excellent music. Rev. s.
}. Mcpherson, ID. d., of the Second Freshly
terrain Church. Chicago, occupied the
pulpit both morning and evening. At the
morning service he took for his text the
thirteenth verse Of the twenty second
chapter of Revelations:
"I am alpha and omega, the beginning and
the end, the first and the last"
Before beginning his discourse Dr. Nc
Pherson congratulated the congregation
upon the completion of the church and ex-
pressed his pleasure at being able to take
part in the dedicatOry services. stranger
as am" said he. II have heard of your
hard wOrk-your long dIscouragement and
the recent influx of hope. l regard the
church a business as well as
moral institution, although essentially of
course religious one" After remarking
that he could strike no better key note for
the work of the rejuvenated church than to
talk of Christ and His glorious personality.
the Doctor took up his text. The pro-
teachers like Jesus Christ are told as we
cannot tell them-in the simplest
terms Jesus is the omega, the en-
during, protest against and the
Hei is the stay and support of all things
human. for they are fieeting while He is un-
changable. always. ever. He Is the alpha
and omega of eternity itself. Is it then
Giles when lie is the alpha of all creation'
He is the alpha and omega of the human
spirit. All ages find their genesis
in Him. lie fs He also who
understanding so that We may know
God. Calvary seems to me to be the reSer
yoir in which ell streams end. and the
fountainhead where all that is good began.
Christ's cleansing blood. The hill of
Bethany from whence lie went is human
ity's stepping-stone. Human nature
never knew itself nm until Christ
suppressed evil and in the end elevated man
kind and ennobled labor. If it be in any
sense true that Jesus Christ is the alpha
and omega of natural things. then He Is the
beginning aud end OF all spiritual thlnR8.
He is the pivot and tOuchstOne of all
Christianity. He is the theme
of the worlds entire structure,
the dominating figure in everything,
the word of God itself How do
you study the Bibles You will miss Its
meaning if you do not know that Christ is
the dominating theme. Unless you recog-
nize this yon miss its meaning altogether.
He is the alpha and omega of our saliva
ton. Free salvation is ready for distribu-
ton. Oh. brethren, take it. Hesitate NO
longer. but take it now.
church on EARTH" said the reverend
gentleman. in conclusion. He is the
mediator of its worship. the legislator
grant that this church consecrated to Him
to-day may dwell many years with Him in
unity, and that its members. after years of
good work here. may find Him above.
Jesus Christ is also the alpha and omega of
heaven itself. In His blessed personality
He Outlives heaven. do not know where
, heaven is. but 1 do slnOwN that Christ
points the way. l do not know who are to
be there rs ing everlasting companions. but
/ DO not know that they will recognize
each other naturally and that in that con-
tinued city whose maker is God. all shall
dwell at home with Him. and with each
other. / shall see Him face to face shall
be content with Him. do not know what
the emplOyments of heaven are, but am
sure shall be satisfied there where my in
heritance is eternal blessedness. Remem-
Der to-day. dear brethren, that Christ is
Christianity. Is salvation, is the secret of
the church'S success"