St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-23
A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH.
The New Central Presbyterian Ed
ifiCe Dedicated

The new Central Presbyterian church
was dedicated last night with ceremon-
les betting the modern Christian
church. The exercises were devoid of
pomp or parade or ritualistic formali-
ties, but were rather of the order in
keeping with views of people who be-
lleve in an ever-preSent and rational
God who will accept the sincere offer
lngS of good people. The church is a
beautiful edifice, and is well adapted to
its purpose in the interior arrangements.
The audience last night was made up of
people from other congregation, as well
as that of the new church, and the seat
ing capacity in the main auditorium,
gallery and school room adjoining was
well tested by the 1000 or more persons
present. The pulpit and altar were
beautifully decorated with pOtted flow
erS, with a background of plants, and
all overtopped with row of palms.
The ministers occupying seats in the
pastor of the church; Rev. Robert Chris
tie, ID. D., of House of Hope church.
Rev. D. j. Burrell, d. D., of West
minister church, Minneapolis; Rev.
Robertson, of White Bear. and Rev.
Lewis, of Ninth Srteet Presbyterian
church. The services began at S, p. M.
with an organ voluntary by Prof.
Wheaton. a doxology was then sung
by the entire audience, led by A. C..
Harper as preCentOr. Rev. Robertson,
of " hite Bear, invoked blessing upon
the aSSemblage.
The congregation then sang Corona
ton" Rev. Lewis read the 122d Psalm,
after which prayer was offered by Dr..
Christie. A hymn was then sung which
had been written for the occasion by
Johnson read brief history of the
building of the edifice, the substance of
which has already been published in
the GLOBE. Steps were begun toward
constructing the building Feb. "a, 1889,
by W.P. Donaldson, Washington NJ. Stees
and Gates A. johnson as a committee.
Mr.. SteeS died before the completion
of the building, and Robert p. Lewis
took his place on the committee. The
first stone of the foundation was laid
July q, 1889, and the corner stone was
laid with appropriate ceremonies, in
which the congregation participated, on
Oct. 23, 1889, at 3 p. III. The walls were
then several feet high, and the floor
was laid. The cost of the building, ex-
elusive of the pipe organ and carpets,
land carpets were paid for by
the ladies of the congregation.
1t was year and thirteen days from the
time of the last meeting in the old build
ing, Oh the same site, and the first
services held in the lecture room of the
new edifice. The seating capacity Of
the main auditorium is $50. OF the gal
lery $50 and of the school room 920, max
ing total Septing capacity of 1850, SO
arranged that speaker i'll the pulpit
can be seen and heard by an audience
occupying the entire area.
Rev. d. j. Burrell, ID. D., of West
Minister church, Minneapolis, preached
the dedicatory sermon, using as a text
the 122d Psalm. The sermon was a
most BETTING one and was delivered
with the characteristic earneStnesS and
eloquence of the distinguished divine.
1t embraced a review of the Jewish
and later Christian religious zeal and
perseverance, and an eXhortation to
righteousness, and closed with an Invo-
cation that as no man had been hurt or
killed in the construction Of this church
so might no man or woman in the church
fall to degradation or go down to eternal
death.
The pastor, Rev. Maclaren. offered a
dedicatory prayer. The audience then
sang "Stand Up. Stand Up for Jesus"
and were dismissed with a benediction.