The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-03-29
THE BAPTIST TABERNACLE
Is Reopened With Very Impressive Ser
vices Rev. DR.. Hatchers Address.

% htopeuou Win very Impressive CcI-
vices Rev. DR., Hatcher's Address.
Rev. DR.. J J Hall, pastor of the
Baptist Tabernacle, in company with
the members of IFS congregation, re-
joiced at the bri ght sunshine Sunday
and We're grateful for it. 1t
was the day set apart for he beginning
OF the exercises comru ~morative of the |
reopening of the church. s.By II o'clock !
the auditorium was filled and So was the |
Sund.y >chool room adjoining, which
is di,idt-d from it by doors which slide
upwards. The interior of the church,
viewed FOR the first time, had a pleas
irg tfrrt. 1t is spacious, the
walls are in neutral tints
brown and light blue prevailing. and
the frescoir. i, tasteful. The ceiling
is of metal AT he south end is the
triple window in memory of the late
Mr.. Jordan Womble. In the centre
is large crystal chandelier. The
pulpit is in recess in the east side.
There are several entrances, the main
one being on the south side, through !.
lobby, opening by three doors into the
church prop-r, 1t was a quarter past
ii o'clock when the services began.
The 400 opera chairs in the main
auditorium We're all filled. SO were
chairs in he aisles, and so were all
the seats in he >unday-schcol depart
ment, from which the view was un-
DISTRACTED. At the time named Sc.
lected choir sang hymn. Then Rev.
DR.. Hall stepped to the pulpit, the
front of which was banked with gera-
NUNS and callas, and read selection
from the scriptures. The ''reopening
hymn" written by Rev. DR.. Hall, was
read by Rev. Dr. Sanderlin, who an.
nounced that it was composed by the
pastor. The audience joined in thf
singing, cornet leading. Rev. j. B
Boon read another selection, and Rev
DR.. T. f. Skinner offered prayer. Rev
DR.. Hall, making some remark
expressive of his gratitude fo
50 fine day and for th'
presence Of so learned preacher as Rev
DR.. William E. Hatcher. Of Richmond
Introduced the latter, who then preached
the special reopening sermon. He con
graduated the congregation on tn
beauty and capacity Of the church an
on the spiritual prosperity which had at
, tended the church's work in Raleigh. II
dwelt upon the importance of giving u
all and giving faith and fortune t
; Christ. Faith must be mingled wit
: the petition. The miracle of miracle
! is Christs belief in huma.ity God ha
great deal of faith in us and OF belle
] that there is something in us. He sa,
enough in human nature for Him
: intercede for it and die for it. II Ii
e believes in US we must believe in Hin
. A prayer seldom offered is that Go
t will give US faith to believe in eac
: other. Loss of faith in one anothe
5 and in self is deadly catastrophe.
{ every man God sees the actual and th
. possible In the case cited in the te1
- the prayer was for life of devotion
, but not life of activity. There aretw
d great ideas of IA Christian life; one of ii
a monastic, hiding away from the worl
4 the other the active life, fighting I'll
,f battles of Christ. God gives distin
d idea of what our course should be;
Of be missionaries and not monastic
E. There is always the supreme necessi
d Of active work.
re Rev. DR.. Hall, at the con clusion
0, the sermon, called on Mr. n.
d Broughton, chairman of the buidi
d committee, to make some remarks. NJ
te Broughton spoke with much feelin
is He begged leave to thank DIR. Hatch
,e for his sermon. which took him back
,e the beginning of he history of the Bs
es tist tabernacle, the Second Bapt
n church. Then he graphically sket'
I'd ed its origin; how few
Id the members of the FIRST B.
It. tist church left it and founded a m
p sion in east Raleigh; how that gre
d. now tie present site was occupied, n
ne large church built But this was
n large enough and as a result this
as modelling and extension became nee
I'm sary. God, he declared, had singula
I'll favored this church in all ways.
he members we're earnest, devoted, Ii
nd raj, working Christians, who ha'
peculiar work, missionary work,
do and who were doing it, in all pa
of the city. There are 1852 memh
- of the Sunday-school. There are o
he 500 members of the church. In j.
in the work of remodeling began, ;
ty, $4,000 had to be expended. He set
the fore the congregation the fact that
or 5OO,yas needed at once I,ater there III