Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-04
DEDICATED A TEMPLE.
Formal Opening of the New NJ. E.
Church at Williamsburg.
BISHOP J. P. NEwMAN'S SERMON.
Liberal Contributions Made by Members
of the Congregation.
SoUTHsIDE CORNER STONE LAYING

The dedicatory services of the Wilkins
burg NJ E. church were well attended yes
terday, Notwithstanding the inclement
whether The large edifice was comfortably
filled, morning, afternoon and evening. The
morning exercises commenced at 1880 with
the doxology, followed by the Lords
PRAYER Then the choir rendered Rossini's
famous anthem, '"The God of Israel" and
the congregation Joined in singing the
HYMN, "Before Jeoovah's Awful Throne. I"
Bishop j. P. Newman, d. D., LII D.,
delivered the dedicatory sermon. The sub
iect was: "Without Holiness No Man
Shall See the Lord" He laid down the
principle that there must be character in a
man before he can become Christian. He
thought some men were more or less vicious
because they were born so. 1t was their
misfortune more than their fault Such
men could be saved, but only through the
interposition of Christ. He illustrated his
address with scraps of historical informa-
tion, sacred and secular, and, independently
of the lessons he drew from his subject, the
sermon was a most interesting one, from
merely entertaining point of view. He re-
lated number of anecdotes, among others
one of Edwin Booth. He said that Mr..
Booth had often represented villains on the
stage, although in reality he was a most
tender-hearted man. He was fond of buy
ing dogs and making pets of them. On one
occasion favorite dog died and Mr.. Booth
went to minister with request that he
would bury the animal with Christian rites
The Bishops Opinion of Some Dogs.
Said the Bishop: ''The minister was
shocked, as some ministers naturally would
be, although have known many dogs that
would rather bury in that way than some
men have known" He thought Job was
a man of strong character, and good model
for men at all times If he (the Bishop
were allowed to have only two books, he
would choose the Gospel according to ST.
John and the Book of Job. He closed with
an exhortation to trust in Christ as the great
molder of character, and urged them to
form their lives after that of the Great Mas
ter so far as in them lay.
At the close of the Bishops sermon q
dedicatory anthem by Coe was sung by the
choir. The congregation was dismissed with
the benediction pronounced by Rev. James
Mechem, pastor of the church. Mr. C. c.
Mellor presided at the organ at the morning
and evening services, as well as at the plat
form meeting in the afternoon
The platform meeting commenced at
p NJ, with Rev. j. w. Miles, d. D., pre-
siding The proceedings opened with the
anthem "Praise the Lord, /" followed by the
hymn, Call People That on Earth Do
DWELL" Then there was prayer and an
ing ministers delivered ten-minute ad-
dresses of congratuIation. The first speaker
was Rev. Latshaw Mcclure, who said the
new building was one of the handsomest
churches he had ever seen, and he was
proud that it was being dedicated to the
service of the Lord.
a Praise for the Church Children.
JoSa, G. Holmes said that what struck
him mYre than anything else was the fact
that st many children had contributed
toward the building of the church. He |
said his own church was burned down. and |
he felt all the more interested in this at /
on that account. He would |
take note of what the children of Will |
kinsburg had done for their church, and he |
would try and interest his own children in |
the same sort of work. He said that where |
people put their moneJ they had the more |
interest, and this princi pie was as strong in |
church matters as any others.
Rev. S. II. Moore, pastor of the Wilkins |
burg Presbyterian Church was called upon |
to represent the ministers of Williamsburg |
He said he was sorry that he had been |
chosen to speak for his brethren, because |
he could not help regarding the Methodists
somewhat in the light of invaders His |
church was only a stones throw from the i
edifce in which he then stood But he
could assure them of one thing-that they |
had got into a respectable neighborhood, |
and admired their choice in making this |
selection of site. He closed his remarks
pleasantly by rendering his hearty congrat-
ulations and expressing the hope that the |
new church would be blessed in the service
Of the Lord
Rev. j. Franklin Core, the former pastor
of the church, was to have been present, but
was unable to come from his home in Taren-
tum. The exercises closed with the singing
OF the ''Magnifcat' and the benediction.
In the evening Rev. w. F. Oldham, d. |
D., pastor of the Butler Street M. E.
Church, preached. Then the church was
formally dedicated, and with a hymn and
the benediction the important day was
brought to close.
Avery Handsome Structure.
The church cost S35. 900 exclusive of the
ground upon which it stands. Of this sum
the ofertory yesterday realized S11, 200 in
the morning and afternoon, with large
sum in the evening that brought the sum
up toward 1000 The congregation owed
s22, 900 out of this 5000, but after yester-
days heavy contributions it will be seen
that the church is nearly paid for, compare
lively speaking. The S11, 900 was not all
cash, some of it being only guaranteed, but
it is all to be paid within i2 months
The interior of the church was tastefully
decorated with palms and cut flowers, large
vases being placed on the reading desk, on
the organ railing and in other prominent
situations A pretty feature of the fur
nishment of the interior is the drapery that
divides the church proper from the Sunday
school room. 1t consists of portieres of light
,olored velvet edged with fringe. and
festooned from the three arches.
There are most beautiful stained glass win
lows, and many of them The interior is
,f hard wood in oak finish, and the CARPET
ng of handsome brussels harmonizes with
he tint of the wood. The church is shaded
,y tall naples and poplars that are among
he ancient giants of the forest that existed
when Williamsburg was very inconsider-
lble place. The borough can now boast of
everal large and beautiful churches which
will be added to by another-that of the
Reformed Presbyterians-that is to be COM
nenced within few weeks.