The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1893-05-06
nHnRnH nEnInATInN.

GnaJ lHlriy Hlleu Gue uuulenCe anu annex.
The day was not an inviting one.
Gloomy clouds shut out the sunshine and
u continual downpour of rain made church
going decidedly disagreeabIe. However
some six hundred people braved the storm
and attended the dedicatory services.
There were seated around the altar Revs.
DR.. Gordon, of Westminster College; j.
NJ. Clancy, of Independence; A. w.
Wilson, principal OF Baptist Female
College, and r. Peyton Walton, principal
of Elizabeth Aull Seminary.
The choir was composed of the follow
ing well known vocalists and discoursed
sweet music Mt intervals during the solemn
services: Robert and James Laws, tenor;
Misses Maria Wood and Laura Andrew,
soprano; Mrs. Ed. Farley and Miss Stella
Ryland, alto; Captain Ford and Ed.
Norman, bass; Miss Ella Nickel ,~organist.
After the singing of a ~doxology Rev.
Walton lead in a brief prayer. A hymn
was sung after which the bible lesson by
Rev. DIR. Gordon, reading from the proph-
ecy of Haggai, 1st chapter 7th verse and
follow ing.
After the invo cation, which was spoken
by Rev. j. M. CLANCY, DIR. Gordon an
nounced his text as follows: "But the
glory of this house shall be greater than
the other one."
This promise, said the preacher, vas
given to the remnant of the Israelites who
had returned from their long and desolate
captivity. This people had Seen the in
vasion n devast alton of their country,
had seen the magnificent temple destroyed
by the vandal hand OF the invader, had
seen its beauty fumbled into ruins, and
then had been led away captives to become
the slaves of cruel taskmasters.
After many years of toll and suffering,
of poverty, distress and deprivation and
shame, God had delivered them, and sent
them back to their wi country.
Here the command was given them to
rebuild the temple, but how could they
with their poo means, dispirited' and
heart broken, restore that magnificent
pile that Solomon's wisdom had planned
and Solomon's munIficence had crowned?
Dispirited and heart sore they doubted
their ability and hesitated in their work.
Then God speaking through the mouth of
his prophet, made the promise of his
text, and inspired by the hope it gave,
cheered on by their faith, they went on
with their work and in a few years the
new temple was built.
Mankind, he said, was ever looking
backward. The past, viewed through the
mist and perspection of departed ages,
has a glamor and a glow, a golden haze
that led many to lament that the present
was not near so glorious as the past had
been.
He did not think that way. He believed
that the world is better now than it ever
was, He believed that the church was
better and stronger. He believed that
man was blessed to-day in greater pros
perity han they had been in the past.
Aud what was better still to him, he
believed that in the future mans chiefest
blessings are to come, Especially was
this the case of the Christian.
lie then spoke of the trials that had
been endured by the congregation at
Lexington, and also of its triumphs.
This new and elegant structure was one
OF its successes, and he congratulated it
upon 1t.
Then in h most solemn and beautiful
strain he spoke the words of dedication as
follows:
Let this day be the beginning OF a new
and better era in the life of this church.
Let the days to come be marked by a
stronger faith, a more fervent love, an
intenser zeal. More prayers, more work,
more contributions, more converts, more
souls fed, more mourners comforted, more
saints perfected.
Let the remodeled and the enlarged
church be the sign aud seal of a higher, a
better, a purer, a happier Christian life.
With this understanding and pledge let
us re-dedicate the house ana re-consecrate
ourselves TO the service of the triune God,
the Lord of Hosts.
L the only wise God, the king,
eternal, immortal and invisible-to God,
glorious in holiness, fearful in praises,
doing wonders-to God, a spirit infinite,
eternal and Interchangeable in his being,
wisdom, power, holiness, justice, good
ness and truth;-to God, the Father
Almighty, maker of heaven and earth-to
0Ous DhC 0ohs II DliShbhCbb VI Unes
Fathers glory and the express image OF
his person-to God, the Holy Spirit, pro-
ceeding from the Father and the Son-to
God, the adorable and incomprehensible
Trinity, we dedicate this house,"
"Lift up your heads, o We gates, and be
ye lit up, we everlasting doors, and the
king OF giory2 The Lord. strong and
mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle-lift
up your heads, o ye gates; even lift them
up, ye everlasting doors, and the king of
glory shall come in. Who is this king of
glory? The Lords of Hosts, he is the king
of glory"
"But will God indeed dwell on the
earth? Behold the heaven, and heaven of
heavens, caunot contain thee. How much
less this house that we ave builded. Yet
have thee respect unto the prayer of thy
servants, and to their supplication-that
thine eyes may be open toward this place,
and thine ears attend unto their cries."
Here record thy name; here cause thy
glory to dwell; here bless the promise OF
thy people, and satisfy their poor with
bread. Here, o, Lord, let thy ministering
servants be clothed with salvation; here
let thy saints shout for joy-here let 1t
be said OF Zion: "Arise, shine, for thy
light is come, and the glory of the Lord
is risen upon thee" May these walls be
called salvation and these gates praise.
The congregation have a right to feel
pIOubo VI buClE clcSdub IcW DullulHG, JnelT
altar, their pretty auditorium and cosy
annex.
Mr.. Thomas j. Bandon was the con-
tractor whose skillful hands converted the
unattractive old into the handsome new,
and right well has he done his work.
In the basement are two rooms, one to
be used for the bible class the other for
infant class. The first one is 27x28 feet,
the other 15x27. The main floor is sup
ported by the four walls, and curved
girdles resting on IS columns of hard
brick 18x1S inches.
The auditorium is 40x62 feet. The floor
rises to the rear, enabling one to obtain
q good view of the pulpit and preacher.
The altar stands out from the alcove
which is in the center of the rear wall.
Back of this is the platform for the choir
and organ.
The furniture is all of white oak fin
ished in oil and polished. The pulpit is
of the same material. This is an elegant
piece OF Workmanship and was presented
the church by Mrs. w. b. Shultz and her
sister, Miss Sue Finley, as a memorial to
their mother and aunt.
Faulty acoustics will ruin the finest
auditorium and the best preacher in the
world. In regard to this our Presbyterian
friends are to be congratulated. While
speaking in an ordinary tone the speaker
is easily heard in the remotest corner.
There are three doors for ingress and
egress, a decided convenience.
Between the auditorium and the annex
which is to be used as a Sunday school
room is n rolling partition, in three Sec
tions. The movement of these is so easy
that one man can easily elevate or lower
them. This Is n great feature.
II the auditorium be packed and more
are coming the partitions are raised and