The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-17
ITS NEW HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Central Christian Church's New Edifice
Dedicated Yesterday Morning.
Thoughts Inspired by the 0ccasion-Dr. Van
Anda on the Liquor Trafic-"Camp Meeting
Johns" Revival Services Begun.


NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Dedicatory Services Attended by q Vast
Crowd-Dr. Garrfson's Sermon.
The congregation of the Central Chris
tian Church went to their new place of
worship, yesterday, on North Delaware
street, amid circumstances most gratifying.
and held their dedicatory services sur
church is one e%minently well equipped. and
substantially US we'll as beautifully built.
The church was crowded, auditorium.
class room ana gallery, TO its utmost capac-
ity, while q number were forced TO go
away. not being able to get even standing
room. The pulpit was one beautiful
wilderness of flowers and plants, lilies of
almost every kind, palm and magnolia
greenery. with an abundance OF other hot
house products. At 9:45 o'clock the exer-
cises began with an organ voluntary by
Mr.. George A. Emerson. Rev. ID. X. Lucas.
pastor, offered the invocation. and Mrs. II.
q. Wallace read from the Scriptures. After
responsive reading the oh DIR sang an an
them. and Rev. j. II. o. Smith made .
prayer. The quartet. Professor Belcher.
edward Gates. G. II. Parker and Elmer
EIstun, sang.
Tho dedicatory sermon was pre- sched by
Rev. j. ii. Garrison. OF 81. Louis, who
rested his address on the text. "Ye are
Gods children" from the third chapter of
FIRST Corinthians. The preacher-edltor re-
garded the completion of the church as o
consummation Of the plans. prayers and
laborso of those who had managed the work.
It also marked an epoch OF progress In the
history of church work In this city and
meant that Christian faith and hope were
not ideal things. but ever growing, living
and substantial triumphs. Ii had been OBJ
served by missionaries and others who
were in foreign countries, that among idol
w~orshipers, new temples were hardly
ever erected. which testified TO the fact
that faith in such q form of worship was
surely dying. but faith in the Lord was
vital wherever planted, and held It's BAN
ners to the sun in it's upward charge IN
every quarter of the globe. IL meant also
that men and women received from the
Christian faith effective spiritual treat
ment.
The new church stands" said he. "as o
standard of religious taste and culture.
which speaks well for those who designed
and executed II. Ii 10 q cody structure,
because it was built by those who believe
both are only temporary. I'VE are Gods
children-whose house are ETH
spiritual dwelling place of the Master"
Then was considered the architect, and
his offices. through. which q proper adapta-
tion OF means TO the highest ends had been
effected. 80 was the human soul the arcbl-
tect, unalterablo by man. save through de-
velopment and evolution. Religious prog
ress was then the burden OF the sermon
for q time, which should be along God
parallels-If not all would ultimately have
10 be undone and again completed.
The builder was treated next. Take
heed how Christ build ed. Those who
preach are builders. but Christ was the
$1,000 .Id4- snh4n Ase cha n ~f
Cod an apostle had SAID to the Lord. and
the Lord had answered: On this rock |
will build my church. and upon that rock
sll churches are built. The bad building
modelled by reformers. and made right
There are those silent builders who are for.
ever erecting Partition walls between the
communiOns of Christ's followers, all of
which must and are being torn down.
Christ broke down the wall between Jew
and GENTLE. for which he suffered the dis
grace of the cross"
Then came the foundation. "Social
foundations and many religious substruc-
lures are unsound and will not stand.
Creeds are not tit material for foundations.
Have We any right TO form any creedf
This Is q great question and Is occupying
the best minds &C present In the religious
world. There should be no formulas or
subscriptions to convictions of faith. In
fidelity can destroy o creed. That monster
has had the etfrontery to storm even the
deepest foundation OF the church and de-
Mes the messiahshlp OF the divinity Of
Jesus Christ. If this can be accomplished
down comes the church with all it's treas
ures of hope and faith. Men must over
ride the distinctions and differences of
creeds. They are dong il. by COM
ing closer and closer together, as
the millennium approaches. This fact
demonstrates that tue millennium is at
hand. Religion must be spiritual and
cleansed of doctrines. Material cannot
enter the temple of Gods souls. The loyal
are oonsecrated while numbers are hesi-
Eating as to whether they shall follow
Christ or somebody else. The church Is
not q place for entertainment, nor IL IL IN
ethical society. but Is designed as q
place of alteration. worship and sac
rifice as the years go; q sanctuary
of communion. and stands az q living. ocu-
lar demonstration of the beauty and new
order of light built upon brotheriy love.
truth to the uttermost. and for
the redemption of the future.
Let this church be q progressive one.
where God inhabits the soul. A new race
Is forming-a race lndwelt by the Holy
Ghost-to whom the angels of heaven come
and with whom they abide. This is an age
of splendid structures. Small animals de-
velop in a little while. but il takes n long
time TO make q mar and longer TO make q
church. Give. Oh give, the Great Builder
timeio