The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-06
Central Congregational Society Dedl-
Gates It's Imposing Edifcs.
REV. DIR. GEORGE HARRIS SERMON
A Discourse which Attracted the Closest
Attention-The Afternoon Services
Rev. Dr. yose's Remarks Prof. ssor
Moore's OF Evening Sermon.

dedicated It's hanusome new eulncc Oh
Angell street yesterday. Services were
held morning, afternoon and evening, and
at each service the seating capacity OF the
church. which is one thousand, WAS
severely taxed. At the morning service
there must have been fifteen hundred pre-
sent. and in the evening the number was
three hui dred greater.
The services in the morning we're par
ticipated ia by ciergymen OF six different
denominations. The exercises commenced
with al organ prelude. The saluration,
Psalm XIV, was read by the Rev. e.
w. Huntington OF Lowell, Mass, with
responses by the choir. Prayer was also
made by Mr.. Huntington.
Thehymn, "Venite Exultemus Domino"
was chanted by the congregation. after
which the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark.
bishop of Rhode Island, read the Old
Testament lesson, III Chronicles, vi.
The New Testament lesson ST. John H.,
WIS read By the Rev. DR.. II. Be"J. An
drews, after an anthem hy tue choir.
The choir sang another anthem and the
congregation read the Ie Denm, the
Rev. Stephen o. Benton, presiding elder
OF the Methodist Episcopal churcl, lead
ing. The Apostles Greed was then re-
cited, and prayer was ma lie by the Kew.
Edward &. Moore, pastor OF the church.
The anthem "rhe Lord is In His Holy
Temple" which was composed by Il. X.
Glszen for this service. WAS taen sung by
the choir. After the offerJory and the
singing bE the congregation Of the hymn,
.'The Church, the Foundation" the
Rev. Prof. George Harris. ID. d., Of Aud
over, Mass, preached the sermon.
Prof. Harris Sermon.
Prof. Harris took his text from
Acts XIII, IA and 15: "And tLey went
into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and
sat down. And after the reading of the law
and the prophets, the rulers OF the syna-
gogur, sent unto them saying, Ye men
and Brethren. If ye have any word OF ex-
-heFtation for The people say on" Prof.
Harris said: 1t IS now forty-one years
since the Central Congre sational church
first occupied its house OF WORSHIP on
Benefit street. Forty years, although n
long time TO look forward TO, is a short
time to look back upon, especially In the
history of institution. Ihe house on
Benefit street served those who had IL
built during their lives, but this beauti-
ful house. esta ablished ia the centre oil a
great population, will be worsaipped IN
for a century.
alt is well that q church built in The
heart Of populous community siould
be substantially built aud handsomely
finished. When a lew Christians gather
for the first time in frontier settlement
they find an impres slveness Ia the very
plainness of tue structure they worship
in. But in city it would be both un-
seemly AID undignifed to worship in u
rude wooden structure
"This church has peen from the begin
ming a typical New England caurch. Tue
people have been largely or New England
tSck.Its )J.sJ ~, alwaJs Ds5a con
greRational.
M Always for the Congregation
Every important step or action has
been given the sanction Of the congrega-
tlou But will turn from the matter of
cnurch government 10 CONSIDER the objects
and junction of a Christian house OF
worship. Under all organized forms OF
churches worship aud preaching are the
essential objects OF the gathering OF peo-
pie to any one location. The ancient
lemple vas for ritual SACRIFICES, but h
synag que was for worship aud
ireacniug As we resd in The
chapter from which the text is taken
synagogue in Autiocn, aud after hearing
t.e reading OF rhe law and the prophets
thy we're approached by ne rulers OF the
synagogue, who said TO tnem. Ye men
aau brethren, II ye nave any word OF ex.
-lostat.ou, say on Aud Paul then spoke
10 the congregation. fnere may be seen
the two fulctions ot Christian organize
tiOn-worship aud preaching.
Ihe lowsr Of Music.
"When we gather ia church 10 worship
GJd as the Iather TO whom we come as
cnldren, the familiar forms OF prayer,
the hynhs OF trust and alteration, aud the
sweet Psalms bring US near 10 God aud
near 70 each Otser Music has the power
10 a n.arAcd degree TO express tue sinc.r-
iLY ol cnristlan worship aid there Is in
sp.red music " hlch lIIts Us up near ~ q cd.
lie oihsr object Of drawing people
together Ia CHURCH Is 10 hear sermons ne
miuister instructs the people as " the Oh
jscts ct life. lie points out tue universaiitles
OF religion. ue seeAs out those things
which are rec5g .izel by all aud tells the
congregation v. Luem. IL in because tue
preacher ilnds the unyersallties aud not
the particulars that he preacnes at all
Il m gatsgem al ncs. useless TO think
thai one ser.uon Will meet ali the wa &
Of every member OF congregation, YET
each on is stirred by the same thought,
ard moved by the same appeal. One cur
rrnt flows in the hearts Of ALL Faith,
hope aid love are one aud the same ia
tie hear1s OF all.
What catholicism Does.
have said trat Ia every re igion preach
irg and worship are a part oI the service.
Catholic 8 n gives the hrst place TO wor-
shin and reiegates preaching TO less i'm
portaDt position. In doing this Catholi-
clsm has developed a style OF archite,tu
which has the worship Of large cvngrega-
tions iD view. az Is seen An large edIhcss,
lofty arches aud loug columns Of pillars
which nids tue speaker from view.
But the architecture Of Professionalism Il
NOT dewitt q syafeets 81 worsh4p.-Iha
New EaRland meeting house OF our
fathers. low and plain though 10 was, had
its steeple with spre tapering into the
air symbolic OF aspiration.
Xorshtn aud ureaohtnU ara pot 10,