Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-15
CHURCH TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
The bethlehem Congregation Celebrate
Their Anniversary-Othsrs Services

Their Anniversary-Othsr Services
Tic congregation of Bethlehem Evan
geical Lutheran church Corner Sixth and
Clay streets) celebrated the twenty-ffth
anniversary of the dedication OF their
house of worship on Sunday. and the oc-
casion was q most interesting one. The
interior of the sacred edifce was ex-
quisitely decorated with g0rlauds, ever
greens, aud notices worked in flowers.
This work. which was done by the men,
bers, displayed the most consummGte
taste and wonderful ego for the beauti-
ful.
The services were of highly festive
character and the music was excellent.
Two yioIins and cornet seconded the
organ, and the choir, under the direction
of Mr. Rudolph MOesta, was strengthened
by Mr.. Oscar L0hman. Mr.. III. Rueger. Mr..
&. Phillips. and hiss Katie Philips. There
were several songs by the children.
The morning services. which were in
German, wero conducted by Rev. l.. Loeb
ncT, of Chicago. "a former pastor OF the
church. The discourse was OF reminis-
cent nature. At night Rev. II. Is. Hemme-
ter, of Baltimore, delivered most edifying
sermon. On both OCCASIONS the beloved
minister. Rev. {. j. OechlscElaeger. who
was chosen as pastor of the flock IN 1888,
gave q bret history of the church. which
was organized in 1852. The following year
a lot was purchased and in 1868 the present
edifce was erected. At. FIRST the member
ship only consisted OF thirty-nIne voting
members, and from these the following
deacOus were elected Mcssrs. Ernst
Frauck. John KlOeber, Scherer. Abcrhard
Iohmnn. aud +. Schneider. The latter is
the only one Of the dsacOns now living.
TtA church to-day has ftty-One voting
mefr bers and 20J cOmmuniDg members lt
is IN a tiourishing condition and promises
a great spiritual work for the future. The
following ministers have been pastors OF
the church since its organization Rev.
Messrs. {. II. W. Luebkert, G. Gross, Il.
Lochner. L. Dreyer and G. j. Oechslae-
ger.
The congregation of the church con-
tinued their festivities yesterday 10y
having a splendid picnic at Blandon
Park. Nearly two hundred persons took
part in the harmless frOlIc and the day
was most enjoyably spent in recreations
and games. At II o'clock IN the morning
Rev. {. H. ". Luebkert preached "a ser
mon at the picnic grounds.
THE KEYS OF HE'LL AND DEATH.
DR. Hawthornes sermon at the First
Baptist church Sunday morning was u
strlklngly fine discourse and WAS heard by
an immense midsummer congregation.
The text was the last clause of the 18th
verse of the LIST chapter OF Revelations
" And f. have the KEYS of death and Of
hell The sermon was deTOted largely to
a discussion of the intermediate state.
The speaker called attention to the fact
that the word hell as here used was trans
lated from hados aud did not mean
pcrdltiou, but simply the mystic,
unknown realm beyond this life
in which there are two places OF abode
one Of lnedable blessings generally called
heaven, and the other the place OF perdl-
tion commonly called hell. but more
properly gehenna-between which two
places there Is an impGssaDlo guilt Dr.
Hawthorne, replying to his newspaper
critics, said it was TO hades, not to Se-
henna. that he declared the soul of Jay
Gould, the greatest OF oil hnanciai
despo.s, had gone. Abraham and many
other good men the distinguished divine
named as having also gone to hades-the
unknown world. Christ. the speaker said,
held two koys--ons of death, the door
through winch exit Is made from this
world. and the other of hell thades). the
entrance way to the mystic world.
BRIEF CHURCH NOTES.
Rev. DR.. q. B. Moore, professor of
moral philosophy III Furman University,
preached TO large congregation at the
Second Baptist church Sunday morning.
DIR. Moore Is a brother-in-law of Mr.. a. j.
CheWnlng, OF TINS Guy.
DIR. Pitt preached at Venable Street at
night and was heard with pleasure oy ms
old congregation.
Rev. T.. l.. Pell occupied the pulpit of
Centenary church on SUNDAY, as the pastor,
Rev. Dr. S!cdd. ls away from the city.
la the absence OF Rev. w. a. Christian,
who Is assisting IN camp-meetlng IN
Greene county, the pulpit of Washington
Street church was filed on Sunday by
Rev JohG L. Mccartney, OF Randolph
Macon College. Mr.. Christian Will take no
vacation this summer, and IN few days
will return u the city and remain here the
balance of the season. After leaving Greene
county he will attend the district confer
ence Of the East Richmond District, which
will be held IN Louisa.
At Park Place church the congregations
were unusually large for this season or
the wear. DIR. Young has remained at his
post the entire summer and or Sunday
preached two powerful sermons.
AT the Church of the Covenant Sunday
evening a report of the great Christian
EudeayOr Convention wGs presented Dy
Nit ID. $. Bennett. one of the delegates
from the Endpavor Society Of that church,
who attended. The report was very, IN;
terestlng and was listened to with marked
attention by the la-Ge congregation. Sc
yenteen thousand delegates from thirty
different denominations attended the con-
yeutlon. The singing was not one Whlt
behind that Of the New York convention.
The speakers and their leadership were the
best and most interesting ana proutaoIe:
There were no Draw backs OF any account
exceptin the dlstur Dances on the part OF
the rough element OF the city, and these
little hindrauces were, as shown oY the
reDOrt. the means of the greatest splTltual
blessing OF the convention.