The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-31
DEDICATED TO GOD.
The New Lutheran Church Conse-
Grated Amid Impressive Ger
emonieS,

emonieS.
The completion of any enterprise,
public or private, is time of con-
graduation and joy. Truly. there
fore, is it meet and right not only
for joyous services to attend the
opening of church, but also the
occasion for the community to rem
der most hearty thanks to God
Almighty for His kindly favor and
guidance. fol- the strength and
means given, for the success
attained and for the results achieved.
The dedicatory services of St.
Marks Evangelical Lutheran
Church were begun on Saturday at
Sp. M, by season of humiliation
and prayer. The opening service
was conducted by Rev. Oliver G.
Miller, of Roanoke, Va. An anthem
"Awake, put on Thy Strength"
was rendered by the choir, Miss
Savilla Leathers, organist, Prof.
VIM. f. Thiede, of Baltimore,
leader The sermon. from the text
Matt. 22:1l, u, by Rev. Miller,
called upon one and all to renew
their conservation to God in thor
ough preparation for and hearty
participation in the Holy Commun-
ION. This was followed by the
usual solemn preparatory services
conducted by the pastor
Sunday morning, August 9th,
dawned bright and fair-an auspi-
cious beginning The people began
gathering early, and by time for
service to begin, Q0:30 a. m. the
main audience room was comforta-
bly, filled, and many in the Sunday
school room. The people continued
coming until both rooms were we'll
filed.
Opening services were conducted
by the pastor, The scripture les
son read by Rev. S. L. Keller, of
Carmel, W. Va, and prayer by Rev.
Samuel Laird. D. D., of Philadel-
phia. Rev. Miller, by way of intro
duction, referred to some expert
eIees of his ministry in this place
thirteen years and more ago, then
announced his text:
Math. l6; Is. "And | say unto
thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock 1 will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not pre-
vail against it,"
This is the boldest utterance that
ever fell from the lips of man. 1t
was spoken by Him who "spake as
never man spake" and falls upon
our ears with all the impressiveness
and power of Divine authority. In
it three things are set before US
The Rock, the church and the gates
of hell, or the foundation, super
structure and safety of the church
of Jesus Christ on earth. 1t is
strange that a text with such clear
enunciations of truth should have
become the subject of SO much con
troversy, which has been brought
about by the vain effort Of the
church of Rome to found the supre-
macy of the Papacy upon Peter as
the first Of his line. The original
Greek clearly shows that such was
not the teaching of the Master for
He SAYS thou art Petr0S, a rock, a
fragment of stone, but upon this
Petra, this stone, this mass of Rock,
this confession of faith in rae which
you have just made as the Christ,
the promised Messiah the Son Of the
living God, l will build my church.
PETERS OWN TESTIMONY.
The falacy of this idea of the Ro-
mish church appears from Peters
own words, in which he addresses
the elders of the church of the dis
persion as a fellow elder only equal
in authority with them at the same
time cautioning them not to lord it
over Gods heritage. There is moth
ing in all the record of the act of
the apostles that even hints at the
supremacy Of Peter, and his impul-
sive and fallible character would
not have made him the chosen one
for the chureh's foundation. Paul
with his usual emphasis resolutely
standing upon his faith in Jesus
Christ as the Son OF God and Son
of man declares that "other founda-
ton can no man lay than that
is laid in Jesus Christ" Oh what
comfort and assurance we have in
building the hope Of our salvation
upon such foundation. Then let
MS sing with JOYFUL Strain.
"On the Rock Of Ages founded
what con shake thy sure repose:
with salvation's walls surrounded
Thou may st smile al all thy foes"
THE SUPERsTRUCTURE OF THE
CHURCH.
BY the church Of the living God
built upon the faith Of the prophets
and apostles, the pillar and ground
of the truth as it is IN Jesus, we
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