The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-21
The RE-OPENING
OF the Fire: Christian Church OBJ
arryed Yesterday.
ELL-DN SERVICES were HELD
Which Were Attended Largely by
the CongrcgatiUn-ThO D]cdicatory
Sermon by President collars, or
Hiram ColIegc-Oser Five Thousand
Dollars Raiscti'pt the Services.

After nine Eeels. during which tho
First Christian church congregation
were cqmpeIIel 70 vacste their own
edidce, a25hold services In tho Taber.
ngcle, the r5cols.ruc.ed church was
Eoopeaed with all-day services ycs:cr-
day During these nine weeks tho
church building has virtually been
built again tEom top to bottom. Tie
front entrance has been changed and
greatly improved; q lecture room and
other apartments have been arranged
IN the old basement, Gad other i'm.
~prOYemels made, at 4 cost Of abou:
$1,000. l. ia gratifying in this connec-
ton TO state that at the se!vice4 yester-
day, the congregation pledged s5.l3S,
enough to pay for the improvements
and wipe out the deb. OF tho church.
For this condition O. aiFairs, much credit
Is due 10 the pastor Of the church, Rev.
W. Ii. Hayden, who has been in Wheel
ing since last september.
The service yesterday commenced
With Sunday school at $3.50 o'clock.
presided oyer by Mr.. Claude Buckley,
superintendent. At l0:i5 devotional
exercises and communion service took
place conducted by Rev. VI. c. Wade,
pastor OF the Christian church in Wells
'burg.
The dedica.ory sermon was preached
by President E. Y. collars, Of
Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, the i1sti.
tuition, by the way, OF which the
mariyred Pre.ident, James 4. Garfield,
was president before he entered the
Union army in 1860. at the beginning
:ot his talk the speaker quoted from the
Scripture several selections appropriate
to the occasion. and continuing said:
81 have read these passages not 10
develop them as texts nor 10 gather
from them i subject Tor a sermon, but
because they contain beautiful thoughts
which serve as n point OF departure for
the thoughts that / wish to bring Tor
ward. 1t is q good thing 10 believe tina.
God has builded this house. 1t is a NO.
cessary thing that the Lord shall estab-
.lish the work Of our hands or all will
come 70 naught. 1t is i precious thing
to feel that the eyes Of the Lord are fixed
with approval upon an enterprise such
as this. It is because We believe this
that we come to-day TO set apart this
houae in L formal and solemn manner
tn the worship Of +God and TO the service
of our Lord and Savior jesus Christ.
THE Lord has buiIdcd our house be-
cause hearts made generous and tender
by his love have pleased il, and hands
rconsecra!e6 through his spirit have
erected it HE praise and glory. The
eye OF God will be upon il not because
he loves tho brick aud mortar, but be-
cause 10 loves the noble spirit that can
bring such 4 gilt; because il Representa-
unselGsh love and true devotion. The
Lord will establish the work ior the
sake OF thosc who haue SO nobly shared
So the gii:, as well rs ior the sake Of
the blessing it will bring g much larger
circle.
"Hcnceforth :his housc is to be con-
secratef to highest uses. Here the
gweet incense Of prayer and praise will
asCoad to'God. Here earnest souls will
gather to reverently study Gods holy
word. Here will be sounded out the
Gospel, the glad t!dings OF salvation TO
the world. Such a gathering "a this and
for ouch 4 purpose il useful occasion;
it is capable OF being used for high and
holy ends. It turns our thoughts to
the past. 1t is the oud OF much We are
glad is post, and yet we would not for.
get it-anxiors thought, earnest prayer,
heroic struggle. It is the end OF much
I'VE are glad is past, and yet We would
not Observation-Disclosures, hasty words.
heart bvnings. 1t causes q feeling OF
Fellowship with departed, sainted spir-
jts. How nnxiously some who are gone
looked forward to this day.
at fixes our minds on tho present.
The past is 4 great inheritance. What
treasures memory holds. yet ell this
dIas its value because OF the here and