Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-22

the lights and shadows blending IN
such a way as TO appeal to the soul IN
stead of the sense, no one part OF It's
varied beauty shall be SO prominent
| that il shall call attention TO itself.
The church is the place of appoint
ment where God has promised to meet
His people to give strength and en-
couragement for their own needs, but
especially is il the camp of instruction
from which the Lords recruits are TO
90 forth to help undo the heavy bur
dens, and let the oppressed of earth
30 free. 1t is not so much place TO
honor God, as il is a place where God
honors men by meeting with them as
people and sending them forth in
His name and as His servants to rep
resent Him here OH earth, not to re-
ceive dignities and honors, but TO
! give service and love, remembering
that the One Whom God most delight
ed to honor, and Who is and shall be
forever honored, His other self, '.came
not to be ministered unto, but tomin-
lister and give His life ransom for
mativ
II is in this spirit Of service and con-
sccntion, that we may yield better
service, that we have gathered here to-
day. II is for this purpose that YOU
have spent time and money that YOU
might 50 bcautify this house, and lIar-
monte it. in every way possible, with
the Eternal Spirit which dWells here.
You are now gathered together TO re-
dedicate TO His service that editice
which has long been sacred to Him.
The house in its previous condition
had been dear to many a heart. II
has been the birthplace of many souls.
Here God and men have met together
and the halleluiahs possible to those
dwelling in tents of clay in fleshly
form. have assembled TO God, laden
with gratitude that the spirit could
feel but which the lips could never eN-
press Here have, at times, stood side
by side at Gods altar, those who were
Joined together in the sacred bonds
that only Deaths cold breath can ever
truly break in the sight Of Him from
Whom all true love emanatcs.
Here have bowed. in lowly yet ago
nizing sorrow, many hearts that have |
felt little Bit of the agony that the
Son of Man felt, and still feels, when
He sees His own parting from Him.
and knows that TO Him they are lost.
Here have bowed the heads of the
many whose hearts have been almost |
breaking. as the body of some one,
loved more than life itself, lay, in it,
cold Indifference, in polished casket
before them, precious, yet necessary 10
be put out of sight, rs the priceless
jewel had taken lis flight from the |
beautiful material dwelling. And /
here, in that sad hour, they realized I
the promise OF God, when thou
passeth through the waters | will be-
with thee, and through the rivers, they /
shall not overflow thee" God proved |
a very present help in their
lime Of trouble and gave them strength t
for the trial that was before them.
Here, also, have many come forward
md received from Gods servant the
light hand of fellowship TO the church
which has since then been a blessing
md help 10 them. But YOU have
'clt that the house was not all that il
ought TO be. You have felt ashamed.
It times. that your own home was
title more comfortable than the house
If God. Therefore you suspended
he services for time that YOU might
leautify the place where YOU intended
o invite the Almighty TO meet YOU
\ on have finished the decorations and
-ou are now anxious to give it over TO
Him again. He accepts il from YOU
n the spirit in which il is given, If
hat spirit is Ills own. He accepts il
rom each one of YOU rs far rs it is
yiyen to be a blessing to Ills people in
his place.
But remember that the Lord God
II heaven and earth, the God of space
md the God OF stars, is not confined
o any material or spiritual structure,
md that He will make Himself known
lere only TO the extent that His pres
nee is welcomed and the welcome
'roven by your readiness 20 put into
Practice the lessons that, through His
eryant, He conveys to YOU from week
o week
Let this be Your headquarters as the
.ord's servants and let this town be
our battlefield let this BE the COM
nissary department and let West
be both recruiting and cam
'aigning ground, and YOU will never
ONE here in vain to meet your Com
lander-in-Chief. God has been
hooking at your doors and YOU have
by making the house more
i for His labitation, and now YOU
pen the door and invite Him i'm.
read lightly these aisles. henceforth
lcred TO the majesty Of the Holy One.
link and speak kindly here: for the
.Ove which is infinite will be panied
y any feeling inconsistent with it
III. Listen carefully; for through the
uman voice Sppakiug Ia Won tho