The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-04
DEDICATED TO CHRIST
Elder Streator Delivers a Very Abe
Sermon.
THE CHURCH OUT OF DEBT
Many Visitors Present From
Abroad. and Two Immense Con-
gregations-Eroth Barnaby
and His Flock Happy.

The dedication OF the Church or
Christ was very happily contaminated
last evening at the corner of Oak and
Sixth streets. The edifice was packed
by a large and intelligent congregation.
Elder G. f. Barnaby conducted the
exercises assisted by Elder Jordan of
Deer Lodge. A choir rendered excel
lent music, Miss Pauline Brownen
singing a beautiful solo. A magnific-
emit collection was taken and the debt
on the furnishings of the church prac-
ticaily lifted.
Visiting brethren were present from
Butte, Deer Lodge and other cities.
Among them were Elder w. NJ. Jordan
of Deer Lodge, Mr.. and Mrs. E. Schar-
nikow and Mrs. Batterton and daugh-
tiers Of Deer Lodge, Miss Nellie Adams
Of Butte.
Elder ]. NJ. Streator was at his best
In both the morning and evening SER
mons, the latter. the dedication ad-
dress. being specially enjoyed. Elder
Streator said:
From the earliest ages. as far as we
have any record of the past, men have set
apart some place for the especial purpose
of worshipping God. This setting apart
has been called a conservation or a dedi-
cation. One of our modern bards has told
US that The groves were Gods first tenn
pies. The sacred places where the an
clients built their affairs and placed their
shrines were the shades of forest trees.
There they offered their sacrifices; there
their prayers went up TO a throne of
grace; there their hymns of thanksgiving
were sung, and there the lessons of life
were given to the old and young. But. in
the process of time, when God desired TO
make a nation of the descendants of
Abraham, in which the first Lessons of the
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of
men were to be taught, He Ordained that
his affairs should be in the tabernacle, so
constructed as to be easily carried as the
people withdrew from place TO place, until
they settled in the promised land. The
tabernacle was a magnificent structure
for people who lived in tents. But when
the tents were discarded and the dwellers
in the land had beautiful homes and cost
ly mansions, IL was right even in the
sight of God, that the place in which His
name would be written and His presence
be known and felt should be something
more In harmony with the houses in
which the people lived
THE result of this development was the
temple built by Solomon and dedicated to
the worship of the one true and living
God. To people who lived in an age
when moral and spiritual truths were but
vaguely understood there was a necessity
that the worshipper should have a visible
manifestation of God. This was supplied
in the structure and furniture of the tab
ernacle and temple, the regulations ac-
cording to which its service was conduct
ed and the Shekinoh, dwelling between
the cherubim, was an ever present wit
ness that God heard and accepted the Of
ferings OF His people, under the ministra-
tons OF the high priest. But. in our day
and generation affairs are different
Thousands OF years OF education have adj
vanced the people beyond the demand and
wants of children. Moral, intellectual and
spiritual blessings are as much in de-
mand as those of a mere temporal and
sensuous character Ignorance is con-
sidered a misfortune: vice is something
to be abhorred; intelligence is looked up
on as a blessing and virtue one of the
lovelfest graces that adorn humanity
This advancement towards the higher life
has been the result following the grating
into the peoples lives the doctrinal and
practical truths of revelation.
1t is frequently claimed that great sci
entific truths have been discovered by
those who were ignorant of what are
called Christian scriptures. This is true
In part. Some of the ancient pagans
made known to the world principles of
philosophy and mathematics But as far
as they went there was little in their
lives and philosophy TO lift up the masses
of humanity and ameliorate the condition
OF the learned and the ignorant. the rich
and the poor, the nobleman and the peas
ant. The only philosophy that has ever
reached all classes of men is the pure and
unadulterated gospel of Christ. The only
nations where science is making great ad-
vances are those where Christianity is the
power of the land; the homes of the
higher criticism, the intelligence that has
made what is thus denominated a possi-
bility, is the imperishable document that
mortal man is trying to destroy. How
ever, the decree has gone forth from Him
who sitteth upon the throne of the uni
verse that all flesh is as grass, and all
the glory Of man as the flower of grass;
the grass withereth and the flower there
OF falleth away, but the word OF the Lord
endureth forever, and this is the word
which by the gospel is preached unto
ye.'
1T is for the dissemination of this
power OF God unto salvation that Chris
tian churches are built. IL was for this
purpose that this house was designed and
constructed. II is a place where Chris
tians and those desiring to learn OF God
can come together and praise God as one
body. There is nothing selfish in Chris
tianity. The idea of unity. a prevailing
something that makes mankind one in its
purpose, one in its work. one In its
praise. demands that individuals shall not
worship alone. but that the worship and
praise be from a united poole. This re-
quires places OF worship.
II is true that our emotions and ideas
are affected by our surroundings A bat
tlefield impresses us with the horrors of
war; children at play upon the green
bring TO our minds the joys of youth
which makes us think the past days were
better than the present; halls especially
devoted TO revelry turn our thoughts to
dance and wine and fieeting pleasures:
the places devoted to Gods worship fill
us with awe when we remember His
greatness: with thankfulness when We
know His love; with zeal when we learn
the duties that we owe 10 Him and with
Joy unspeakable when we are told His
promises.
THE setting apart OF a building 20 God
II devoting IL 10 that which pertains to
His worship: TO the preaching OF His
gospel. and TO the impressing on the mind
things true. honest. just. lovely. OF good