The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-19
TO THE SERVICE OF GOD.
THE INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN
SUNDAY-sCHOOL BUILDING.

sunday-schOOI Work, But VIII
Have Various Uses in Connection
With the Church.
The new building Of the Independent
Presbyterian church al Bull and Hull
streets was dedicated yesterday afternoon.
The services were interesting and in
structive. This is the third building he
longing to this church that has stood upon
the same ground, the first one having
been torn down to make way for bet
ter structure, which was built in 1854 and
destroyed by fire in 1889.
There was a large congregation pres
ent, and the services were attended by
all the pastors of the churches of the
city who were able to be present. The
opening prayer was made by Rev. W. A.
Nisbett of the Second Presbyterian church
and Rev. T. ]. Shipman Of the Dufry
Street Baptist church read the scripture
lesson from 1 Chron., XXX, $40.
Rev. J. F. Dripps, D. D.. pastor of
the Independent church, stated that the
building committee had made a final re-
port to the church on the new building
and had turned over the keys. 1t was de-
sired, he said, that the people of all the
churches in general and the pastors OF the
churches should unite with the congrega-
ton of the Independent church in this
service and for this reason it was not
held on Sunday. 1t is important, DR..
Dripps said, that it should be clearly I'M
derstood what is meant by a dedica-
ton of this place, and for that reason /
have made a statement, which 1 will
read.
He then made the following Introductory
statement:
What is meant by. this dedication?
The Bible itself can give us light on that
question. When it speaks of the Temple
as dedicated, the meaning plainly Is, that
it is set apart to the sole use of Divine
worship. But 1t cannot possibly be this
same meaning which is intended, when
Moses provided for the dedication of
mems own houses, in which all the common
affairs of life were to be carried on: or
when Nehemiah dedicated the walls
and gates around the city (Which
was practically a dedication of the city
itself, with all its inward and outward
business). Then, too, the very dedica-
ton of the Temple carried with il the ded-
ication of the chambers round about.
which were meant for residences and for
business offices. There wefe rooms con-
nected with the Temple which the Lord
Himself recognized and set apart for a
place of merchandise; and it would
never have needed the cleansing which
Jesus Christ gave it, if the merchandise
had not intruded from it's own place into
the place of worship.
According to Scripture therefore, men
may dedicate to God their own houses,
or public business offices, or the whole
city: not meaning thereby to limit the
use of these places to the sole purpose
OF worship, but simply meaning to de-
vote to Gods honor, and to the advance
ment of His cause and kingdom, the ord
mary use of them in daily life. Such
dedication does not aim at narrowing the
uses OF the place, but at elevatng the OBJ
ject to which these uses are directed
they still remain places for all manner of
work, but this work is henceforth to be
done as unto the Lord
Our past use of these two buildings is
a further instance in point. Here is one
building which We have always used for
the purpose of worship, and for that
one thing only. But here has been an
other building, which we have used not
only for that purpose, but also for many
work, for social receptions and suppers,
and for all manner of Providential emer-
gencies. Not only in the building which
formerly stood here, but in this same
building there has been this variety of
use.
The Lord hath need of it, for all this
manifold employment. Sooner or later,
ing which could be used, and was distinct
iy meant to be used for such
times appear to indicate that God is
leading His people toward a broadening
rather than narrowing of this range Of
uses.
When we undertook to build it was
distinctly stated from the pulpit that the
OBJECT proposed, was to provide not only
for the purpose of worship. but also for
the whole broad range of other pur-
poses which God in His Providence may
suggest TO us. There is a difference
therefore, between the dedication of this
building and that OF our church building: .
that was dedicated unto God for worship
only, while this is to be dedicated unto
Him both for worship and for all else
which He may Indicate"
After this Dr. Dripps made a statement
OF the various causes for THANKSGIVING
which We're suggested by the completion
structures destroyed by fire.
The dedication service then followed.
DR.. Dripps said
"Dearly-beloved: It is written that al
though heaven and the heaven of
heavens could not contain Him vet the
Lord showed unto His people in olden
time how they should build house for
Him, with chambers round about for
treasures and for parlors and for
all instruments of every kind of service
Being called thereto by His Providence
and moved by His Spirit, and having al
ready set apart a house for the sole pur-
pose Of Divine worship, we have here
of service: not only for prayer and praise.
and for the teaching of His holy word
but Tor all the outward business of the
church, and for its social assemblies: as
for aught else wherein He may be pleased
10 use us here, for the good of our fellow
men IN body or mind, in heart or soul,
Is
this end, therefore, we are now met to-
gether to dedicate the house
The keys of this house will now he
received from the building committee nv
the pastor ON behalf of the church. and
the congrega ton will rise and stand while
the words of dedication are spoken
The keys of the building We're then hand
ed the pastor by Mr.. L. T. Turner choir-
man of the building COMMITTEES. after
which the following words of dedication
were spoken, the congregation standing:
20 God, the Father Of our Lord Jesus
Christ, our Father who art in heaven To
thee for all the various uses of Thy Kine
dom on earth, we dedicate this ho11sS
20 Son of God, Only Begotten of tbe
Father, our Lord and Saviour to Thee
we dedicate it. God, the HOLY Ghost
proceeding from the Father and the Son
Lord and Giver of life, TO Thee We dedi
cate It. Holy blessed and glorious Trim
ity, three Persons in one God to Thee
We dedicate It, From henceforth let it be n
house of God for every kind of service
in the name of Father, Son and HOLY
Ghost. Amen" 10y
This house being now dedicated unto
God, l hereby commit the KEYS of n in
HIS name, unto the board OF trustees
with the solemn charge that thew deai
with 10 according 20 the will Of Goa ana
the rules Of the Church"
The keys Of the building were then de-
llyered by the pastor 20 Mr. George j.