Bridgeton pioneer., 1895-07-04
DEDICATION SERVICES.
The Handsome Berean Baptist Temple
the Youngest Church in Town.
Now Ready for Holy
Services.

Over hundred thousand dollars has
been expended in this city in the last SIX
wears upon the construction of churches.
and the last one to be dedicated to the
public worship of God, is the beautiful
Berean Baptist Temple, which was dedi-
Gated with imposing ceremonies Wednes-
day afternoon, the ceremonies ending
at night with an interdenominational
meeting, which was participated in by
many members of the different churches
in town, and by the leading preachers Of
the city.
The dedicatory services were in charge
of Rev. Geo. L. Hart, pastor Of the new
church.
The church was beautifully decorated
with flowers; tall palm ornamented each
side of the pulpit, platform, and the pulpit
and all the front of the platform were
profusely decorated with flowers and
trailing vines.
The church is the prettiest one in this
city; it's architecture is unique, and its
accommodations most modern.
The seats are ranged semicircuiariy,
like those of Central; the auditorium is
octagonal in shape, the roof rising from
each side of the octagon into pyramidal
dome.
One side of the octagon opens into the
chapel. the connecting side is occupied
by the pulpit platform, and the side adj
joining this is the choir recess. The pull
pit platform is relieved by doorway
into the baptistry, and at the extreme are
doric pillars and square columns; the
roof is pine finished.
The church has been described in these
columns before.
The dedicatory services were begun by
the choir singing Coronation" and
prayer by Rev. ]. j. Davies, of Mullica
Hill Baptist church.
The scriptures were read by Rev. M.
M. Finch, of Camden.
The anthem, "Peace be Within Thy
Wallis" was sung by the choir, and then
prayer was offered by Rev. G. e. Cordo,
Of Philadelphia.
IT Love Thy Kingdom Lord" was
sung, and then the dedicatory sermon was
preached by Rev. G. G. Tilley, of the
First Baptist Church.
His text was "Lord have loved Tie
habitation of thy house AID tie nl3oe
where thine honour dWeueth,'
than ...ss,ae. " ny si}oala AeVIA naNe
loved the Temple more Lnan any other
house, and why should we love this new
church more than we loved the little
house in the rear which we have now
abandoned? were the questions with
which Mr.. Tilley began his discourse.
He told then, how his brother had last
summer visited the old parental home in
Maine, and wandered amongst the OLD
scenes of their youth, and how dear
were the memories of former days.
These scenes were endeared by the fact
that the father had lived there, and
preached to the community.
David loved Gods house, the place
where he had placed his name, and the
symbols of his presence; the place which
was so glorious that the approaching de-
Nout traveller would exclaim "beautiful
for situation, the joy of the whole earth is
Mount Zion.' Such was the church OF
God to-day, and this should make it a de-
light and a joy.
He recently read of the celebration of
the feast of Corpus Christi, where the
wafer was represented to be the very
body and soul of Christ. "Believe what
you choose of this" said Mr.. Tilley, "if
he is there, it is only his dead presence
dead Christ"
He said there were certain conditions by
which to know of the real presence of
Christ. the first and chief condition being a
clean heart. The heart must be cleansed
and made fit for the Holy Spirit to dwell
in, and this is the first principal Of the doc
trine of regeneration. There must be a
death and burial of the old man and a
resurrection of the new life; surren-
dered will. Christ must not come as a
resident, but as a ruler. The Lord Christ
demands, and he has right to demand,
that if he comes into the heart he must
come not as resident only, but as a
ruler. He is not delivered unto us, but
we must be delivered unto him. We
must be melted and moulded into his
will.
The church of God is not merely coll
lection of individuals, but the church of
Jesus Christ is the body of Christ, the
very incarnation Of Christ.
Mr.. Tilley then spoke of the true har-
mony that must exist in the church of
Christ; there must be no discord-not
merely no discord among the people of
the church, but no discord with Gods
Holy Spirit.
The glory of the second temple was that
the presence of God was there
In speaking Of the polity of his church
he was glad that the churches had no
church Isead, no leader, no king that
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