The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-25
Evangelical Lutheran Edifce
on Jackson Street the
Latest.
NEW CHAPEL CONsECRATED.
Services Defeating the Recently
Completed Church of the
Holy Spirit.

Nothing is gift to the church that is
the price of anything; hence, we publicly
pronounce against all money getting by
fairs, festivals socials, etc., as introducing
worldliness into the church, grieving
away the Spirit, and thus bringing more
loss than gain" said Key. Oliver G. Miller,
in the course of his conservation sermon
yesterday forenoon at the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit.
The edifice being consecrated was the
neat little chapel at 2127 Jackson street,
which Rev. o. C. Miller has been instru-
mental in having erected, and the method
which he has employed, or, rather, the
method which he has not employed, is
indicated by the excerpt given. Mr.. Miller
believes in what he terms the true pente-
costal church, and his idea, in part. of
such church is one from which worldly
features are to the greatest possible extent
eliminated. That is why, when he under
takes TO build church-and he has super
intended the building OF many-he frowns
upon the seductive strawberry festival and
the deiusive gTab-ba He asks no sup
port but voluntary, free-will offering, and
it was by such contributions that the
Church of the Holy Spirit was made DOS
sible.
The erection and maintenance of this
church is the more remarkable from the
fact that, though belonging to the Evan
gelical Lutheran denomination, it has so
far chosen to remain apart from the synod
with the financial advantages to be de-
rived therefrom, and start upon Its career
of good doing with no support bat the
generosity OF its members.
The Church of the HOLY Spirit was or
ganized by Mr.. Miller in Franklin Hall on
Fillmore street last November. Mr.. Miller
is an experienced church organizer. and
since his first charge in Oakland and Deer
Park, Nd, he has strewn his path with
substantial monuments of his energy and
his peoples generosity by causing to be
erected suitable church edifices. These
were almost entirely erected as faith mis-
sions, such as the Church of the HOLY
Spirit, and the pastors faith has never vet
had cause TO Tayer. Just before coming
here Mr.. Miller started a movement for
new church building at Salem, Va. The
building, which is substantial structure,
is now nearing completion.
The edifice on Jackson street which was
consecrated yesterday is not a new build
ing, but has been remodeled and reno
waited until both the interior and ex-
terror give the impression of newness.
1t vas formerly used as a school. Its seat
ing capacity is about 200, and at yester-
days forenoon service there were no va
cant seats. In recognition of the special
service the ladies had effectively decorated
the interior OF the chapel with beautiful
flowers.
There was special musical service, and
in addition to congregational singing
Misses Hilda and Lottie Collision rendered
duet and each solo. The pastors con-
secration service was on the theme. 'tDe-
spise Ye the Church of God?'
This, he said, is the utterance of Paul. who
ands next to him who spoke as never man
spake. TIE church at Corinth had strifes, and
it was spoken in reproof, but it is needful to-
day. The church is not intended as an an
pendage, but center of life and truth So
ciety is either Christ-centering or chaotic Our
troubles to-day arise from the fact that society
is not conferred In and formed about the life Of
Jesus. That which Injuries the body Injuries
Christ's church without despising him.
The speaker then proceeded to analyzs
the name of the church, Evangelical Luz
theran, showing the significance of each
word. Evangelical, he explained, meant
gospel, and gospel was power. 1t was