The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-21
REDEDICATED.
A Great Day for Congress st.
Church Yesterday.
THE EDIFICE ONE OF THE MOST
ATTRACTIVE IN TOWN.

| A Large Gathering of Practitioners and
Friends-Three Powerful Sermons
Two Former Pastors Address Their Old
Congregational Banquet and Jubilee
to be Held Tonight.
The beautiful sunlight of yesterday
morning made glad the hearts of the par
ishioners of the Congress Street NJ. b.
church and lighted up the mural decora-
lions and bright flowers that adorned in
profusion the renovated church build
ing.
The changes and Improvements OF the
church itself have already been fully de-
soribed in these columns.
At the morning service at 80 yester-
day the church was completely filed
with most interested and attentive
congregation.
Upon the platform beside the pastor,
Rev. George D. Lindsay, were presiding
elder Rev. g. R. Palmer. Rev. A. W.
Pottle, the venerable Rev. DR.. Randall
Of Massachusetts, who was the preacher
at the two former dedicatory exercises
of the parish, Rev. DR.. Pitblado OF New
York, Rev. DR.. Broadbeok Of Boston
and Rev. @. W. Bradlee of Rookland,
the preacher of the morning.
Rev. Mr.. Lindsay read the scriptures
and Rev. DR.. Bradlee offered fervent
prayer in which he referred to the fact
that for half century "supplications
had gone ,heavenward from these affairs"
and that many of those who had offered
them had gone on to places In the
Temple not made with hands. y
The responses and music were by the
| regular chorus choir which is under the
direction of Mr.. s. T. Eveleth.
Rev. Mr.. Bradlee, former pastor took
for his text Acts XVI v. 10. "Where.
upon, o King Agrippa I was not disobe
dent unto the Heavenly vision"
The preacher drew an eloquent picture
Of the famous scene before the powerful
King Agrippa and his beautiful but dis
solute sister and their bejewslled aud
resplendent court when Paul was led
| before them in chains, to finish diver
tisement for the heather and licentiona
countries
| Paul was small In stature but strong
and dignifed in manner and in the faith
that was in him.
| He was the servant Of God in captivity
and now exhi bited for the amusement
of the blasphemous throng. He was moi
Agrippa or the beautiful woman.
| There WAS the chain uDOn his hands
| and feet but no halter on his tongue. He
told the story of his faith simply adroit
~, eloquently, naturally.
He was not disobedient to the Heaven
ly vision.
Have we followed his example? Hav,
we been obedient always to the Heaven
ly visioni
We cannot say we have not been called
If we haven't heard 1t is because our
ears have not been attuned to catch thu
Heavenly music. God has called and
} is constantly calling all Of US.
We will not be forced to serve him. w
!, will not be compelled to obey the Heav
J emily vision. "He builds too low VIII,
J builds beneath the stars
! If we will hear the Heavenly voice lif
Will be SO sweet to us here on earth
Life here will be full of joys and pleas
} ures and glories if we but live it right
"Hsaven will keep"
Inc preacher alluded TO tne deVlou
ways in which we are called by thu
Heavenly vision and of the Infinite jo,
that comes when we but hear the voic
and accept its calling. He spoke of tn
just and glorious work for the pastor il
the Congress street church. OF tn
countless souls that have found God a
! it's affairs and closed with an earnes
appeal to keep our ears we'll attuned t,
the Heavenly music, to accept Christ
. | t-n a faith IN ha roadu nYRlQiu
with Paul the man of God, have no
| been disobedient unto the Heavenl
vision.