The Portland daily press., 1896-03-16
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH,
DR.. Jenkins Believes 1t Should Be
Built at Once.

An Interesting Meeting in Aid of Mr..
Wright's Proposed Church on Congress
Street.
Rev. Dr. Jenkins preached in the ST.
Lawrence street church yesterday after
noon, his subject being "Why We Build
churches. Back of the pulpit was a
large plan of the proposed new church.
hev. A. H. Wright, assisted in the SER
vice. and Clarence Brooks, sang. A
special collection in aid of the church
building fund was taken.
MIR. Wright said that 1t was a special
service, and that DR.. Jenkins had kind
~ offered to be present
Dr. Jenkins said his presence was to be
construed at once as an evidence of his
own personal interest, and the practical
sympathy of the people of the State street
church In the work the st. Lawrence
street church have on hand.
Dr. Jenkins founded his remarks on
| the appeal made to Christ to heal the SER
want of Roman centurion of whom it
was said that he loved the Jewish people,
ana haa built the In a synagogue, and
christ, himself, recognized the strength
OF the act. All Jewish synagogues re-
sembled each other in many outward re-
speots, and all were modelled the
plan OF the temple at Jerusalem. We
know much of a building when we know
the age which it was built. This syna-
gogue was built by Roman centurian
IN place of some Importance. The Jews
OF that section were rich. 1t is probable
That Peter, If not himself rich, was in
comfortable circumstances, fish mer-
chanG with partners, and a house, even a
large one. This Roman official was a
builder OF necessity. 1t was building
age, and there was nothing else for him
to do and he followed illustrious ex-
amples He had the generous ambition to
Dulld Then he built to ornament the
city, The Romans did not remove the
won their loyalty by improving their
condition. They built great roads, and
grand pnblic buildings. They took the
arts and civilizations Ut Rome to the
| provinces.
But this Roman centarian had higher
motive. His fellow citizens bore testi-
mony that he was a good neighbor when
they said: "He loveth our nation" He
was good citizen, and there was nothing
about him of mean nature. He did not
say, - am stranger, and will leave the
question OF the improvement of the city
to the permanent residents"
Then it is fair to,suppose that he desired
to give the people the best means of Gull
ture Set up In village good building
public or private, and it will change the
place. There If a Massachusetts, town
| that was completely changed by the cree
ton of one good house. The condition Of
a people will not be changed until their
buildings are improved.
Then this Roman desired to help on
the religious sentiment of the place. His
strong practical Roman good sense had
shown him that religion is a moral safe
| guard. Men of the VOL are not slow to
recognize the civic value of religion. DR..
Jenkins said he had himself preached in
church built by manufacturer. who
was a man of the world from his head to
his feet. He had no religion and had long
| lived in Spain, but he was too wise
| man to build factory village and leave
it without a church. So this Roman
centurion very likely had no strong
religious feeling himself, but he followed
the Roman policy, and who shall say he
aid not act wisely?
But there was one thing more This
| Roman officer built that synagogue him
self, bad thing for the Jews. But 1t
was an ornament to the CITY, q help to
religion. an aid to social advancement,
| and then it was costly, and the element
of cost is always of Importance. God is
not pleased with cheap things The
| woman who gave the mites did not give a
heap thing, but all she had. This Ro-
! man building built for the Jews was the
best the builder could do, and it recei we'd
the approval of Christ, himself. God does
not change. The ark of the covenant
Mo ses nude was rich and costly. David
when he desired to build house unto the
Lord, laid aside the sum of forty millions
of dollars, and his son built splendid
| temple, and the temple Herod built, and
which was standing at the time of Christ
was especially brilliant. 1t had a court
called Beautiful and there the sick
went to be healed, and there it was that
Christ went to heal the sick.
| A people who are chosen 10 build
house unto the Lord should regard them
selves as specially fortunate. God does
not send down buckets of gold, but for
the main part he gives opportunity. He
does not give learning, but only oppor-
tunities for acqireing learning. The poor
you have always with you, and they may
be always ministered to, but generation
| is especially fortunate if it is permitted
| to build a house for God.
| This greatly needed and greatly desired
church must be built and all In this
section of the city should feel that it is
high privilege to contribute to this good
will be asked to grant you favor, and
| what intercession can there be more hon
orably made to Him than this, that you
loved his name, and that you builded a
house to His glory.
Mr.. Brooks sang solo with fine effect
after which Mr.. Wright called upon Mr..
Merrill of the building committee, who
explained the plans for the proposed
church.
| Mr.. Merrill said he spoke for the build.
ing committee. lie said the plan had not
been decided on, but it showed what can
be done with $25. 600. The lot will be 100
feet Oh Congress and "a feet ON Munjoy
street for some half of the way down.
and 81 feet for the rest of the way. The
seating capacity of the proposed church
will be 300. and the vestry will seat 45O.
The church will be Of brick, trimmed
with stone. Mr.. Merrill gave very clear
| ami interesting description Of the pro-
posed church. He said the question Hare
We going to build this church, OF are we
not?" is of great Importance At this
time SIG, 600 had been pledged. He made
strong appeal for a better and hand
somer church, building more worthy Of
this section OF the oity. What is needed
now is the united efforts of all the mem
bers of the church, parish and oongreea-
ton, Mr. Merrill said that the ohuroh