Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-07

Rev L. s. Handley, D. D.
 Easter Sunday of this good year 1896 was joyous day with the members and
 friends of the Central Presbyterian church. After six years of earnest toll
 the congregation worshiped for the first
 time on last Sunday morning in it's beau
 tiful auditorium. The work of complet-
 ing and furnishing the room was finished
 just the day before Easter. The ladies decorated the church with splendid palms, Easter lilies and foliage plants,
 and as the faithful pastor, pr. l.. s.
 Handley, walked upon the platform and
 seated himself behind the sacred desk,
 while the organ under the skillfui touch of Mrs. J. Morton Boyce, sweetly sound ed calm, religious notes, all present felt that the hour of peace and rest had come. A full choir had been organized and the music was splendid. Mrs Boyce was ably assisted by Professor Black, who kindly volunteered his services for the occasion. It was communion day and pr. Handley preached a sermon appro- priate, earnest and eloquent, taking as his text St. Mathew xviii, 6. He prefaced his sermon with a few remarks concern
 ing the work of this church and express ed the giadness of pastor and people in
 reaching the fruition of their tolls and sacrifices, their counsels, plans and pray CTS, and urged upon each one to work the more diligently for the building of an eternal home. The congregation was large and the service very impressive. At night Dr. Handley again occupied the pulpit, and preached a sermon of great power and interest on Faith" ;" Rev. MT. Wear of the Cumberland Pres byterian church occupied seat on the platform near Dr. Handley and assisted in the services, and the large congrega- tion was made up of members of the two churches, the Central and Cumberland Presbyterian, and many friends from other denominations q Our entire community tenders Dr. Handley and his devoted people congrat-
 ulations upon the success which has crowned their tireless efforts. Beginning six years ago with membership of six ty-two, with not a foot of ground or house~of worship, this congregation now numbeys 250, and own and occupy a church edifice which is an ornament to | the city and memorial to their zeal and, | faithfulness. Dr. Handley has been long | CT in service in Birmingham than any | other of our ministers, and is yet enjoy ing a vigorous manhood, and, with an entire city deeply interested in his eff | forts and appreciating his services, years l of earnest Christian labor still await him. No servant of the Master ever trod the way more patiently, more hopefully or more Loyalty than does he. The inte- rior of the auditorium is exceedingly
 
 and decorated with unusual taste and | judgment The vaulted roof is sealed with natural woods, the walls are tinted in blue, the stained glass windows are | artistic in warm, rich colorlng; the chairs, desk and table are of massive oak, hand somely carved; the pewS are comforta- ble and well designed, and the floor of the entire immense room is covered with a lovely carpet in blue and fawn tints. And this furnishing and fitting has all .l.xvk- rians are tremendous workers and they know how to spend~ their money with taste after they make 1t.
 While enough has been written of the engagement and marriage of Ex-Presi- dent Harrison and his bride to become somewhat monotonous reading to all of
 US, still there is one phase of the matter which has not been sufficiently made, prominent, and only in one New York letter have I seen it referred to. This is nothing more nor less than the womanly position held by Mrs. Dimmick when she insisted upon being married according to the ritual of her own church and in the church she attended, notwithstanding it was urged upon her the propriety of hav- ing the ceremony performed by Mir. Har- rison's minister, as she was making such an extraordinary match. Mrs. Dimmick's s rejection of the suggestion and her in sistence upon having paid her the honor due from man to woman, no matter what his political or financial success, reflects the greatest credit upon her womanhood, and necessarily increases the esteem and respect of other women for her. When a woman marries it is generally con
 ceded that she should be sought, and that whatever concessions shall be nec- essary will be made by the man whom
 she will wed; and there is no reason that
 a woman should yield the rights which
 have belonged to our sex for many gen
 eratons because the man she marries is
 a president or an ex-president. A mar
 riage in our country is solemn sacra-
 ment and 8 compact between man and
 woman, and every American girl or wo-
 man should be sought by the man who
 loves her, and not, in her anxiety to
 make a certain advantageous match, rem
 der herself liable to disagreeable criti-
 cism. No official station alters the rela-