The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-08-07
|Dgdilatory
Services

VA '7l N
cellsnt Music. Grand Old
Gospel Sermon.
church Debt Almost Raised.
Notwithstanding the threaten.
ing aspect Of the weather, a
large and expectant concourse
had assembled within the walls
Of the commodious new temple
4, eleven o'clock Sunday morn
ing. and soon after the adjourn
ment of the first session Of the
Sunday school in its new quart.
ers, the formal dedicatory SER
vices was begun.
After a song by the choir, the
dOxology was sung by the con-
gregation followed with an invo-
cation by the Rev. Mr.. Holtzclaw,
Of Fairmont. After another
hymn, in which ''all the people,
Joined. the pastor, Rev. 3. E.
Williams, ledin aScrlptural read
! ing, the audience responding.
Matter an excellent rendition of
|Sthe anthem,-"Oh Sing Unto the
Lord Rev. DR.. Powell. of
Petersburg, offered prayer, to
which there was a response by
the choir. Assolo, THE Holy
City was given a masterful in
depreciation by that accomplish
ed vocalist, Mr.. Gus Smith.
The torthenintrodu the
Rev. Z. G. Dargan,- D. d., of
Louisville, Kentucky, who an
nounced as the subject of his dis
course:
The Maintenance of Public Worship an
Essential Of Christian Life. Heb.
x:2j. Not forsakine the assembling
Of yourselves together as the manner
ofsome is
A summary of the sermon,
/ which was a very able and elo-
{ quent one, is herewith given
"a religion without worship
would De no religion at all. Yet
there are surprisingly large
number of protesting Christians
who by their neglect Of worship
seem to think it is no essential
part of a true religious life. Ger
tainly one OF the evils of our
day is the neglect of public wor.
ship. We notice that even in
Apostolic days the inspired writer
noticed this dereliction and used
itasa warming to his readers.
No doubt the exhortation has al
ways been appropriate and need
ed, But whatever may have
been true of the past, and; what
3ever may be the causes now, we
are face to face to-day with an
evil which threatens the activity
lfnot the very existence of or
ganized Christianity-th the decline
of interest in the worship of
Gods house. Tous the warning
OF this text is exceedingly we'll
timed and | make no apology for
making it the theme of a dedica-
tory sermon.
ne maintenance Of public acor-
S'ip Is essential to tie Christian
egf because 1t is real service to
God. Thisis apparent in several
different ways. The value of
worship to men, both believing
and unbelieving, is a Part of its
worth to God. in what helps man
serves him but more especially
IS II direct and acceptable service
to God. The other part of the re-
hslous life-giving of money and
active well-doing in It's various
lorms-have more distinct bear
ing upon ourselves and our fell
lo.,men; but the act of worship
pure and simple is what we Of
Ter to God. Int sense it is the
part Of our Christian service in
which we do for God what he
cannot appropriately be said to
40 Tor himself. And that wor.
Snip is acceptable service to God
IS plain to any Bible reader. The
very terms inwhich God through
us inspired writer's condemn
FORMAL worship show how great
" ne values that which is real,
and the teaching and example of