The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-21
EPWORTH DEDICATED
An Immense Ihrong Present 10 Hear Br.l
Coke Smith, Its Former Pastor. 81
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS RAISED.
towards Paying Off the Debt on n.
He"utifni Ediiice "A Great nav To-.
nl''hodfsm In Norfolk-a Rally Isa.
the Afternoon and a PowcrfuI Sci
mon BY Rev. DR.. Tudor at Night.

The new Epworth NJ. u. Church so,,th
was dedicated Sunday. 1t ia situata1 z
Ut the corner of Freemason and Ro,,ab h
streets, and was erected by the congre.
cation or Granby Street Church al
cost of S122oOO 1t is beautiful edl- !
nee, Oh cap stone, built in accordance
with plans and specifications furniahe.s.
py carpenter & Peebles architects. and 3
u, Is SAID to be the finest structure OF the 4
| Mcthodism PS''''N-tt't; - &
| me weather was inauspi ;ous SUM-
aaS morning, but long before the hour.
| appointed for the dedIcatory services
lne auditorium, which will seat 11G1
pvolhe, WAS comfortably crowded. 81
Chahs We're brought into requisition
ana seats provided for fully 300 people. s
1 hnu every part of standing room was
ulii"eu. Ihe ushcrs We're courteous
ana active and performed their duties
IN a most acceptable manner, with the
| result That u great crowd was made
comparatively comfortable or course
many people could not get into the
| building and We're compelled to go
away. -
The pulpit and altar was tasetefulIy
| ana very beautifully decorated with
pains, roses and lilies. In the pulpit
was Revs. Drs. A. Coke Smith and wi,
! v. Tudor Rev. DR.. w. j. Young. pastor !
OF the church. and Rev. JOS. G. lennon
OF the Huntersville Church, and ladies' !
ana children were packed In front or
the altar rail- ~;
The music was n very enjoyable fea-
ture OF the occasion. Prof. Koerner
presided at the organ 3ffrFs.,
Dr. Smith, under whose pastorate thisi
nagniiicent church structure was erect
ca, preached the dedicatory sermon s
taking the basis of his remarks the 11tf,,s
l2th, 18th and 1fth verses OF the 32d8
chapter of Sauls Epistle to Titus. His
discourse was one OF the most profound
Oh the many he has delivered in this !
city, and sparlsled with flights of eIo-
quence. The Doctor spoke one hour:
ana ten minutes, with great liberty and
was accorded close attention. Toward
inc close or his sermon he alluded to his
passionate of CRANKY Street Church and
the trials and struggles OF the r
congregation in the erection OF
i1pworth NJ, e. Church. His voice fal-Ss
tered several times and tears coursed
down his cheeks. His audience was in q
sympathy with him and the scene was
very affecting. = sEI}
Dr. Smiths theme was "a The his
torlc and unquestionablc fact that the
grace of God has made its n appearances
on the earth, and (2) The inspiration in \
looking Tor the second and glorious APP
pearing of the great God and Saviour
Jesus Christ. He described Christ as
the connecting link between the finite
X
yelled the glory of God, that man might
know and love his creator, and the
speaker took as TYPICAL of the world'Sb
advance toward the second coming, the
erection of such splendid structures ass
Epworth Church, which, he said, is, as Il
compared with previous evidences, but y
the richer gifts of a.larger love" There,
were many strikingly beautiful
thoughts in the discourse, and the Doc-ls
tor was listened to throughout with the
closes attention OF his hearers, SSiass
AT the close of the sermon Dr. Smith
asked the congregation to place the%
| church on an easy financial footing byss
contributing $4,000 toward the cost Eofa
| erection. which aggregated $122 00O N
| collection was taken up. Capt John L.
| Roper leading off with s2.500, and S14,9o0S
was subscribed. ss{tsSt
The building was then dedicated in ac4ss
| cordance with the discipline of the M y;
T.. Church. South, the trustees receiving
| il into their keeping. sssg5ll l,fss
The acoustics OF the building are slim
ply perfect. Every syllable of the SER
very strong, could be distinctly heard
| in any part OF the house. n rs
The afternoon services. announcedSto9
begin at o'clock, were postponed to 8 :3p.s,
the following speakers and topics:
Church. Portsmouth. "The Distinctive
Doctrines of Methodism., $35
rev. H. III. -tSennett, OF MCKen6raaE
Church, Norfolk, "N1ethodism In Nor
folk" ~
Rev. VIM. II. Atwill. of CumberlanGs VI
Street, "The Future of Methodism., = S29lSS S9
Mr.. Benefits talk was very instr1css
tive and n revelation to many of the
younger members of the congregRt tfon.5
He said. among other things, tbat$tiiSs
first Methodist church in this section of;
the colony OF Virginia was on the old
Courthouse steps, and the second two
persimmon trees in Portsmouth. I. t
Mr.. Atwill's optomistic Views of Il the
future of Methodism" was In y some
respects a. genuine surprise, Tte adyS4,
Gated orclrestras in all the churefess
the taking away from Satan all tfss
musical Instruments with which poole
are enticed to bad resorts and hsItifa2i
| and using them in the house; or God g
AT night another large aud ienoe I'VE q
in attendance to hear Rev Dir. w!
Tudor, q former pastor of II GrantyS
! Street Church. The building fifE
ed up for the first time With fin fssS
feet The electric lights are artisfscaiiys
arranged and the mellow gloSy4 cas- + uysqs II
the auditorium would be difficult I'd 81
Gel. DR.. Tudor took for 3 Ills l1s fIieyfsss
"Jesus--The Sacred N Narl e,sS Or reatf,i ne
one of the most profound and com iopfsss
Ing sermons ever heard from him I'll 3ti,ia
city. ne u &
Newest Discoyery,,,---.Tnstis*n ~ il 81