The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-28
AVENUE CHURCH
The New and Handsome Edlflca Was
Dedicated Sunday Afternoon.
DR.. HAw1HoRA's BRILLIANT SERMON.
A Large Sum Realized to Assfss iR
Liquidating the Church Debt-The
House Crowded With Worship
pers at All OF Sundays servtces-A
Description or the Building.

The handsome new building recently
erected by the congregation of Park Ave-
nue. Baptist Church, at the corner OF
Park and Highland avenues. was dedi-
Gated Sunday afternoon. The sacred ed
ihce was crowded with people.
In the morning the pastor preached the
opening sermon, taking for his text the
words: "They Saw No Man, Save Jesus
Only" 1t was the keynote for all the
future work and service of the church.
He showed how the spirit of Jesus had
begotten the purpose to build the house;
how the Divine Lord had been with
them in all their work thus far. and how
only In His name can they expect to
succeed in the days to come. The mes
sage found a ready reception on the part
Of his loving people.
The dedication services were an
nounced for 3 O'Clock, but an hour before
that time people began coming in crowds
and at the hour named the building was
packed with people.
The order of the printed programme
was carried out by the reading Of the
dedicatory hymn by Rev. f. II. Martin,
the same being composed by DR.. j. J..
Hall, the pastor of the church. DIR. NJ.
Is. wharton read in a very impressive
manner the prayer of Solomon at the
dedication of the temple. after which
DR.. a. IL. Owen offered a fervent and
'etiNSi PidSeTSlOr me ulVlne blessing
upon the pastor and people. This was
followed by a brief address from DR..
a; IL. Dunaway, who more than any
Ctner one man was Instrumental in
bringing DR.. Hall to Norfolk.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. J.
y. Hawthorne. ID. d., OF Atlanta. Ga.
His subject was The Kingdom of God"
Matthew vi. SO. and the fullest expecta-
tion OF the multitude In the worth and
quality of that sermon was met COM
pietely. 1t was a grand discourse. able.
schoiarly' II Christian. full of meat for
strong men and teeming with proof of
its soundness in argumentative force He
orieiy sketched the worlds history since
Christ's advent, touching upon its nota-
bic points, and showing the worId's
error, not yet wholly eradicated. of look
ing Tor temporal instead of spiritual
powers and authorities. "
Tie touched upon the object OF Gods
kingdom and It's results to obedient sub
iects In the uplifting and ennobling OF
the human to gOdlike attributes md
character. from the following of the
Deatihc rules laid down i'm the sermon
on the mount.
lie showed that the true Christian
character was one which all men must
admire. respect and love. whether they
were or were not of the Kingdom. and
ma us ieiNeninE influence was felt
wherever ii touched
The influence of eXample I'm tho orc
alton of orators, painters. poets ma
tfiots and other Grand characters was
beautifully and aptlv illustrated and
used as IA lesson to Christians 10 toocb
them the study of Christ. and the fail
ure OF those who have left Christ ont
was as forciblv painted.
The force of Gods kingdom In con,na,-
ling homage and service from It's enc
MES. and turning The work of their on
position to its good and advancement
was touched upon. and opportunity for
work plainly shown.
He paid n high tribute to the work of
ms church - erecting the beautiful
structure in which the sat. and CON
by showing that Gods Ljngdon,
was sure to conquer and wine ont all
OPPOSITION In the end and become q
glorious triumph of amending and uni
Versal peace and HAPPINESS.
DR.. Hall showed how his people had
given ana were giving cheerfully to this
work. and to his aDpeal 81. 300 was soon
raised.
The dedicatOrv PRAYER was delivered
bH Rev. DR.. Z. j. Willingham. of Rich
mond. who also preached at night tn an
immense congregation.
The structure Is OF Mount Airy gran
lite. with bum stone trimmings. and
capped and pointed with terra .cotta
~ tpfilulldIlOn- In6
architectural design Is manesu
and with it's buttrcssed walls and tower,
the latter ~Dinnacled and with semi.
gothic roof, its round arched doorways
and square CAPPED and hirtelled win.
dows. gives a very attractive effect.
The dimensions are as follows: Main
auditorium BUILDING 66x75 feet. The
main gable fronts on Park avenue and is
36N4O feet. The tower at the corner of
Park and Highland avenues Is IL feet
square at the base and 20 feet in height
The side elevation on Highland avenue
is G3 feet in length bv II feet high run.
ming up to a clear story. which continue.
back 70 feet to the main root. which Is
40 feet from the floor AT the rear of the
new building is the old edifice. now con.
nected bv sliding doors with the audi.
forum. which will be used as a SUI.
day-School room.
On the south side OF the auditorium, &c
the pulpit platform. in which at the bach
of the rostrum is a large bautisma,
basin. with the stairs leading from il
to either side. on the right to the ladies'
robing n on the left to the gen.
tlemen's robing room. while to the cas-,
of this latter room and facing Park ave.
nue. is the pastors study. At the bacL
of tile basin Is Il painting of the rive,
Jordan. reaching to the edge of tht
basin.
The furniture of the church is of oak
and the Dews range in amphitheatre for.
nation semi-circling the pulpit
These DewS are of five-ply oak with
circular backs. The floor is handsome,y
carpeted. and the finish OF the interio,
| Of tho hili11inO iS nat,,- II