Evening star., 1897-07-27
THEIR CHURCH DEDICATED
Kensingtor Methodists Rejoice Over Compile
ton Of House of Worship.
Appropriate Services Held Sunday and
Description of the Edifce.

Sunday morning at 10 o'clock was begun
series of three dedicatory services of the
house of worship just completed by the st.
Paurs NJ. E. congregation Of Kensington.
The building was filled with worshipers.
who recognized with much pleasure the
tasteful manner in which Architect c. L.
Harding, Rev. Robert NJ. Moore and the
building committee had done their part in
erecting this temple of praise.
The building was constructed at cost
of 5000, and is capable of seating about
400 people. The entrance is through the
tower situated at the southeast corner.
The east front is decorated with eight large
memorial windows, dedicated to Margaret
Stock, Emory Baxter. children of Mr.. and
Mrs. Edwin c. Fowler, John G. Gould,
Mrs H. Chew, Robert Emrnet Constant
children Of Mr.. and Mrs. Loren H. Milli-
ken, H. G. and Mary ONeal and ]. c. and
M. L. Harkness, respectively. Above these
Is a large rose window of tasteful design.
The interior is finished in natural wood,
the roof construction being visible, and the
panels covered with fresco work. The
pews are of quartered oak the aises con-
verging toward the pulpit, which occupies
the north wall One-third of the western
end is separated from the main auditorium
by series of large folding doors, which
can he opened at will, making the whole
edifice practically into one room. Here is
provision made for the junior and senior
Sunday schools The pulpit and chancel of
the old church. together with its organ,
have been transferred to these class rooms,
and will be used for prayer meeting and
childrens choir practice. A new organ
stands beside the pulpit, the gift of the
choir, costing $500 The pulpit and altar
chairs are of quartered oak, and We're the
gift of the Junior League, of which Mrs.
r. M Moore is president, and a COM
munion able to correspond was the gift of
fh. Stty dow c.,1oI oil nf ATrc- NnIa-
stant A carpet of terra Gotta color. and
costing $1o0, was given by the Ladies Aid
Society. "Ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free is the mot
to adorning the west wall.
The Sunday Program.
The morning services began with sing
ing and a reading from Corinthians, by
DR.. G. w. T. Wright, appropriate to the
building of Gods temple. Rev. H. r.
Naylor preached the opening sermon, from
Malachi, 2:1O, Have We not all one
Father? Hath not one God created us
all?' He dwelt at length upon the neces-
sity of unity of all shades of belief in work.
ing for the betterment of Gods kingdom.
Man alone was given creative faculty,
which plainly indicated Gods purpose in
making him work out his own salvation
and bringing him more in likeness with his
Creator. Only through constant strivings
can man, through Gods grace, hope to at
tain to perfection.
Rev. Robert NJ. Moore took occasion to
explain the financial conGiton of the
church There had not been wanting timid
friends to advise him that he was begin
ming too vast an undertaking, but he
counted much on the zeal OF his congrega-
ton and of the community in which his
ministry lay, and above ALL he put faith in
the belief that Gods hand in this
work. He had gone on and had not been
disappointed. OF the $500, more than half
had been donated. and this morning he
would ask the lovers of God and hu-
manity to open their hearts. He appoint
ed collectors Messrs. W. w. Eldridge,
G. W. r; Stokes. j. F, Stock and H. W
Lewis, who, they passed down the aisles
among the audience, announced the amount
each subscribed. In less than one-half
hour s1,122 had been raised, made up of
contributions of from 800 down to 81. The
benz dction and handshakings for joy
closed the morning service.
Dedication Sermon.
At the afternoon service Rev. Luther Z.
Wilson delivered the opening prayer The
Apostles Greed was recited by the congre-
cation. DR.. G. W. T. Wright read appro-
pirate scriptural texts, after which DR..
Luther B. Wilson delivered the dedicatory
sermon from Genesis: This is none other
than the house Of God and the gate of
heaven" When Jacob left home on his
memorable journey, mis- first night was
passed in a desert His head was pillowed
on a stone, but he saw a beautiful vision
of angels and the gates of heaven opened.
1t was the beginning of new life for him.
Though there is little in this pleasant VII
lage or in this beautiful house of worship
to remind Us of Jacobs vision, there is
much likeness between them We are in
an age of doubt where visions are needful.
And here shut out from the worlds cares
and temptations and shut in with the sweet
and holy communion with God, who shall
say that visions of heavens gate may not
come to make us enter into compact
with the Lord Jacob had done?
A collection Of S11o follow ed
Mr.. Percy S. Foster sang the solo, Pass
1t On, and the choir rendered the dedi-
cation hymn, composed for the occasion by
Rev. r. NJ. Moore.
Trustees Obligated.
Messrs. R. B. Detrick, G. w. R. Stokes,
J. F. Stock, H. L. Amiss, C. l.. Harding
and H. w. Lewis trustees, were called to
the altar rail, and the obligation was ad-
ministered by Rev. Luther b. Wilson, after
which the benediction was pronounced.
The evenings service opened with the
"Pilgrim's Chorus. rendered by Mr.. Frank !
Calhoun. Rev. ]. St. Clair Neal pastor of
the Hartford Avenue Church, Baltimore, |
delivered the sermon of the evening. He |
dwelt upon the sacrifices of Christ for our
sakes, and believed that by making sac
rifices for His sake we could best requite |
the gift of His boundleSs love. He closed |
with an eXhortation for the congregation |
to lift the burden of the debt from the |
house of the Lord.
Rev Mr.. Moore said that after the splen- |
did response the people had given to his |
requests for financial aid, he felt delcacy |
about trespassing upon their good nature |
further. The collectors went out, however, I
and amid fire of humorous remarks from |
Rev. Neal, the of $163 was raised, |
making over $1,400 donated at the three |
services. The debt remaining the |
church is but $11o0 which, in view of the |
fact that the corner stone was laid Easter |
Monday is considered a noteworthy !
achievement for SO small a village. After |
singing "One More Days Work for Jesus"
the congregation was dismissed to the |
music Of "Tannhausers Grand March"
A number of the congresa ton stayed af- |