St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29


Light OF the Better World" a song b,
Dudley Buck, with much sweetness
Among the sacred music rendered by tn
choir quartette, 1.-THE Lord is Elk
allied, " the Sanctus in which Mr.. Fleet
wood took the tenor solo, and MAJ
Vogreich's re Deum, were sung will
admirable power and feeling. In all thu
singing by the choir, especially in the tt
Deum, Mr.. Fleetwood's rare tenor wa,
very effective.
HYMN.
Composed by +. 6. FLEETWOOD.
Tune Wesley.l
Clad in the wilderness of faiths cherished
longing,
Gilded by hope, strong cemented by love,
Arises the church, Christ's dearest belonging
Pointing to God, high en-thron.ed above.
Blest be its aims, its pursuits, its ambitions
Hallowed by mercy itsjudgments e'er be;
Close guarded its treasures, true souled its
montions,
Purged from dread doubt, from heart sor-
row set free.
Righteous its striving toward hottest living /;
Quick its response TO suffering need
Firm handed large minded, justly forgiving
Faith, hope and love be its gold.lettered
creed
Raise the glad anthem with praises abound
ing;
Melodious blending. strike each swelling
Till DER arching rafter with harmony sound
ing
Glory and honor ascribes to our Lord
THE OBLIGATORY SERVICE.
The service OF dedication was held the
evening of the DIST. Prof Davis opened
the exercises with prelude, the choir
following with the TIE Deum. Rev. E. q.
Whitman offered the invocation, after
which H. A. Slayton, chairman of the
building committee, read an interesting
historical statement, and presented the
keys of the new church to Hon. G. w.
Hendee and Deacon p. K Gleed, the
former representing the society and the
latter the church. These gentlemen re-
sponded fittingy and ably. Mr. Kellogg,
the pastor, then called for the doxology.
Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" which was enthusiastically sung
by the standing congregation. Next in
order was an anthem by the choir
scripture lesson read by Rev. T. L. Bacon
of Essex Junction, prayer by Rev. S F.
Drew OF Stowe, and an appropriate dedi-
catory hymn written and read by Rev.
Perrin B. Fisk Of Lyndon.
The preacher of the occasion was Rev.
Smith E. Baker, d. d., Of Boston. the
memory of whose grand sermon should
be cherished by the church as guide and
an inspiration in their work OF future
years. His text was taken from the
lesson for the evening, the second verse
OF the eighty fourth Psalm, my soul
longoth, yea even fainteth for the courts
OF the Lord, my heart and my flesh crieth
out tor the living God" In introducing
his subject the speaker dwelt briefly on
the value OF the ideas attached to words
thence he proceeded to an exhaustive
statement of what the word church
should signify to its members.
First church should be a home. ITO
those that seek it, should be given peace,
help, hope, love, all the COM
orting, enobling, spirituaizingi influences
which make family home the foretaste
Of paradise"
1t should he a school wherein the great
OF Christianity should be
.aught and applied; nor should it omit |
% inculcate the distinguishing doctrines
IL our Puritan torefathers DR.. Baker
deprecated the so-called liberalism that
seeks to make Christian profession rest
IN Christian virtues alone; there should
'e an accepted basis of belief upon which
% build intelligent, enduring Christian
Let the creed of orthodox
-ongregationaism be taught in its
The ideal church is a hospital for the
ieaiing OF the people. Here are welcomed
hose who have been worsted in the
battle OF life; heavy burdens grievous to
'e borne are loosed he broken.hearted
ire bound up; the man is restored to his
ugh estate by child of God.
The church is workshop for tbe
planning and periecting OF righteous
leeds, in it originated the small be-
'lnn'ngs that grow into mighty means
or the regeneration of mankind, in short
he church is the center of all good words
md works.
FINALLY the preacher considered the
hurch as place OF worship where
arthly worship ought to be a foretaste
II heavenly worship. In dwelling upon
MS point DR.. Baker waxed so eloquent
hat no words save his own could AIDE.
Iuately express his thoughts. The i'm
'hed exhortation was, Arouse your
ouls and the best that within them is to
Worship the Lord, your God, in spirit
ma IN truth, seeking always His grace
hereunto."
The act OF dedication in which the pas.
or and the congregation united was
'ery iuIl and solemn. Rev. V. M. Hardy
nHNa the IAt.n IL L. 4,