The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-27

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persons were received into church
m smbership, Rev. Mr.. Boynton ex-
tending the right hand of fellowship
This was followed by the administra-
ton of the Holy Communion, Rev.
Mr.. Ralph and Mrs. Ralph officiating
at the table. The solemn and i'm
pressive service of the hour will not
soon be forgotten, and the entire SER
vice was uplifting and itself dedi-
catory rite. The church organization
is thus rendered exceptionally strong
for so young parish, the large ma
jority of the parish membership be-
ing now included in the church re!a-
ton. 1t will be church, and not
simply society organization, which
will hereafter guide and control this
new movement in Augusta. The
m smbers were received on profession
and covenant, the Winchester Profess
sion of Faith being made the basis
of organization the candidates as
sentine thereto.
Sunday afternoon a meeting of
the Friends in Council was held
and the ladies of the organization,
after full discussion and inter
change of opinion, offered to assume
$500 of the debt resting on the par
ish, agreeing to pay the same in three
years. 1t will be seen by what fol-
lows that tits pledge was reduced by
the generous action of the people,
and this devoted body of working
ladies were relieved of large share of
this responsibility. The enterprisipg
spirit displayed in this offer remains,
however, to their credit. and is worthy
of the praise which was so univer-
sally extended when the offer became
known at the evening service.
The evening exercises assembled a
congregation filling the church in
every part and OVERLOOKING the vesti-
bules and aisles and all availabl
space on the platform. The dedica-
ton sermon was delivered by the Ed
itor, who dealt 10 some of the funda-
mental principles of Universalism in
discourse which was not remarkable,
certainly, for brevity, and seldom has
more attentive congregation lis
tened to his words. At the close of
the sermon the usual appeal was
made, and an hour and a half was
devoted to the work of securing
pledges for the retirement of the $500
required to free the church from in
cImbrance. With the help of the
"Junior Universalists," the society of
young people, who subscribed 500,
and generous pledges from the con-
gregation, the Indebtedness was SO
far removed that the pledge of the
afternoon made by the Friends in
Council" was materially reduced. The
exact amount for which the ladies will
now stand responsible is about $3.50.
The congregation remained patiently
to the end of the extended exercises
of the evening.
Due announcement having been
made that the debt was provided for,
the formal exercises of the dedication
proceeded. The building committee,
in the person of the chairman, DR..
Hamilton, in neat and appropriate
speech made formal delivery of the
keys to the chairman of the Board of
of Trustees. The pastor of the
church, Rev. r. V. Evatt, offered the
dedicatory prayer, and Rev. L. D.
Boynton, whose providentisl visit
to Augusta some years ago planted
the seed from which has sprung this
new parish, then pronounced the SEN
tence of dedication. Music from the
orchestra and the choir followed and
the happy strains of melody found
response in the hearts of the joyful
people. The exercises were closed
with the benediction, which was pro-
nonnced at nearly 1920.
An hour and half later the Editor
was speeding on his way to Chicago,
accompanied for eighty miles of the
long journey by his friend of many
years, the Lacrosse pastor Ten
o'clock Monday morning found us at
our desk, preparing this issue of the
paper for our readers. But amid the
work of the day and the calls for
copy" our thoughts would revert to
the dedication Sunday in Augusta, 300
miles away. and pleasant visions of the
beautiful little church and the crowded
congregation, and the expectant and
earne t, although fearful and at times
timid people, would flash across the
scene. Such occasions as this of last
Sunday in Wisconsin may be criti-
cised by some who do not understand
the abiding influence of such a SER
vice, but that it remains to bless the
people, and to give them encourage
ment and inspiration for the future.