The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-15
TH!:E!!:-D!E::DIC:A!.T!.I!0!!N-
Week Services ut First English
Lutheran Church. f5
sERMONBY REV. DORNBLAsER
OF SPRINGFIELD. ONO. A FOR
\ MER PASTOR OF TIE CHURCH,
WAS THE ATTRACTION LAST
EvENING-A LARGE AND APP
1 pREcIATIvE AUDIENCE WAS
PREsENT-A SYNOPSIS OF MR..
/, DoRNBLAsERs DISCOURSE. 9

The dedication week services at the
First English Lutheran church contln-
ued last evening, when the attraction
was sermon by Rev. Il. II. Dornblas-
or, OF Springfield. Ohio, pastor OF the
Second Lutheran church OF that city.
and Mr.. schwarm's predecessor In the
pastorato OF the English Lutheran
church here. A large audience gather
cd in tho handsome new church edlnce.
and listened TO Mr.. Dornblaser's
thoughtful discourse with entire attea-
ton. 5.iiil52
Mr.. Dornbluser took as his text these
words, ..And Caleb stllled the people
before Moses, and said, Let us go up
at once and possess t,ifor we are well
able 10 overcome Il" The language Of
the text was spoken when the children
Of Israel faced a crisis In their history.
No event could be more trying. The re-
port OF the twelve spies TO Investigate
the condition OF affairs III the Promised
H,tfl had Just been given, as 20 the
condition OF the country, its fertility,
etc., but In plans they disagreed. caleb
was hopeful, confident OF success anu
showed this spirit because he was
man OF faith. In this position, Caleb
was Joined by Joshua, and in the POSI-
tlon OF these two men Is seen the theme
OF tho discourse, "Thc Optimism or
Faith" Against them were ranged
views OF gloom. d!scouragement,r de-
SPAR, and pcsismism. What did the
faith OF these men lead them TO do?5sl
First. It led them to noble endcavor
TO arrest the rebellion of the people.
They stopped the murmuring, they re-
affirmed the testimony regarding the
extraordinary fruitfulncss OF the Land
OF Promise; they tried to secure united
action and the immediate taking pos
session Of the land; they directed the
minds Of the people to their ability to
do SO.
These men OF faith were protected by
q special manifestation Of God from the
fury and anger of their brethren. Up
on hearing their report, the con6rega-
ton stoned them. 1t was an unequal
combat: 100000 against four. 1t was an
easy thing to propose the stoning OF
these men and as cowardly as easy, but
the stoning did not disprove their testl-
mony. and only involved the nation in
deeper guilt and disgrace. We here see
an instance OF the perils OF faithfulness
1t has always been perilous thing FOR
men 10 bear witness to an unpopular
s truth or advance an unpopular cause.
or oppose unpopular movement. He
who does any OF these things must not
count It strange II he be rcviled, SLAM
dcred or sorely prosecuted, but 1t Is
unspeakably worse II man from fea:
or other cause prove unfaithful to the
truth. recreant to duty. A destiny OF
eternal shame awaits such.
Their loyalty was finally vindlcated
They were the only ones OF the vas.
host who were permitted TO enter the
Promised Land. So It ever Is. II we
were to trace the hand OF God in his
tory. we would find manV instances
like this.
In conclusion, Mr.. Dornbiaser said:
And now, my friends, I would not
have vou. In making the application,
think that you are looked upon as n
multitude OF faithless. rebellious people,
with two or four Calebs among you.
The contrary Is rather the case. am
inclined to think you are all men and
women and children OF faith and cour-
age and activity: YOU with unity and
yea. entered u-on this new work and
carried 1t forward TO this grand con-
summation. You. by this act, show
your estimation OF the wonderful grace
of God. and what it has done and still
does for you. You show that You de-
Sire this same grace OF God 10 be
made known to your fellowmen. That
You want men and women and children
to come. by Gods wonderful grace, In
to the possession OF that faith, and
hope and courage which will enable
them to obtain the true victory over all
the adverse elements of life, and the
consequences Of sin In time and cter-
nifty. 1t Is for this purpose that you
have built this house. Here the Gospel
Is to be proclaimed. Here Gods free
grace In Christ Is to be offered, and 1t Is
to be hoped, accepted. An
You have been making sacrifices In
your homes, I know, 10 gather the
means to erect and furnish this temple
which you now give to the Lord; 70:
the sacred uses OF religion. You have
not done this without. cost.
But you have chcerfully endured the
cost OF means, time and labor, that YOU
might accomplish this, but In thI:
Hraiseworthy act Of yours, you sml.
tate what God has done for us. and thr
whole world. He opened this fountal,
OF grace divine. without cos; TO us: but
NJ INFINITE cost and sacrifice to Himself
~ your benevolence as Inwrought In
TINS building you will for the comma
years proclaim to your children and thu
world the wonderful love OF God.
HIS love and sacrifice for our shirt
ual lie, health and enjoyment are beau.
TRULY exemplifed In the materials nj
THIS structure. His care and foresiph,
and painstakinE labor for our tempo-o'
md eternal good have been from nj
eternity. From the organization al
this CONGREGATION, preparation was be.
ing made for this cd!fice, numbers n,
strength and means were Cradio,lv
gained. But long before the orconizo,
zion OF this church, God was preparinr
Tor 1t. Long before our dear brother
the generous hearted stone-contrac,o,
OF this beautiful front, and NAV Coz
Dless and prosper him for his generos.
Nv with dexlerous skill carved ond
dressed thes rude forms into utility onG
beauty. our blessed Lord Through ions
processes OF geological change and for,
nation nodded and solidined" the rncl
and stored 1t away In the hills for fl.
tufe use. Long before the workers l.,
q wooo with multiplied strokes OF ham.
,hes, saw and plane. formed these
ueans. carved these panels. and shapej
tnese pews, the benevolent God throurt
sseat expenditure OF light, and hear
u'iu moisture, reared the forests wh,c(
gave the materials to work upon. -
How many agencies God caused I,
work together TO compound "in III" so .,
cret laboratories OF the earth, the mot
ais and ores out OF which the rods on!
nails were forged which gIrd md f r.>
zen these timbers and planis togethe
INTO harmonious whole" o. : s '',
iou children OF the Rowe M,ss,o,