Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-15

The rededication of the Third Pres
byterian church took place yesterday.
For months the coy house of worship
has been undergoing extensive altera-
tons and repairs incident to the en-
larged needs OF the rapidly growing
| congregation. The building has been
remodelled throughout Its architec-
tural beauty and internal arrangements
have been described in these columns.
The announcement of the programme
for the rededication served to attract
very large congregations yesterday, and
the exercises were of very interest
ing nature.
The principal service was held at
2:30 O'Clock yesterday afternoon. 1t
opened with devotional services. The
! scripture reading was by the Rev. Jos.
Speers, pastor of the Second Presby-
terrain church, and prayer was offered
by the Rev. S. ]. Boyle. The music
was rendered by an augmented choir,
and was q notable feature of the exer-
cises. One of the addresses was deliv-
cred by Rev. d. D. Bigger, d. D., of
Tifin, O., Synodical Superintendent of
Home Missions, who is brother of the
pastor of the Third church.
He referred to the fact that his
father was once principal of the First
ward school in this city, and he there
fore found it pleasure to return to
Wheeling. He spoke at some length of
his experiences here After the intro
duction, in which he had given remin-
iscence of his early life spent in this
city, he spoke of the church, its con-
stitution, origin and adaptation to the
needs of mankind.
He spoke of the early edifices used as
a house in which to worship. He told
of the early temple used by the people
of Biblical times, which later gave way
to the synagogue. Following up he
told how, during the prosecution, the
Christians were obliged to worship in
caves, and finally the origin Of the
modern church.
He went on to speak Of the necessity
of the moral influence that radiated
from the church, of its influences upon
the social life OF the community. After
compimenting the pastor and the peo-
pie upon the energy they had shown In
the reconstruction of the house, in its
L., oHn AMI ha -af1
that he could not think of any locality
in which there could be a work accom-
plished than the Third Presbyterian
church. He then proceeded to take up
subscriptions to clear the church's
Indebtedness, which amounted to
$5,025.
The Kings Daughters of the church
responded with subscription of $1,000
and the Sunday school with 5000.
These were the two largest amounts
subscribed. Small subscriptions were
rapidly taken until the whole amount
subscribed amounted to $4,000.
In closing, DR.. Bigger said he had
full confidence in the Presbyterian peu-
pie of Wheeling, and he believed that
whatever sum was required TO remove
the indebtedness upon the church
would be willingly given. An earnest
and united effort would result in the
wiping out of the debt.
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. c. B. Austin. d. D., pastor of the
Vance Memorial church. who said:
Eph. 35-"Of whom the whole FAM
lily in heaven and earth is named"
The church is a family universal,
which has its first text in the original
family, created by God, and containing
in itself, those elements which were
afterwards to be made glorious by
Christ, in a world wide redeemed hui
manity. The family is not a society or
combination. Ii is a thing Of natural
| affinities. a deep truth Is contained in
the old declaration that Eve was form
| ed from Adam, which Is that the MEM
| bers of family so intimately asso-
ciated they are formed OF each other.
A member of family is introduced
| into that circle not by choice, or con-
sent He is born into a crib of which
he forms a part. No other union is
like this of the family. The ties that
are formed within il are peculiar.
| That of motherhood, for example, be-
| comes strong and beautiful by reason
| OF many a test. 1t survives them all,
and grows more heroic by every cx-
action.
The family unity exists in spite OF
! many diversities among the members.
| These diversities demonstrate that the
| family is one. The masters love tri-
umphs over all. Woman adapts herself
to all these. There is a like triumph
over opposition and trial. The child
| to-day on whom is centered the deepest
i care, affection and desire, Is the one
| far away in the trenches CT the Philip
| pines, the son who is serving his coun-
| try in danger and hardship entitled
| thereby to the heartiest affection from
| those who are left behind: or it may
! be another son, separated far, not by
| geographical. but by moral distance,
yet never forgotten, but the more loved
| and prayed for because of that Who
I can measure that training which men
| thus receives, by the service and sac
rifices for others, becoming a many