The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-21
Church Dedicated.
LARGE CONGREGATIONS ATTEND THE
SERVICES.
An Occasion OF Great Joy to the People
known As Christians OF Disciples
OF Christ

Sunday was a day long to be RENE M
bered by the people known as Christians
or Disciples If Christ in this city. II
was the time set apart for the dedica-
ton OF their house Of worship on Main
street The threatening clouds passed
away and the weather was all that
could be desired The r., +. " I. Il
X kindly gave unusually low rates and
large delegation from Richmond
Manchester and some from Ashland and
Caroline county came up, including the
president. J l. Hill. and other MEM
hers 4 the Tidewater hoard OF this
church and Rev. j. A. Spencer OF
Manchester, all # whom enthusiast
c,lly Joined in the exercises. extended
helping hand financially aud rel iced
with the h,tle band II Disciples here
bee ,nse Of the grand work 50 auspiclous'
ly goirg forward
At II O'Clock they assembled In me
beautiful Little church where commnn'
ion services we're held. conducted by
R-v. J \. Spencer, DR. Charles A.
Young and the pastor. Rev. ; IL For
rer. This was followed by an impress
i've sermon by Rev 5 H. F'rrer on
Christian Union ~
Ats O'Clock in the afternoon all the
sitting and standing room IN the church
was occupied and very large number
stood AT the windows outside the
members ~ other churches in the city
showing their sympathy aud co'opera'
ton in highly appreciated manner.
The exercises opere1 with song OF
praise. followed by An earnest and elo'
oueut invocation by Rev ) Z stump,
Of the Methodist Church. \ quartette
was sweetly sung by the FredeTicks'
burg Male Qlutette. composed Of
Nessrs f 4. Slsn. W T. Smith, j.
W Adams and + A. Brulle. Atouch'
ing and impressive PRAYER vas offered
BY Rev J. \ Spencer. and
duet sweetly rendered by Mrs. John
Proctor and Mss Nora Trojan.
The dedicatory sermon. which was
an eloquent aud impressive discussion
Of the position Of the Christians or Dis
cirles. was preached by DR. Charles A
Young. Bible lecturer and professor o.
Hebrew AZ the University Of Virginia
His tex was lst Corinthians 3ro
CHAPTER ard eleventh verse "FoI
other foundation can no man lay thar
that j. laid. which is Jesus Christ
He spoke # the religious people with
which he is identified from historical
peographicAl and doctrinnl standpoint'
and said they were growing much more
rapidly than any other church. h'
closed bg saying the dlS was historic
one. From tha, day the church was t'
be- one Of the forces in this commun
ity for fighting sin and advancing
tba KINGDOM Of Christ. He urged
them T. this end 90 work II
harmony with their brethren q Other
churches and closed with an invoca
tion. He then made strong appaa
f.r pledges to liquidate the Indebtedness
on the church. which resulted in al, Of
500 being pledged Many Of The
pledges were from visiting brethren
who came up on the excursion train
and many others from the COED people
Of Fredericksburg who are not mem
beers of this church.
The services ended with a duet bl
Miss May Brent. ard benediction b
Rev. J. p. stump Mrs. Mary Quinr
Hicks presided at the organ
during the dedicatory exercises arc
Miss Alice Woody at the other services
At night DR.. Young preached again
an eloquent and deeply interesting ser
mon on Jesus as the king.
SKETCH OF THE WORK.
The old church was erected in 1892
and the membership scattered and dis
organized in reverses that came wit
the civil war. For years and years thi
condition prevailed and the old dilapi
dated building was an eyesore to III
town and a source Of keen regre
n all members Of this church
About the year 1888, Mr.. X
| B. McCAlley moved to this city. II
felt that something ought to be don
with the property and thong
other eff Jrts Of a similar characte
had failed. at once inaugu
rated quiet and unostentatiou
movement toward reorganization. II
called the attention Of the brotherhoo
TO the condition Of the property her
and urged action that would result /
bnilding M the cause He met wit
diaappointments and at one time had
enter an emphatic protest to proven
the sale Of the house and lot. Ate
this. few years ago Col. John W. All
drews. Of Port Gibson. Miss. and Rev
l. A. Cutler, of Louisa COURT House
came to his assistance and reorgani
cation was effected. but only three
the members Of the church as it existe
before the war could be found here-H
E Jones f. G. McCalley and Mrs Ell2
Morgan, the latter Of whom has sine
died About the time Of the reorgan
z,tion. Mr. ]. l. Hill, President OF I'll
Tidewater Board. wrote Mr. r. B. NJ
Galley asking about the status of ii
nronerty here. Soon after this, aft,