The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-07
NEW CHURCH DEDICATED.
Gift TO the Westminster Presbyterian
Memorial Congregation.


Memorial Congregation.
The new house of worship of the West
minister Presbyterian Memorial Church.
Seventh Street between d and E Streets
southwest. was dedica ed yesterday with
appropriate and impres sive services, in the
presence of a congregation which filled the
beautiful edifice. The new building. which
is the gift to the church of Charles b.
Church and his son, William A. H. Church.
and is presented free of all debt, is fine
example of Gothic architecture. and is
most complete With modern church APP
pointments.
For the dedication ceremonies, the chan
eel was buried behind a mass of palms,
dogwood blossoms. roses, lilies. and Wild
field flowers, and festOons of purple wis
terra depended frorl the chain rail above
the pulpit.
The services commenced with tie invO-
cation by Rev. Charles 9. Ramsdell, ID. D.,
followed by the singing of hymn by the
congregation, and an anthem by the chorus
The dedication sermon was delivered by
Rev DR.. Benjamin F. Bittinger, former
pastor of the church. He took for his
text I'VE are Gods building | Cor. iii:9.
THE metaphor employed in the text
to represent the Church is as appropriate
as it is suggestive said DR.. Bittinger.
with building we associate the builder,
the foundation upor which the building
rests. the material Of which it Is COM
posed, and the use which it is designed TO
serve. l need hardly say that the builder
of this house, the Church, is God Hence.
it is called the Church of God, the Church
which was purchased with his own blood.
Originating in the counsels of eternity and
devised by infinite wisdom, it is designed
to be a perpetual monument of Divine
mercy and love in the redemption OF all
those who, in every ase, should share in
its precious benefits il the present world
and be fitted for glory and happiness in
the world TO come. This beautiful and
well appointed edifice, in which. for the
first time, We now meet for worship with
grateful and joyous hearts, we dedicate
to the Triune God. Given and set apart
for worship, SO let 1t be devoted, a house
sanctified by prayer and the preaching OF
Christ and Him crucified house to re-
sound with the praises of willing and
happy people. and house in which may
also be found the gate OF heaven. And
now it remains for me to extend to you
my heartfelt congratulations that under
such favorable auspices you and your
pastor are the rich possessors Of this new
and beautiful church home and to express
my ardent hope that growing numbers
may worship within these sacred walls, and
from time to time. many may he added
to the communion CT such as shall be
saved
After DR.. Bittinger'c address the keys
of the church were delivered to the Presi
dent of the board of trustees. The pastor
OF the church. Rev. E. Lawrence Hunt,
then conducted the dedication ceremony.
Preparatory questions were asked and re-
sponses made by the congregation. The
pastor and congregation then repeated in
unison the act of dedication as follows
This house which we have been permitted to
build through the gracious favor of divine ProSi-
dence DO solemnly dedicate to the worship
and service Of Almighty God, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
A prayer of dedication was delivered By
the Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, and the
ceremonies were concluded with the bene-
diction
service of praise was held at the
church at O'Clock last evening. at which
an extended programme of music was rem
dered in conjunction with the usual church
services.
The Westminster Church was organized
in 1853. and held ser ices at its church
on the site OF the new structure until il
was torn down to make place for the
building given to tbe congregation by
Charles B. Church and William A. II.