The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16
JOY IN GODS HOUSE
Subject of Dr.. Watkins Ser
mon Last Night.
The Dedication Service Proper, Takes Place
Today. Splendid Musical Program
is Offered.

is Offered.
| At the First Presbyterian church
today. apart from the hymns in which
full congregational singing is heartily
desired. the following music will be
rendered:
Morning service, II a. m.
Organ prelude-Pilgrim's chorus
-. 80. ........ Wagner
| Anthem-Sing o Heavens. .B. Tours.
Offertory-The Everlasting Lights
.. -. ............ ....Wltt.
Miss Elizabeth Taylor.
Postlude- Grand March,. Wagner
Communion Service. p. m.-"Ihere
is a green hill far away
Evening service. 8 D. m.
Organ Prelude-Laudamus, Richard
| son.
Anthem-I Waited For the Lord
| ....... :. :. :. 80. .Mendelssohn.
Offertory Hank My Soul
| ....... -. -. ......... Shelly.
Misses TAYLOR. Richardson. Mrs. Ham
ilton, Messrs. Hart and Cheek.
Postlude- Recessional, DE Koven.
Miss Sadie Duncan, Organist.
| Last night the congregation of the Pres
| byterian church turned out in full force
| in spite of the inclement weather. to greet
their former pastor. Rev. J. S. Watkins
who was the pastor here from 1878 to
| 1892. The lowering clouds and the heavy
| showers did not diminish the congr ega-
| ton to any appreciate extent. 1t was
| doubtless pleasure to DR.. Watkins to
| again address the members of this church
after an absence of about nine years, and
| the pleasure was plainly shared by the
congregation.
| The music was especially fine last
night, there being a number in the choir
| from the other churches of the city. Ser
vices were begun by solo by Mr.. Leo. d.
| Heartt, of Durham.
| After song by the choir, DR.. Daniel
introduced DR.. Watkins by saying that
| of the pastors who have served this
church, only two still live. He had invited
1 Dr. Vaughan to be present, but on ac-
| count of the infrmities of age he had been
| compelled to decline. but sent salutation
and best wishes.
| THE other living pastor is the dear
| friend and brother who occupies the pulpit
| with me tonight. This service would be in
complete without the presence of DR.. Wat
| kins. He was identified as pastor with
the fortunes of this church for over thir-
| teen years and has come tonight to re-
| ioice with us in the completion of our
house of worship. We bid him a cordial
welcome. He is among his own and his
own have received him gladly"
| DIR. Watkins announced as his text the
| first four verses of the Eighty Fourth
| Psalm: "How amiable are thy taberna
cles, o Lord, God of Hosts &c. He said:
| after a large expenditure of time, NOM
| ey and energy we have come to the dedi
| cation cf this house OF God In building
| this edifice you have but obeyed demand
of your nature. Ever since time has been
| men have built temples. But it is not
from q spirit of pride that you have done
| this, but to show your devotion to God.
1.-THE first idea that bursts upon one
from reading this Psalm is that of exalt-
| ed delight. 1t expresses the deep and in
| tense longing of the Psalmist heart. He
| longed for intercourse with the living
| God He needs a sense of interchange
| between God and his soul. We see this
| intense delight he experienced in the
| worship of Cod. fear we do not lay
stress enough upon worship. We go to
| church too much for it's educational value.
| But the house of God is for worship.
Worship is the grandest act of which hu
mainly is capable. 1t appeals to mans
| highest nature and calls upon the best o;
| all he IS. 1t causes him to look through
| creation to the Creator. 1t is grand to
appreciate the beauties of nature and the
| glories of this world, but it is grander to
| look 70 natures God
| 10 har lac
| ing God that we are going to dedicate
| this church to the true worship. Jesus
is our altar and our only priest There
| will be no pomD, no pride, no burden
some ritural or long drawn service, but
will come here to worship God, which is
the highest and most glorious act of which
| we ore capable.
eve should cultivate a love for Gods
house. God said: MY house shall be
called house of prayer God always
calls things by their right names.
There must be inculcated in this
church spirit of Christianity. But Chris
tianity and churchianity are far removed
from other though l doubt if there would
be any Christianity without a church. But
God grant that near the temple to be set
apart tomorrow for his service, no spirit
| of blgOtry, or narrOWneSS or bitterness
may ever approach.
| christianity hes done more for the
world than all the combined other agen-
| cies that have ever influenced it. The
church is a place for Christians to meet
each other and commune with God. God
has always revealed himself to men in
| such places and made them holy.
Eve ought to feel that the church is our
spiritual home. It takes love to make a
home Love IS the cornerstone of the
| church. " takes rest to make home.
| In the church we rest from secular strife
and the Jars of business. Let us be liv-
ing stones IN the Temple Of our God.
| as we dedicate this house to his worship
let us dedicate ourselves to his service
BISMARCK'S IRON NERVE