Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-08
VIEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH
NEgsTosE OF A NEW EDIFIcE
LAID on THE ISLAND YES
TI;iDAN.
} ogD OF THE DENOMINATION
In This City-Impressive Exercises
Were Witnessed by "A Large
Crowd-The sermon Was Preached
by Prof. J.. c. Keith, President OF
CoIlese-Contents of Cor
ner stone.


of worship.
In December, 1897, an earnest band
though small in numbers-of Disciples,
organized a church of their faith on the
Island, and secured a pastor. Having no
church, they secured temporary quar-
tiers whereas the law is in this free
land-they could worship God after the
dictates of their own conscience.
Steadily has the little pioneer in
creased, until to-day they number near
" one hundred and fifty souls. The
leayen OF zeal for the Master that was
in the original band has SO leayened the
entire congregation under the enthu-
siastic watchfulness of its energetic
and talented pastor, Elder T. j. White.
and his predecessors, that they deter
mined to erect a suitable house of wor-
ship for themselves. Yesterday saw the
first step of their dreams realized. Then
It was at $3.50 O'Clock IN the afternoon
OF a perfect day that they, with appro-
pirate and solemn ceremonies, laid the
cornerstone of their first church ediice.
A large number of people were pres
ent. yet perfect order and decorum was
observed by all. Even the children seem
ed to be impressed by the deep solem-
nifty Of the occasion.
Promptly at $3.50 O'Clock the pastor,
Elder r. J. White, opened the exercises
by giving out that grand old hymn, Il
dove Thy Kingdom, Lord" which the
choir, occupying the porch OF the house
adjoining the church site, rendered in a
very pleasing manner.
Elder A. Linkletter, state evangelist
of the church, read the verses 6 to % in
elusive, from the third chapter Of 1st
Corinthians-a most appropriate selec-
tion-after which he invoked the Divine
blessing upon the people and the
church.
The choir followed with a faithful
rendition of the hymn Lord of Hosts,
to Thee We Raise Here a House Of
Prayer and Praise" etc.
Elder J. c. Keith, president of Beth
any College, was then introduced by
the pastor of the church, and in elo-
quent and appropriate form delivered
the dedicatory address, taking for his
theme Isaih 26:f6, Behold, l lay in
Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried
stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure
foundation, ETC."
The learned and eloquent speaker
held the close attention of the assem-
bled people, whose only regret was that
he spoke so briefly. He said, in sub
stance:
The history of local churches is much
like the history of individuals. They
have their conception in the minds Of
men and women, their beginning, their
childhood, their growth and maturity,
and sometimes their death. But this
last is not a necessity. a church built
on the true foundation, enlightened by
the truth of God, animated by His
Spirit, should stand forever.
There are three periods in a church's
history full of interest. The first or
ganization of the forces for work, the
day of laying the cornerstone and the
day of dedication. These are mile
stone on the highway of her progress.
l congratulate this congregation that
after three years of struggle they have
reached the second period. l cherish the
hope that erelong they may reach the
third stage in their onward march.
but while we are here to put the
finishing stone on this foundation, l
would be amiss did | not speak of that
great foundation and that glorious spir-
itual temple which God laid and reared.
Isaiah, with clear prophet c%vision, out
lined the whole thing, and the New
Testament shows the exact fulfllment
of all that was foretold.
Behold, I lay in Zion-Jerusalem-a
stone" Stone is the most enduring
substanee-"A tried stone" No ones
claims were so severely tried as the
CIaillS OF CnTlSI. Lawyers, uOClolS,
Pharisee, Sadducee, Herodism, gov
ernors, kings, tried their skill in vain.
He refuted all-atheistic philosophy
and polytheistic paganism oppressed,
but they have been broken, n still
the truth stands.
The enemies of Christ resorted 20
death to end His claims, yet God said:
Your covenant with death shalt be
disannulled and your agreement with
hades shall not stand" This was full
filled in Christ's rising from the death.
thus establishing the grandest truth
the world has ever known. Jesus Is
the Christ, the Son of the living God"
This truth now moves through the
earth in a great triumpAal march and
will move on till the shout asceads.
"The kingdoms of the world have be-
come the Kingdoms of our Lord and His
Christ"
In the New Testament the Church
Of Christ is represented by the meta
phore of a temple or building. Every