The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-02
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL
NEW CHURCH DEDICATED YESTER-
DAY4FTERNOON.

Dedicatory Services Conducted by Rev.
DIR. McLane-Sermon Preached by Rev.
John Gaylord Davenport, ID. d., of
Vyaterbury-In the Christian Church
Is the Highest Revelation of Gods
Character.
The dedication Of the new Plymouth
Congregational Church at Sherman ave-
nue. and Chapel street took place at
| 2:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon. Inc
church, description of which appeared
yesterday, was decorated for the occa-
sion with palms placed ON the ledge
| that runs about the base of the WIN
dows. Palms We're also placed on the
| platform and flowers on the horai
stand. Professor f. A. Fowler, OF this
city, who has charge of the music OF
one of the large churches in New YORK
city and is to provide the music for
Plymouth church during the year, was pres
ent and presided at the organ:
| Rev DR.. W. l.. Phillips of the Churcn OF
| the Redeemer offered prayer az ihe open
| ing, and Professor BlackIlan OF the DiYln-
| ity school read the Scriptures.
| Rev William w. McLane, ID. u, pastor
of the Plymouth church,. conducted inc
service of dedication, which consisted Oh
composed for the occasion by MIS- McLane'
and of one composed by Donald Mclane,
closing with the dedcatory prayer by the
pastor. n, 49,, ,
Gaylord Davenport, ID. d., pastor or tne
Second Congregational church OF wafer
bury. DR.. Davenport chose for AIS text
Isaiah LN-13: And / VIII Make the Flaca
nf Nv naat Glorious ~ The sermon was IN
part as follows:
'The deyout man can worship God any
where. In the open fields amid the loIty
arches of the natural forest or where the
cataract makes music or where the sunset
skies illumine the landscape with splenuof,
the spirit not the place Will determine me
worship. Nevertheless the house set apafI
for the worship Of God has ever, been and
still will be the place which will evoke TO
worship and inspire to service. The text as
used by the prophet was applied to the sec
ond temple, whose courts are to be tioalea
by the feet Of Him whose feet were after
wards to be pierced for mn.
But the text finds Its truest fuliillment
in the Christian church, wherein Is the
highest revelation of Gods character, ana
the most devout conservation or HIS ser
vice. This beautiful building, which Is now
to be dedicated to the service of God, He
will make glorious.
I'm what ways will He make 1t glorious?
He Will make It glorious, irst, by the pres
ervation OF His truth. While much Is re-
yeuieti Of God in nature, and all truth Is of
God 1t Is through Christ that God Is most
perfectly revealed and In his church That
the high truth concerning mans relations
is taught. The dew and rain and the. riv-
ers and lakes cannot answer the question
Can the stain of sin never he. washed
away The forces of nature ca.snot tell
that there Is forgiveness, and the flowers
and leaves which fade and fall teach moth
ing of Immortality. All these great truths
are taught in the Christian church.
Again, He will make the church glorious
by the transformation Of character. Moral
changes proceed slowly, and the real work
nized. Yet what great changes for the bet
ter and for righteousness have been
wrought in the lives of men and In the con
ditons of society by the Christian church.
And In this work of transforming men this
church will have Its part
Again, He will make the church glpr-
ous by the improvements In many ways
which upllft mankind. Most OF the great
for elevatlng society, when
10 proceed from the cnurch. The abolition
IF slavery, the efforts to obtain pence IN
The world, the efforts to adjust the con-
lctlng conditions which prevail In the
world, issue largely from the church. The
asst century has witnessed great changes;
he twentieth century may witness greater
mes 1t may witness the adjustment of
)itration, the abolition OF war and the
of the entire world.
But whatever great changes may take
)lace, this church will no doubt have its
and Its mission concerning them.
And the praise like the Hallelujah Chorus
# the oratorlo In Elijah will be to hear
orever and ever worthy to be praised