Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-12-22
Gods Name For
Opportunity"
Striking Sermon by DR..
J. W. Bashford.
Woodland N. E. Church Dedicated
Alter $4,000 Was Pledged.

Despite the rainy weather the new
Woodland NJ. e. church was entirely
filed Sunday morning on the occasion
of the dedication of that stately new
house OF worship. At 9:15 o'clock in
the morning a Sunday school rally
was held. There was a very large
attendance, with special vocal ana
orchestral music, and speeches. Then
the entire church was thrown open,
and the full seating capacity Of nearly
300 was filed.
Upo1 the platform at the beginning
Of the services at 10:45 o'clock were
DR.. J. w. Bashford, president of Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware;
DIR. Charles w. Smith, d. D., editor
Of the Pittsburg Christian Advocate;
Rev. J. w. Robins, d. D., Of Warren,
presiding elder of the district and the
pastor, Rev. w. +. Wykoff. The music
was directed by Mr.. J. NJ. Fessenden.
A voluntary by the choir of 10 men,
bers to piano accompaniment opened
the sacred services. This was fol.
lowed by the singing OF hymn by
the congregation and an earnest and
appropriate prayer by DR.. Bashford.
The choir then rendered the stirring
anthem, "All Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" and DR.. Robins read Hebrews
10: 1926 as scripture reading.
Following another hymn, DR.. Smith
delivered n short sermon which IN
geniously led up to the main subject
OF the forenoon, the pledging Of sulii-
Giant money to pay Off the church
debt. DIR. Smith stated that he had
been quite sick during the night, and
would not give the sermon prepared
for the occasion. He spoke of the
day ms one Of great importance, when
the congregation came into full oc-
eupancy OF the church ediiice as the
temple Of God. Whatever might be
believed OF the evolution of man, he
for one believed in the evolution of
church architecture, subject which
with early and late methods of worship
he very interestingly discussed. He
believed that about every ten years
some great event ought to come about
In every church society to stir the peo-
pie up, just as the boy wanted his
mother TO let him go TO the circus or
get a tooth pulled so he could do
something. at .laAsS
Dr, Smith directed the raising of the
money needed, and stated that the
church had cost $lS,5OO, of which
$4,000 had been paid. or this 81 900
had been donated, Porter Il Andcr-
son, the decorators, giving $500 of that
by doing the work gratuitously Some
thing over one-half of the required
amount was raised before the forenoon
Adjournment. ,aa,I
II was late In the afternoon when
The congregation gathered for the SER
vices, Mr.. Salem Kile, the superln.
tendent OF the Sunday school, presided.
The choir sang Praise God, the
Giver," and DIR. CLARK Crawford, OF
the First N. 10, church, ofrercda fervcnt
prayer. The anthem, Jesus, Lover OF
hy Soul" was given by the choir,
Mrs. Avery taking the solo part ana
Mrs. Avery and Mrs. DR.. Bowman
the duet part, The symposium was
next entered upon.
The hrst speaker was Rev. Il. f.
Whitaker, u. D., of RHvennH, former
pastor OF the church, who recited the
story Of the organization OF the church
while he was pastor of the North Hill
~NhN' '"huAVHh N'l' ulHuo NntIt
money couldn't he borrowed because
OF the panic, He himself nailed
shingles on the cupola one cold March
day. and hauled sand from North Hill
and mixed mortar for the building.
II was dedicated April -. 1905, with
30 members after six months work,
aud in one year and Ave months the
members OF the church increased ia
100 and or the Sunday school 1876
II. u. Hunes named the church Wood,
land.
Hon, ChaS. u, Dick was not present
aud MIR. #. NJ. AttcrhoIt, the well,
known attorney aud promoter, spoke
next lie believed that hc was chosen
70 represent the laymen because he
is the largest Methodist In town. lie
referred TO the sacrifices ministers
make In choosing their vocation, fol-
fhcy must rolinQulsh the right aud
pleasure to accumulate money and
I've IN elegance. Laymen, he said
are just as surely called to do work
a. ministers and what they accumulate
over n sufficient competence rol