Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-28
DEDICATION sENIcEs
OF THE8APTlsT CHURCH


Gated yesterday morning the buiIdina
being filled to ojerllowing despite the
inclemency OF tie weather The excr.
cises before tF sermon consisted OF
the doxology sung by the choir. pray
er by Rev. NJ Ferguson. the reading
of portions OF the 22d and 127th
psalms by tIg Rev. w j Wright of
Pagosa Springs. singing "Blest BE the
Tie That Birds" by the choi r. PRAYER
by the pasur, Rev. Mr. Sarber. and
solo. "LeaG Kindly Light" Mr.. viii
Lewis. The pulpit was beautifully
decorated with flowers. sweet peas of
various fues. asters. nasturtiums. car
nations and others, with a plentiful
sprinkpng of ferns and other green,
which made very pretty effect. The
editice is bright and cheerful inside
and admirably adapted to the use for
which it has been constructed.
After the exercises Mr.. Sarber intro.
dnced Rev. Thomas Stevenson of Pu.
eblo. who read from the 27th chapter
OF Matthew. 35th verse: And they
crucitied Him" His sermon was in
substance as follows:
any government or institution, after
they had outlived their day of useful
ness, if they would voluntarily retire.
but each seeks to continue the power
which it is unable to WELD in its
enfeebled state. So it was in regard
to historical Rome, monarchial France.
so in regard to feudalism in Europe
and slavery in America The same
has been true in regard to other gov
ernments and nations and especially
in regard to the Jewish nation The
would-be benefactor of that nation
stood upon the slope of the Mount OF
Olives, and saw the impending ruin
about to fall upon the city below. and
his heart welled up and he cried and
said; 20. Jerusalem, Jerusalem. how
often would | have gathered thee as
a hen gathers her brood under her
wing, and ye would not"
But instead of hearing his voice
they cruciiied Him. We can never
realize the effect OF what we are do
ing. Those who dIew up the Magma
Charter could not have told before
hand what it would mean 10 this coun-
try and this century. ,,or could the
result of the signing of the Declara
tion OF Independence be foreseen. At
that time whoever would have believ-
ed that the cruciliXion of our Lord
Jesus Christ would have been so bene-
fetal in its results? Whoever would
have dreamed that the cross on which
he was laid would have been the sym
Dol of a new faith. that the blood from
his hands and feet would have formed
a pool to which millions would come
to find rest? So, my brethren, it is
in the sacrifices you have made in the
erection of this beautiful building.
You cannot measure what the end will
be, but you may be sure that some
good will result.
THE Israelites had their fensts, but
the most they promised was the great
day of atonement. which the priest
made known to the Jews, promising
it first for himself and then for them.
Then he went into the holy of holes
and there. having divested himself OF
his priestly garments, put on a pure
white linen one, and turning to the
people announced that God is merciful
and there is forgiveness for every pen
lent sinner. This spirit is fulfilled in
our Lord Jesus Christ. Never shll
YOU or | be able to estimate the real
value of that sacrifice he made on the
cross. In this day we can see as
through a glass but darkly, but by and
by, when we arrive at home. we shall
see Him face to face, and we shall
know even as we are known we
shall never be able to understand or
appreciate all that He has done until
we arrive at that beautiful city.
Let us bring that scene of Calvary
before our eyes. We wonder that so
much that was divine should be
tossed about by wickedness and dark
ness. We look back through nineteen
hundred years, and we see in that ME
a divine thread, and we see now the
divine in Him was watched over ana
guarded from the wickedness OF men.
He was expected to reign over large
kingdom. but his kingdom reached
down to the grave. The divine thread
was working through His life and to-
day millions of churches nave peeh
erected lovingly and sweetly ana
beautifully unto Him. from the small
est chanel to the magnificent cathed-
rails of foreign lands. Then nature
brings her sweetest and diviniest Of
ferings the strains of humanity
through the length and breadth OF TINS
land and other lands, thousands OF
voices ring out their songs of praise
and in heaven ten thousand times ten
thousand voices singing.
"All hail the power OF Jesus name
Let angels PROSTATE fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord OF all.
Thus we see what change mas
taken place during these nineteen
hundred years. Looking back with the
ove of faith we see the Saviour on his
way TO Calvary passing the tombs OF
kings and coming through the valley
where human sacrifices had once been
made We see Him burdened with
tho cross. One wishes to he helpful, 81
mon the Cyrennean. He sympathizes
with the one so heavily burdened. and
because of his great physical strength
they laid upon Him that burden, ana
he writes His name upon the records
Il Il.a