Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-08
CHURCH CONSECRATED
Sacred Edifce Where Presi-
dent Roosevelt Worships.
A MEMORABLE EVENT
THE PRESIDENT PARTICIPATES
IN THE SERVICES.
Dedication Address Delivered by DR.. E.
r. Eschbach-Prominen Di-
vines in Attendance.

A memorable event in the affairs of the
Reformed denomination, both in this city
and throughout the country, and which has
been anticipated with unusual general IN
terest, took place yesterday morning Wnen
the new edifice erected for the use OF the
Grace Reformed Church at the corner OF
18th and 0 streets northwest was formally
consecrated to the purposes of divine Wor-
ship The exercises attending the dedlca-
| ton of the structure were distinctly no
| table in that they were participated IN py
| President Roosevelt, who is communicate
| member of the church, and by many
| clergymen prominent in the denomination
| in the United States. President Roosevelt
| delivered an address, in which he spoke
particularly of the mission of the Reformed
churches of the country with regard to
the immigrant members of the sect VINO
! come here from abroad.
| Rev Dr. f. r. Eschbach of Frederick.
| Md, president of the Reformed poaro Oh
missions, delivered the dedicatory ADDRESS,
| and the program was presided over py
| Rev Dr. John NJ. Schick, pastor OF the con-
| gregation. Among others who took part IN
| the ceremonies and who occupied seats IN
| the chancel were Rev. c. s. Slagle of west
minister, Md; Rev. DR.. Faag, representa-
| tive of the Middle Dutch Collegiate Re-
| formed Church, New York CITY, with Wmcn
| President Roosevelt is affiliated; Rev. A
| L. ".
| SNYDER HagerstoWn. Md; Rev. DIR. j. A
| Hoffheins Martinsburg, w. Va. Rev. Or.
| c. ] Musser Philadelphia editor or the
Reformed Church Messenger; Rev Robert
! OBoyle Sunbury. Pa; Rev. f. w. BAH
| Clear Spring Md; Rev. J. B. Stonespher,
! Westminster, Md: Rev. j. b. Shontz'
| Chambersburg, Pa; Rev. Gustav Facius OF
| the First Reformed Church, Washington'
| Rev I. NJ Motter of Frederick, Md; Rev
A Houser Cumberland, Md, and Rev.
/ w. R. Meller of Los Angeles, Cal, were
| also present.
Attracts Large Crowd.
Previous to the arrival of the President
| large crowd gathered about the doors OF
| the church and along the surrounding side
| walks and awaited his approach. The en-
| trance to the edifice was kept clear by a
squad of policemen, under Lieut.. Byrnes
and Sergt Shannon. Although of consid-
| cradle size. the crowd on the OUTSIDE OF tne
| church was quiet and orderly throughout
| and was characterized by a respectful attl-
| tude Admission to the services was by
card and by the time the President arrived
every seat in the auditorium was filled and
| the available standing room was also util-
| lied to accommodate those VINO were I'M
| able to find seats.
| A few minutes before II o'clock the Presi-
| dent, accompanied by Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss
Alice Miss Ethel and Master Archie, reach
| ed the edifice in their carriage. The mem
| bers of the Presidents family were con-
| Quoted to the th1rQ pew from the lTOut Oh
| the left side of the middle aisle, and Mr..
| Roosevelt was escorted to the chancel by
| Rev DR.. Schick
| The service opened with an organ volun-
| tary played by Miss Martha Schmidt, the
| organist, after which the choir, composed
| of Misses Lewis and Chenowith and
Messrs. Meyers and Schick. sang Dudley
Bucks Festival TIE Deum." The invoca-
ton was offered by DR.. Slagle, who also led
the dedication canticle the responses be-
ing made by the congregation. Rev Mr..
Apple led the Scripture lesson. after which
the S4th Psalm was read responsibility, led
| by Rev. Mr.. Snyder.
Following these preliminary devotional
exercises the address of conservation APP
pointed by the general synod of the church
was given by Rev. DR.. Hoffheins, and the
audience arose and repeated the confession
of faith led by DR.. Musser. DR.. Schick then
read the act of conservation. and Rev. Mr..
ORoy1e offered the prayer of conservation,
which was followed by the Gloria in Ex-
celsis."
In introducing the President DIR. Schick
said he wished in so far 1t were possible
to present Mr. Roosevelt as separate from
his high office, that he might speak to the
congregation rather the man than as the
President of the United States. He spoke
of the affectionate regard in which Mr.
Roosevelt is held by the members Of the
congregation and then introduced him as
Brother Theodore Roosevelt. the man."
The Presidents Address.
the pulpit the audience arose for a moment
in respectful greeting. Mr.. Roosevelt said
Il shall ask your attention to three lines
of the dedication canticle: Serve the Lord
with gladness; enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with
praise. Who shall ascend into the hill OF
the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy
place? He that hath clean hands and
pure heart: who hath not lifted UP his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Three better lines could surely not be
brought into any dedication service of
church, and it is a happy thing that we
should have repeated them this morning
This church is consecrated to the service of
the Lord. and we can serve Him by the way
in which we serve our fellow men. This
church is conSecrated to service and duty
1t was written of old that BY their fruits
ye shall know Them and we can show the
faith that is in us. we can show the sim
cerity of our devotion. by the fruits We
bring forth. The man who is not tender
and considerate husband. loving and wise
father. is not serving the Lord when he
goes to church. So with the woman: so
with all who come here. Our being in this
church our communion here with one an
other. our sitting under the Nastor and
hearing from him the word of God. must,
II we are sincere. show the effects in our
lives outside.
Brotherhood Of Man.
I'VE of the Reformed churches have Pc
culiar duty to perform in this great coun-
try of ours country still in the making.
| for we have the duty peculiarly incumbent
upon us to take care of our brethren who
come each year from seas to our
| shores. The man going to new country is
| torn by the roots from all his old :lssocia-
| tons. and there is period Of great dam
ger to him in the time before he gets his
| roots down In the new country, before he
brings himself into touch with his fellows
| in the new land. For that reason 1 always
| take peculiar interest In the attitude of
our churches toward the immigrants who
come to these shores. feel that we should
be peculiarly watchful over them, because
of our own history, because We or our
fathers came here under like conditions
Now that we have established ourselves let
us see to it that stretch out the hand Of