Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-06-11
THE NEW CHURCH
CONSECRATED.
A Great Day in the History of
Emmanuel Parish.
The First Meeting in This Parish of
the Northern Convocation of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The greatest mile stone in the his
tory of Emmanuel Parish was turned
! last week when the substantial and
! diGnified new church building was
! formally opened and consecrated by
! the Rt. Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, S.
7. D., Bishop of Pittsburgh. This i'm
! pressivo event, taken in connection
with the meeting of the Northern Con-
vocation and the confirmation of q
| goodly class of candidates, makes the
occasion one that will always be re-
membered with grateful and affection
ate pride by the members and friends
| of Emmanuel Church.
| a special interestattached to the SER
vice on Wednesday evening as it was
the first service of worship in the new
building. Upon the ones in the pews
waiting for the service to begin, the
brightly lighted interior of the church
itself wrought an uplifting effect.
The chaste coloring of walls and cell
ing; the rich oak finish of pews and
lecturn; the long, narrow proportions
of the building, giving that sense of
depth and reserve and awe which are
| so essential in a church; the deep
chancel receding behind the massive
arch to the altar, which, surmCunted
by the cross and adorned with flowers
against dark red background, is the
object which forms the center ofappeal
to the eye and lifts the mind to thoughts
of the holy and invisible God-all
combined to speak message to the
worshipper more potent than mere
words can utter.
A strain was heard from the organ,
the double doors leading from the
choir room were opened, and the choir
and clergy entered in procession sing
ing triumphant hymn. Evening
prayer was read by the Rector The
Rev. Messrs. Cole and Donaghay read
the Lessons, Tours Magnificent and
Nunc Dimittis were used. The SER
mon, the first in the new church, was
preached by Bishop Whitehead. After
the sermon class ofnine was present
ed for Confirmation. The members of
the class were: Mrs. Henrietta Fetter,
Florence Mary Faucet, Pearl Grace
Shadman, Grace Elizabeth Morton,
Mildred Green, Rosa Bella Pye,
Minnie Morse, John William Trotter
and James NJ. Davidson.
On Thursday morning at seven
O'Clock the Holy Communion was
celebrated by the Rector. The cele-
bration was preceded by a service of
the Benediction over the altar by the
Bishop.
The Conservation of the church oc-
Cured at halfpast ten o'clock on
Thursday, June 4th. At ten o'clock
the Vestry had met in the choir room
and executed the instrument of dona-
ton. When the hour for service ar
rived the choir marched into the chan
eel singing professional hymn.
Meanwhile the Bishop and clergy had
formed in procession and marched from
the rear door of the sacristy around to
the front entrance of the church where
they were met by the members of the
Nestry. Mr.. b. w. Green on behalf of
the Nestry, read the instrument of
donation declaring the building free
from all lien and encumbrance and
giving 1t over for the uses of worship
IN accordance with the doctrines, rites,
and usages of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. The Bishop, followed by the
clergy then proceeded to the chancel,
chanting the tWenty-fourth Psalm.
The Sentence of Conservation, execut-
ed by the Bishop, was read by Arch
deacon Cole, and placed on the altar
by the Bishop. This completed the es-
sential act of conservation. Morning
prayer was read by the Rev. F. w.
White, former rector of the Parish,
the Rev. Messrs. Spalding and Hills
reading the lessons.
The Bishop officiated in the com
munion service. The conservation
sermon was preached by the Rev.
Arthur r. Taylor of Warren from the
text: "The place whereon thou stand
est is holy ground" Exodus 3: 81.
The preacher emphasized the truth that
the consecration of a special place does
not imply that other places are not
holy, but on the contrary spring out
of the truth that all places are holy.
Every place may be made the scene of
honest toll or of heroic sacrifice and
every such place is holy place. The
concreation of special places is meant
to hold aloft the truth of the sanctity
of all places, and to save it from sink
ing into the too common assumption
that no place is holy. In conclusion
the preac. paid personal tribute to
theRector Wno was formerly associated
with him at Warren, and to member
of the Parish who was his school mate
thirty years ago and to whom is large.
ly due the erection of the church build
ing. lie also commended in generous
terms the showing which this Parish
has made in missionary contributions
under circumstances which most
parishes would have regarded as a
good excuse for giving nothing at all !
outside of themselves.
At the afternoon session of the Con- /
vocation a review of Ernest Hamlin /
Abbotps book, "Religious Life in Am f.
erica" was given by the Rev Percy l.. /
Donaghay, of Dubois. This was fol I
lowed by a translation of review in ,
"A French periodical of FlournoVtg re
cent work "The Principles of the .
Psychology Of Religion The trans I
latlon was prepared aud read by the .
Rector Of the Parish, aud was ordered .
printed by the Couvocation.
At the evening session, evening
prayer was read By the Row. W. H. .
AAn nNEn III l.nnuu AIIla I,un t.nl.- |