The daily sentinel., 1904-12-19
TO THE MOST HIGH.
Solemn Services Mt the First NJ. f..
Church. Their New
building to the Worship of
God.-Over $4,000 Raised TO
Pay the Debt.-A Great
Day i'm That Church.


Day in That Church.
Yesterday was an auspicious day
I for a church dedication. Everything
combined to make the day admir-
ably suited for the beautiful exer-
| cises carried out at the Methodist
| church in the morning and in the
evening.
The dedication of the magnificent
and costly new Sunday school room
| of the Methodist church viii ever be
regarded as one of the most import
ant events in the religious circles
of the city.
The services began promptly at
1890 O'Clock. The auditorium or
old portion of the church was filled
to the last seat. and the new Sun
day school room with its 700 seats
seemed none too large for the occa-
sion The congregation numbered
nearly 900.
The services were opened with a
song by a seNtette of male and fe-
male voices. Following this Rev
James A. Becker of the Congrega-
tional church read a short passage
of scripture. After a song by the
choir and congregation, Rev. j. E.
Weir, pastor OF the Presbyterian
church, read n chapter from Pauls
The male quartette rendered
beautiful selection, and Presiding
Elder n. II. Lee delivered a very
impressive prayer, closing with the
Lords Prayer which was repeated
by the congregation.
Rev. Eugene II. Smith, pastor of
the church, in fitting words intro
duced Chancellor Henry A. Buchtel.
of the Denver University.
the first words of the Lords Prayer.
Matthew vi. 9.-"Our Father which
art in Heaven" The address was
splendid one in every particular.
1t was a discourse of the highest
class. The speaker divided the sem
tence, Our Father which art in
Heaven" into three parts and dis
cussed each one. He took the word
Our" and declared that its mean
ing at any time was wonderful and
far-reaching, but that in this sense
ii was more than wonderful. "Our'i
Father meant everybodys father
the father of those we love and
those we hate; of the good and of
the bad. If we could repeat the
word and fully believe iii its mean
ing, we could lay claim to be good
in heart, Christian in nature "Fa-
ther" is another word with a scope
and meaning so great that we can
hardly comprehend 1t. God is truly
Father to mankind. His watch
fulness, care, anxiety-all prove
Him to be the Father of Fathers
The last words, which art in Hea-
ven,' were beautifully explained by
the chancellor. What great consola-
tion it is, to those who realize that
some day sooner or later all human
ties must be broken and loved ones
carried away, that there is a Hea-
ven. a life beyond the grave. The
man with the belief that God is.
and there is a Heaven" can well be
free from sorrow and needs but lit
tie earthly consolation.
The chancellor's sermon con-
sumed about thirty-five minutes, and
the excellent address was fully ap-
preciated by the immense congrega-
tion. Chancellor Buchtel is a man
of great ability and a commanding
pulpit orator.
In closing his address Chancellor
Buchtel stated that the congregation
had gathered to witness the dedi-
catory exercises of the new building
He declared that the Sunday school
room was one of the most beauti-
full he had ever seen and one of
the best arranged. He had seen
hundreds of churches in his exten-
sive travels, but none could boast
of more conveniently arranged
Sunday school room. He stated that
the building was a credit to the en-
tire city; all could be proud of the
edihce. Too much money can not
be spent on churches or on school
buildings. Every service held in
that Sunday school room would
more than pay for the building.
a.,1
Chancellor, was filled with beauti-
full churches. Throughout western
Colorado, when people prepared to
build church, they would in all
probability come to Grand junction
to look at her modern edifices, and
the new Methodist Sunday school
room would attract more attention
than any other structure. The
Chancellor believes that before five
years are gone the church will be
ready to build the new auditorium
Before the church could be dedi-
Gated with ease, the speaker stated,
a certain amount of money neces-
sary to free the church of all ex-
penses should be raised, and this
he proposed to do by calling for
contributions.
The new building, the new par
sonage, the cost of redecorating the
| old church. had involved expenses
to the amount of S26,736. OF this
amount, $1S.736 had been raised,
leaving a balance of $4,000 to be
raised, before the institution would
stand free from all Indebtedness.
A large blackboard was brought
| forward on which was grouped fig
ures representing certain amounts.
the total of thes groups represented
the total sum. $26,736. Every per-
son who had either contributed or
desired TO do so was asked to write
| out the total amount of his contri-
| buttons. both old and new. on cards
| furnished. These amounts were an
nounced at the pulpit by Senator
Horace T. DeLong. and the Chan
| cellor took charge of the black
/ board. erasing figures as contribu-
tions were made.
Ten contributions of 1000 each
were asked for, and there were sew
en- responses. The other contribu-
tions ranged from $3.50 to 81. The
contributions were made voluntar-
lily, there being no soliciting. Con