The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-11
The Rev. Dr. Gray Former
 Pastor, Breaches.
WHAT IS A CHURCH F0R7'
In Introducing pr. Gray pr. Dickinson Gives Some Interesting Figures Corning the New Building.
 Will Cost Over $4o.ooo.

 for the first time yesterday. At the morn ing services The Rev. pr. B. D. Gray of Atlanta, secretary of the home mission board of the Southern Baptist convention. occupied the pulpit. His theme was. What Is a Church For and notwith- standing the threatening weather the room was filled to overflowing. During the intermission between the Sunday school and church service the members of the church warmly greeted their former pas tor.
 Today being the first time that the Sun day school has met in the new room special thanksgiving offering. amounting to $200, was given by the members of the Sunday school to celebrate their first meeting in the new quarters.
 Building Cost Over $4o,o0o.
 Dr. Dickinson gave out some interesting figures in regard to the new church build ing. The cost of the structure when com pleted will be over $40 900. or this amount $26, 300 will be due when the congregation moves into the new house of worship, and $17OO of this has been paid and 5000 more has been subscribed. All that remains to be raised Is $4300.
 Dr. Dickinson in introducing pr. Gray. paid a tribute to him as his predecessor. He said that when he began to cast around for a preacher to fill tie pulpit. who would be in heartiest sympathy with this occasion, he centered upoA Dr. Gray as the one man to preach the first ser mon.
 Dr. Gray resigned the pastorate of the First church two and half years ago to accept the presidency of Georgetown, Ky, college. Last year he was called upon by the Southern Baptist convention to take charge of the Home Missions In the south During his pastorate in Ala bama he succeeded by untiring efforts of work and prayer in lifting $5O,oo0 debt off of Howard college.
 Compliments Dr. Dickinson.
 Dr. Gray read the 22d, 23d and and 24th Psalms as the scripture lesson. In open ing his remarks he spoke in glowing terms of Dr. Dickinson and the congre- gation of the First church. Never in all my experiences have l been drawn closer to a people than to the members of this church. I congratulate you on this magnificent structure that you are building.
 Dr. Gray's sermon follows:
 What is church for? Why all this expense, why these stones? Hundreds Of thousands of dollars are invested In church buildings here in Birmingham What is 1t all for? Christs idea of the temple may well be taken by us as applicable to church. What did he make of the temple? He made 1t a place of worship-"My house shall be called a house of prayer" Luke 19:46 Worship is the supreme purpose in this temple. Holy aspirations, praise, adora- tion prayer worship, this comes first Many things go forth from church. but worship must be it's supreme purpose. We may worship anywhere, but at church we bring the united aspirations of the congregation in worship of God. Christ drove the money-changers from the tenn pie precincts and declared 1t to be "a house of prayer" Bringing with LIS into this house worshipful hearts we shall be brought near to the very throne of God. The first voice lifted up in the temple should be the voice of worship. Every appointment of tabernacle and temple had worship as it's supreme purpose. May God help you to come thus Into this beau tifu church.
 g. A Teaching Place--Next to worship. Christ, by His example, put teaching for ward as a supreme purpose of the temple. It was the home of the scribe and the priest who taught the people. And He taught daily in the temple'-Lu. 1947. Christ was the supreme Teacher. His holy life and His whole life was spent in teaching On the mount, by the seaside. in the crowded city and by wayside, in the synagogue and in the temple He was the Great Teacher. No great work can be &C., complished that is not based upon sound teaching Paul was a great evangelist, but he was a teaching preacher. Alexan- der Maclaren of Manchester, England. the worlds foremost preacher. has been pre- eminently a teacher. A church cannot be great without intelligence and teacher is needed to inform the people. The mighty men In Zion have been those who have taught the people knowledge. God be thanked that you have as pastor a scribe well instructed in the law" Your worship itself will be made dearer and better to yourselves as well as more ac- ceptable to God. If 1t is informed with in- telligence. An Intelligent church member ship Is next in importance to an intelli- gent ministry. Let the truth make you let 1t be sought by the nearer Make this a teaching place and you will follow Christ in His use of the temple. And To ", lastly, Christ found the temple
 B. A Place for Giving-A great picture is presented in the temple. Christ is there and Is over against the treasury-Mk 12:n. He sat over against the collection boy and beheld how they gave Offerings are the legitimate offspring of worship ard instruction The gifts were brought by the hands of the worshipper. The tithes are to be brought into the Lords house worship and preaching have failed of theic full purpose If generous offerings do not follow. The large giver and the small giver were seen by Christ in the temple He sees us still. Shall we not honor Him with our gifts and give Him His own. Your gifts will honor Him here and hotr, fa make IJfa mama knowt, In fbx