Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-03-07
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OPENING.
A Great Occasion for fionoring God Will
Prayer, Praise and Preaching.
Audience Immense.

.
overAowing with great congrega-
ton gathered TO witness and take
part in the opening services. The
pastors of the Methodist, Christ
ian, Presbyterian and Free Baptist
churches held no morning services,
leaving their congregations free TO
accept the cordial invitation to at.
tend. and there were also many
present from the country and some
from surrounding towns. II was
conservatively estimated that there
were twelve hundred people in the
house, many of whom were seated
on chairs and on the stairway and
many standing, while probably
one hundred failed TO gain admis-
sion.
The conditions were ideal for the
servioe-the beautiful new build
ing, a fair and balmy day, the ex-
cellent music of the large choir,
great and sympathetic audience,
and a preacher with the intelli-
gence and ability not only TO meet
the demands OF the occasion, but
what is vastly more important, a
man OF God whose spiritual vision
swept out and beyond church walls
and earthly confines and enabled
him to picture the beauties and
glorie. OF that piritua ] church
"whose enduring foundation is
Jesus Christ, and whose wall, are
redeemed souls. each stone heart
that God has touched. "
The musical program was well
chosen and given with fine effect,
Mrs. II. o. Bostwright playing the
opening and closing numbers on
the piano, with trombone accompa-
niment, and also all the accomps-
niments. The vocal solo, Baby
/ lon" by Mrs. Webb Howell, was
rare treat. Special mention is
also due regarding the trombone
solos of Mr.. II. c. Collier Of Waco,
who is the master Of that instru-
ment.
The prayers of Rev. A. NJ. Stew
art DIR. j. d. West and Elder Crane,
offered at the appointed intervals,
were full Of feeling and earnestness
and bespoke the hearty unanimity
Of christian sentiment that prevails
among the preachers and their con.
gregations, the devout thankful
ness for the completion Of the new
temple for the worship Of the liv
| ing God, and above all the zeal
and solicitude of each minister tor
an early outpouring Of Gods spirit
and saving power upon this com
munity. A scripture lesson from
the seventy.second division of the
/ Psalms was read by DR.. l. F. Belts,
who invoked Gods blessing upon
his word.
Rev. B. II. Dement,, pastor of the
First Baptist huro b Of Waco,
preached the opening sermon, an
nouncing as his subject "The
Church and Its Services His
text was from first Timothy 1915:
"But if / iarry long, that thou
mayest know how thou oughtest 10
behave thyself in the house of God,
which is the church Of the living
God, the pillar and ground OF the
truth The sermon was eloquent
and forceful, and made a profound
impression. The first division of
it was descriptive OF the church in
its temporal existence and as a
spiritual editice. the distinction be-
ing clearly and beautifully drawn
and elaborated. The second part
of the discourse was preceptive, re-
lating to the work of the church
and the duties and obligations Of
membership. The sermon was full
Of Christ, following Him through
the prophecy Of the old testament
and His personal ministry in the
gospels. With Christ as the foun-
dation of this spiritual temple of
redeemed souls, the essentials were
seen to be a regenerated church
membership, spiritual unity, indi-
vidual responsibility, and willing
ness to serve in whatever position
God in this providence has placed
US; acceptance Of divine ownership
by reason of creation, purchase and
preservation; a vitalized assembly,
a firm support Of the truth, with
human hearts to feel it and human
tongues to proclaim il; a suitable
place Of worship, the history Of a
church being written in its build
ings; frequent assembling together
for religious worship, the praise of
songs and prayers, and the pro-
olo;,,irg NJ Gods word in its sim.