The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-17
SOUTH HIGHLANDS
 CHURCH DEDICATED Large Congregation Hears the
 Rev. pr. A. B. Curry THE CHURCH'S GARMENTS Presbyterian Minister Formerly of Birmingham Breaches of the Es-
 sentials of Beautiful
 Church in Gods Light.
THE CHURCH'S GARMENTS

the Second Presbyterian church or Mem phis, preached yesterday at the dedica- tion of the South Highlands Presbyte- rian church, delivering an impressive ser mon on "The Chureh's Beautiful Car ments" Mir Curry fully explained the essentials of a church, beautiful in the sight of God, as well as those of church membership.
 The church was crowded and 1t was found necessary to throw open the doors to the Sunday school room and get the benefit of the additional space. Through out the entire sermon it seemed as if scarcely an audible move was made by any of the congregation, so intently did his audience listen to the words of MT Curry
 After the sermon S. w. Lee, chairman of the board of/deacons, turned the keys of the church over to the pastor, the church being formally dedicated.
 In introducing Mir. Curry, the Rev. Dr. Sterling J. Foster, pastor of the church, said: "I feel that pr. Curry should rather introduce me to this congregation than l him. No man ever moved away from Birmingham more beloved. and when it came to the board of deacons to select some one to preach the sermon on this occasion they unanimously chose Dr. Curry. During his eight years resi- denee in this city he had not only the care of the First church, but of practi- caliy all the churches of the city on his shoulders. The citizenship of Birmingham a,Nlfu bad aud are glad to welcome him here today.
 pr Currys text was Wide awake; put on thy strength, o Zionl Put on thy beautiful garments, o Jerusalem! m!'-Isaiah 52, 1.
 He said in part
 The prophetic eye of the ancient He brew seer penetrates the most of seven centuries and sees the dawn of the Mes sianic era, the day of the promised One, the time of delverance for Israel, and inspired by the vision he lifts this clar- ion cry, Awake. awake Put on thy strength, o Zion! Put on thy beautiful garments. Jerusaleml'
 The names Zion. the holy mountain, and Jerusalem. the holy city, are used to designate the church of God, and those words are addressed primarily to the an- cient church of Israel, and especially to the church of God, now living and act ing in "the fnllness of times
 l wonder how you consider these words as addressed to your own particular church this morning as you come to ded- icate your beautiful house of worship to God. You notice that God would have this church put on strength and beauty, not strength alone, nor beauty alone, but strength and beauty, because it is the union of these two which gives the high est sense of satisfaction and pleasure
 For example, you may have a temple that is thing of beauty from founda- tion to pinnacle, and you rejoice in It. But if on examination you fitid in 1t the element of weakness the foundation in secure. or the superstructure frail. your joy is marred. It has beauty, but not strength. The elephant has, strength but not beauty, and he does not please us as Jobs splendid war horse. whose meek is clothed with thunder" that "smelleth the battle afar off and goes forth to meet the armed men," because in the latter we have both strength and beauty. A man may be a very Adonis, a woman a Venus for beauty. but if we find hid den disease Is eating away their life our pleasure in them is marred. It is when beauty Is combined with the strength of manhood and the healthful vigor of womanhood that our pleasure in man or woman is highest.
 And SO Gods word to his church is Put on thy strength, O Zon Put on thy beautiful garments, o Jerusalemy And have you not put on your strength, my brethren, in growing from little band to this great congregation, in build ing this beautiful house of worship, and in throwing of the incubus of debt which has hampered you all these years :? And I feel that you will continue to put on strength as the years go by.
 But God would have you grow in beau you today: Put on thy beautiful gar ments, o Jerusalem!''
 God Loves the Beautiful.
 The first thought that comes to us from this text is that God loves to have his church beautiful.
 The book of nature when read alright teaches us that God loves the beautiful. When he created the world we are told that God saw everything that he had made, and behold 1t was very good" or as 1t might be rendered, beautiful"
 And Soloman, that great student of nature said: He hath made everything beautiful in his time. When we look at the majestice gun which is as a bride groom coming out of his chamber and re- joiceth as a strong man to run a race"
 When we look at the moon and the stars which declare Gods glory and show his handiwork. we stand speeches. before the transcendent beauty of 1t all The earth on which we live, with its moun- tains and valleys, it's flowing rivers and placid lakes; with its spread trees and exquisite flowers. with it's butterflies of gorgeous wings and birds of resplendant plumage, with it's grateful creatures of