The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-06-14
Dedication of Christian Church

IIOIu udy, June lOJn, uhWneu bright
and beautiful. The beauty of the day
was significant of the beauty Of Holt
ness and the enthusiasm that was seen
in the sanctuary of the new Christian
church, where j. Lem KeeviI is minis
ter.
AT Q o'clock a short session of the
Bible school was held. At this session
were several visitors. The regular col
lection was $8 so.
Long before the hour for dedication,
crowds came that they might get seats,
knowing that large body of people
would attend the dedication.
The ushers did their work well, there
being no confusion at oil in seating the
twelve hundred people who could gain
entrance to the building.
Promptly at 1890 the services began.
j. Lem Keevil, the minister, announc-
ed the hymn, 81 love thy kingdom,
Lord. " At the conclusion of this W.
Q, Maupin led the congregation in
prayer.
The minister then read Psalm "a.
"How amiable are thy tabernacles, o
Lord of hosts! Ny soul longeth, yea,
even fainteth for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh crieth out for
the living God. l had rather
be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the
man that trusteth in Thee"
q. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, Ind,
was then introduced, taking for his
text Romans 1854, 81 am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God unto salvation"
The speaker showed in this discourse
that christianity is the greatest civilizer
in the world, that whatever of good
there is in the human heart comes as
result of the incubation of the princi-
pics vi Ibo iolIE luu VI OCouo Win tuuu
before the introduction of christianity
might made right" was the axiom,
but Christ taught, and Christ alone,
that the strong ought to bear the in
firmities of the weak.
Mr.. Sweeney possesses master mind
which was clearly proved hy his dis
course ON this occasion. He comes
from family Of preachers grand
father, father aud his four brothers all
being preachers4n the Christian church.
He has served the church as minister
at Columbus, Ind, for more than TWEEN
ty.tive years, with few years excep-
ton, when he was consul to Turkey
under President Harrison.
After the discourse Mr.. Sweeney stat
ed that although more than $40, 900 was
needed to free the church from debt yet
he would cali for only that amount. In
about half an hour $15, 900 in subscrip-
tons was raised. OF this amount fully
81, 500 was subscribed by members of
other congregations of the city and
those belonging to no church, thereby
showing their interest in this work.
That the members of the Christian
church in johnson City believe in
showing their faith by their works is
proved by the heroic efforts put forth
in building this temple devoted to ex-
tending the cause of the Son of God in
this community.
The entire cost of the building, in
Guiding the pipe organ, which will be
put in this summer, is over S25, 900.
The amount subscribed on dedication
day will free the church from all in
debtedness and enable it to go forth
conquering and to conquer unhamper-
ed. In the afternoon at o'clock was
held the union communion service.
Short talks were made by M. P. Carico,
]. A. Moore, W. G. Maupin, T. B. Rus
sell, - Nugent and ". P. Crouch.
At 80 p. m. Mr.. Sweeney delivered
an able sermon on "God spoke unto us
by His Son"
Mr.. Keevil deserves mention because
of his untiring efforts in building up
this great work which stands as mon
ument to the cause which has for its
object the salvation of the world and
e union of all Gods people on the Bible
and the Bible alone as the rule of faith
and practice.