Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-18
DEDICATION And NO DEBT
First Reformed Church Set Aside Free Of
Financial Burden.
PRESIDENT HELPS TOWARD CONSTRUCTION
Rev. y. s. gauER, Pastor, Aided by
other Ciergymen and Lnymen,
Hold the Dedicatory
Exercises,

street and Central boulevard, was formally
dedicated Sunday afternoon with interest
ing ceremonies and In the presence Of
large congregation. Part Of the money
that built this church was given by the
church of which the president is a mem
Der. The services we're simple, but none
the less impressive. The program opened
with an anthem by the choir, followed with
the invocation by Rev. F. 8 zaugg, pastor
of the church. The general music was rem
dered by the regular choir Of the church,
assisted by the junior choir OF about thirty
children OF the Sabbath school.
Rev. T. f. Stauffer OF Sioux City read the
scripture lesson, reading from the eighty
fourth Psalm. Rev. Joshua Riale Of
Omaha, a retired pastor of the Reformed
church, delivered the prayer. The dedi-
catorial sermon was preached by Rev. d.
8. Rouse d. d. district superintendent
of home missions of the Reformed
church He spoke from the text, John
Willie, Jesus spake unto them saying,
am the light Of the world" In his intro
ductory remarks DR.. Rouse sought to show
that the religion Of Jesus Christ was so
simple that all Of His followers could easily
understand the problems OF life.
The Lasting Power.
What Is there in this religion OF Jesus
Christ that has wrought such a power
! in the world for many hundreds Of years
and even down until today?" said Dr.
Rouse. Even those who are not followers
of any religious faith, all profess that they
would prefer having neighbors and
friends religious people-people of the
Christian faith. There have been other
religions than that of Jesus Christ, but
none of them has possessed the strong,
vrile energy of the Christian religion.
Christ came into the world as the true re-
former to uplift mankind and save souls
| by the doctrine of love. He came as the
perfect embodiment Of God, and of man
as the divine human. Christ was not
lawgiver. He simply lived the law Of God
He was the light of the world. He came to
teach us the form Of life to live in the
world that we might inherit the kingdom
of God. The life He gave for the world
was a divine life and was given for hui
manity's sake Christianity is, indeed,
life which we feel, know and enjoy. Moth
| ing is to be compared with the religion
of Jesus Christ. 1t gives us a better un-
Outstanding Of things. 1t should govern
| all the activities OF our lives
THE object in erecting this house of God
Is that you may have a rallying place in
which to worship God, a place to bring
your children that they may be taught the
way of life and directed IN the paths of
| righteousness. This church building will
enable you to extend your influence in this
| community for good It is your opportunity
and you should avail of it. This edihce is
the meeting place from which will radiate
the light Of the world. Christ has said he
that followeth Me shall not walk in dark
ness but shall have the light OF life.' The
7 20 oil
to this place as your house OF worship
regularly and prayerfully and you will not
walk In darkness"
History of the Church.
Rev. F. 8 Zaugg then gave brief his
tory of the church in which he said:
"It is but few days over a year ago
that this congregation was organized Feb
ruary q, 1906 was the day. Our first serv-
ices were held in the Swedish Lutheran
church edifice near the corner Of Twenty
third and Vinton streets. We then decided
to build a church Of our own, and this new
church we dedicate today is the result The
church cost $4,000. OF this amount $500
has been advanced to us by the Reformed
Church Of America Within the last year
we have raised among ourselves $1,000
which up to this morning left us deficient
about $1,000. OF this amount 800 was sub
scribed at the morning services"
Rev. Mr.. Zaugg then read the dedicatory
service, consecrating the building TO the
service of God for all time.
Prayer of ConsecratIOn.
The prayer OF conservation was delivered
by Rev. ]. N. Naly, editor Of the Reformed
Church Herald OF Upton, Ia. The dedi-
catory services closed with the benediction
by Rev. Leonard Groh of St. Marks Luth-
eran church.
The pulpit and choir recess were decor
ated with palms, ferns and lilies, and fes-
toons of tri-colored tissue paper were gath
cred over the altar. During the afternoon
services an additional 500 was subscribed
toward the liquidation of the deficit, leav-
ing but little over $500 to be raised at the
evening service, which was fully subscribed,
thus starting the church out free from debt
except as to the Reformed church extension
board
Letters were read during the afternoon
services from absent friends and the Re-
formed church at Denver, enclosing SUBJ
stantial donations to the church fund.