Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-29

| thanks be to God for the faith which
keeps us true to God. Under His saving
providence may we grow into greater
courage against evil into the full perfec-
ton of a manhood redeemed by Christ
This Thanksgiving Day is most fitting
for the dedication of this beautiful
church, for after all, the building Of a
church is in the nature of an act OF
thanksgiving to God. 1t is public act
nial of gratitude for Gods gifts. The
church building is an expression of a peo-
pies sacrifices for the faith which they
profess, it is a hymn of praise for all
that God has been to them in the realm
of grace as we'll as nature Thanksgiving
springs from the gratitude of the people
for vocation to the faith of Christ, for
their Christian baptism, for their COM
plete knowledge of God through the
teachings of the church, and for their
perfect union with Christ through the
sacraments of the church.
Sing with PsaImist
''There is reason, then. for this
people to cry out with the Psalmist,
What shall render to the Lord for all
the things that he has rendered to me?"
What shall be my grateful Thanksgiving
for creation and redemption, for the
truth and love Of God so abundantly be-
slowed upon me? With the Psalmist, I
will take the chalice of salvation and
in the name of the Lord L will thank
God for all His graces and mercies to
me.
1.-THE chalice of salvation is symbol
ized by the church which as the visible
means of salvation reaches TO all man.
kind. The church is the expression of
n ZIG a.
posit of faith. it has the adorable sacri
flee and all the sacraments, it is vested
with the Saviour's authority. it is, in a
sense the Saviour living with us. 1t
stands upon tie highways of life, teach
ing the word of truth and pouring upon
the rouls men the saving blood of re-
demption.
This beautiful church of st. Agnes
then, like jeweed chalice filled with the
sacrifices of a devoted pastor and faith
full loving people, as their chalioe of sal
God and is henceforth dedicated to His
service alone. Men who are not instructed
in religious belief. who have lost the in
fuence of deep religious sense, who
Lave been led astra--, by false notions in
religion, cannot understand the meaning
Of building like this nor can they fully
understand the reason which underlies It.
'It all appears like vain pomp and idle
ceremony, largely because they do not
understand it, To them it is rather In
the nature of extravaganza and they
wonder what purpose this church build
ing serves. If they had a thorough
grasp of the vital principle of religion
which underies this church, they would
he among the strongest in defense Of
the church as the great means in main
-ainng faith Non the earth among men.
Beneath all this church building and
through it all, there is one motive. which
Is divine belief In Jesus Christ. the Son
og God. the Redeemer of mankind and
the teacher of the true religion which
alone can lead men to his destiny and
cause him to understand the things OF
life about him.
Church Is Witness
This church is the witness of visible
church established by Christ invested by
him with his authority and placed
among men as the instrument of mans
edemption.
Men in all times have recognized the
of religion and they have ex-
pressed the religious idea by some form
a. external worship. All peoples. even
those in barbarism, have felt the natural
law urging them to a worship pleasing to
God as they understood Him and have
looked to Him for guidance by which
hey might know the service which would
be pleasing to God hence the religious
annals of mankind tell us that God re-