The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-04-14
DEDICATION OF THE M. E. CHURCH
TiOnesta's New and Beautiful Ediflce
C%Onsecrated TO the Service Of God
With Impressive Ceremonies.


No event in the history of Tionesta has
Hbeen looked forward to with more pleas
urable anticipation by her citizens and
those of Forest county in general, than that
which reached its elimination ON Easter
Sunday morning, April 18th, when the
beautiful new Methodist Episcopal church,
the gift of three of Forest county's repre-
sentative and philanthropic citizens, Tru-
man d. Collins, of Nebraska, George f.
Watson, of Tionesta, and Hon. Frank y.
Kreitler, of Nebraska, was formally and
officially dedicated to the worship of AL
mighty God, by Bishop Joseph F. Berry, of
Buffalo, n. Y.
Services preliminary to the formal dedi-
cation were held in the new church on
Thursday evening, when a very able SER
mon was delivered by Rev. W. p. Murray,
district superintendent of the Erie district,
and a former pastor, who took for his text
st. John 17:11 and Is: "And now | am no
more in the world, but these are in the
world" Gas thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have l also sent them into
the world" This was followed on Friday
evening by an excellent sermon by Rev. j.
r. Rankin, district superintendent of the
jamestown district, and also a former pas
tor, whose text was selected from 2 Kings
2:15: "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on
Elisha Both of these sermons were lis
tened to with appreciation by large au-
diences of former members and friends.
On Saturday evening, Rev. Charles n. BOs-
well, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa, CORE
spending secretary of the Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension, and known
nationally as the "Cyclone of Methodism, v
delivered a characteristic sermon, which
was enthusiastically received by Il large
congregation. His text was chosen from
Ezra 81: 'They gave money also unto the
masons, and to the carpenters"
Sunday dawned bright and clear and it
was an Easter of the ideal sort, reawak-
q. ing in the minds and hearts of all persons
. thoughts of the new risen Lord, to whose
glory and service the beautiful new temple
, was about to be dedicated. The services of
the day were begun with the administra-
ton of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper
at 700 o'clock a. M, Rev. d. A. Plat, dis
. trict superintendent, having the meeting
! in charge and being assisted by Revs. W. o.
Calhoun, F. NJ. Small, A. o. Stone, NJ. b.
Q Riley and r.. A. Buzza.
j The dedicatory services proper were
held at 1870 a. m, and were interesting, Cd
flying and unusually impressive. Long
before the hour set a large audience made
up of all denominations of the town and
coming from many surrounding towns had
gathered at the church. The services were
opened by the rendering of a fine anthem,
o "The King of Glory" by the choir, hymn
No. 1 by the congregation, followed by
prayer by Rev. r. a. Buzza, a former pas.
tor. Miss Kittic Mcknight, of Oil City,
4 then sang a beautiful solo, "0pen the Gate,
ofthe Temple which was followed by the
reading of the S4th Psalm by Rev. II. A
y Bailey, and the singing of hymn No, 600 by
y the congregation. Bishop Berry then de-
livered the of the day, which was
an able effort and an intellectual treat. Fol
g an hour he held the vast audience spell
bound by his %eloquence, basing his re
a marks on the text as found in Job 1913
II ooh that l knew where | might find him.
Rev. w. o. Calhoun, the pastor, gave d
statement of the finances, showing that
" the sum of 81 10000 was needed to pay fol
70 the furnishings of the church, and undel
" the inspiring leadership of DR.. Boswell thi'
y amount was raised in a short time by vol
untary subscriptions. The trustees vert
l. then called to the altar rail and the build
ing was formally dedicated by Bishop Der
N ~, according to the ritual of the church
10 the building being presented for dedication
by Hon. f. X. Kreitler, on behalf of tn,
donors and trustees. The benediction by
# Rev. d. A. Plat closed the exercises.
A platform meeting was held at $3.50 p
m, at which short addresses were made by
:, Revs. w. o. Calhoun, ii. A. Bailey, D. A
Plat, A. o. Stone, II. A. Buzza, +. NJ
Small, j.. II. Shindledecker and Charles n
Boswell.
as The Sunday evening service was the be
y ginning of the revival meetings which ar,
being continued throughout this week
g; Two anthems by the choir, "Seals arr
es Shattered, " and praise the Lord" and
solo, Face to Face" by Miss Mcknight
introduced the service. A powerful anC
touching sermon was delivered by Rev. DIR
Boswell from the text as found in ? King
10 30: "If we tarry till the morning light
g some mischief will come upon US !
Is number came to the altar. Rev, Mr.. Ston,
" occupied the pulpit on Monday evening
ly and Rev. Mr.. Small ON Tuesday evening.
This article would be incomplete withou
s. a full need of praise being given to tn
n two choirs which furnished such excellen
music, and also to those who trained them
p The ministers present from out of tow
were: Bishop Joseph F. Berry Of Bpilalo
lr n. Y; Rev. c. n. Boswell, of Philadelphia
,ir Pa; Rev. W. p. Murray, of Erie, Pa; Rev
sl J. r. Rankin, of Jamestown, n. Y; Rev
~ D. A. Plat, of Franklin, Pa; Rev. A. q
I'd Stone, of Harrisburg, Pa; Rev. r. a. Buz
"a, of Meadyille, Pa Rev. f. NJ. Small, {
! Ferdinand, Pa; Rev. W. L. Davis, of We,