The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-11
OPENING IS IMPRESSIVE
First Christian Church Has
Been Remodeled.
Rev. F. E. Zekiel breaches Eloquent
Sermon at Reformed Church =
Revivals Bring many to Altar.


greeted by a large audience at the
First Christian church Sunday at the
Special reopening services Of the day.
THE church building has been thor
oughly gone over and the main
auditorium presents a much better
since the recoating and
finishing of the room. Many improve
,ments have been made at the church
and It was on this account that spec
ial reopening services were held.
The speaker, Mr.. Denton, preached
at the three services of the day and
at the evening service delivered his
famous centennial lecture, in which
is narrated the story of the FONDA
tion of the Christian church.
sit was in the year 1913 that
Thomas Campbell and Thomas Atch'
dson signed the document and ad-
dress which made the Christian
church separate organization,
said the speaker.
"At that time we sought to form
an organization which would be free
from the pickering and dissention,
which was current at that time. 1t
was in philadelphia that the religion
found ground and that city was at
that time the foremost pioneer city
OF the west. Her families were de-
serted by the ministers cn account
of the bidkering which called them
back and forth from time to time
Some had not he'd communion to-
gether for months and some for
even years. 1t wac plain that this
should not continue and those who
were dissatisfied under the leadership
of Thomas Campbell, met, elected
officers and started the new form oil
reiigion. There we're many questions
which were difficult to solve, but by
persistent effort in debate these
brought to the place where the prob-
lens were solved for time and we
are at peace today as a. result"
Continuing his remarks Mr.. Dep-
ton showed of the work of Campbell
and also of Walter Scott. His story
of the latter and his midnight re-
vlvals and discouraglng oircumstan-
ces In some places was particularly
interesting.
During the present year a conyen-
ition will be held at Pittsburg for
the centennial celebration of the
foundation of the church and it Is
expected that a number from both
local churches of the Christian de-
nomination will be in attendance.
MIR. Denton brought his remarks
to a close with plea for good at
tendance al the revival services
which are to be held at the church
during the coming week, the pastor
Rev. Charles f. Smith, being the
evangelist. MIR Smith was formerly
a state evangelist of South Carolina
and has a reputation as an able
speaker
= At the meeting this evening Rev
Smith will speak upon the subject,
."The objectionable Sim, a discourse
which will be of interest TO those
Interested in this theme which con-
fuses many Among other themes Mr.
Smith will discuss "The Old Time
Religion" and 'GIow / May Know
That My Sins Are Forgiven"
There will be preaching each even
ing at the church during the week
/ Perpetual Motion" was the sub
iiect OF an interesting sermon deliv-
cred by Rev. f. e. Zechiel, before
a large assembly at the First Re
formed church Sunday evening, The
choral union rendered special music
and the services were interesting
and impressive throughout.
/ In his opening remarks, Rev. Zech-
Eel referred TO Jereboahn, the first
king of Israel. The pastor declared
that this man started perpetual
motion of sin and that all other
kings followed after him. Sin, de-
c,ared the pastor, is as a small wave
caused by casting a stone in the
water, the wave frowing a little
larger as II makes its way shore
ward.
Rev Zechiel said in part: "Jere
boam, the first king OF Israel sinned
first when he drove the people away
from the house OF the Lord. He sci
up gods before them, planning this
on account Of selfish greed de-
clarlng IL too much trouble for the
worshipers TO go to Jerusalem.
''Be sure that you have no selfish
heart. How many people in Marion
find It too much trouble to come ou
to the house of the Lord? Possibly
a Thousand people in the city think
1t so every Sunday morning. 1T Il
too much trouble to go to church
They want to sleep until 0 oiclocl
and have dinner promptly at twelve