The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-21
CONGREGATIONAL
REDEDICATION
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
IS DEDICATED WITH IMPRESS
sIvE cEREMoNIEs-A5LE DEDI-
cAToRY SERMON - IMPROVE
MENTs IN CHURCH.

catory sermon at the morning services
of the church, and the keys of the
building were formally turned over to
the trustees OF the church by the
building committee.
In giving the keys of the church to
the trustees, III. r. Emery, chairman of
the building committee, gave a short
history Of the work of rebuilding the
edifice and how the committee had re-
jected all bids and had itself taken the
work of reconstruction. BY adopting
this method much money had been
saved by the committee.
DR.. r.. A. Beard, pastor OF the church,
chose for his text: And I say unto
thee that thou art Peter, and upon this
rock will I build my church, and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. And / will give unto thee the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and what
soever We bind on earth shall be bound
In heaven and whatsoever is loosened
on earth shall be loosened in heaven"
From this he worked out a strong
and powerful sermon. appealing to the
people who had just secured a new
church to use the keys of God in their
lives and make them more useful and
creditable. In this way they will be
bound in heaven and reap the harvest
that they have sowed on this earth.
He spoke of the simple teaching of
Jesus and the great love that the
Savior taught in His words, asking
that the congregation bear these in
mind in their every thought, act and
deed.
Three original hymns were sung at
the morning service, all Of which had
been composed by members of the con-
gregation.
In the evening Professor Minard of
the Agricultural college gave the first
address and spoke of the effect Of re-
ligion upon the lives of men and what
it meant to the student who was
moulding and shaping his life and
destiny. President Creegan gave the
other address of the evening and
talked about the teaching of religion
in colleges. He said that it was not
sectarianism that was taught in the
sectarian colleges, but that religion
was emphasized in the sectarian
school, while in the states schools
laws were often made to prohibit this
teaching Of Gods word and the Bible.
The dedication celebration will be
continued this evening when there will
| be given an interpretative recital Of
Humperdincks masterpiece, Hansel
and Gretal, by Professor Bohlin. A
new pipe organ has been installed in
the church and the musicale this even
| ing viii be a rare treat for the Fargo
lovers of music. Tomorrow evening a
banquet will be served to 200 invited
/ guests of the church This will be
given in the new dining room OF the
church and will be the closing event
of the dedicatory services.
Transformed and Enlarged.
The church has been greatly en-
larged and beautified by Its rebuild
ing. Upon entering the main audi
| forum one Immediately notes that a
radical change has been made in the
room. The old lecture room on the
north side has been removed and made
to correspond in height with the south
wing Of the church, this wing having
been extended to the south about
twenty feet. The old organ loft re-
mains in form as before, so that with
the two transcripts, and the former
main auditorium, the church has been
transformed into cruciform church.
This has made it possible to place the
pulpit and platform in front OF the
organ, which is a distinct improve
ment. The decorations OF the main
audience room are in two shades of
tan with stenceling and Innings Of gilt,
giving one the impression OF not being
overly ornate but very pleasing to the
/ -
provements is an addition TO the
northeast corner of the church, which
contains very handsome room for the
mems Bible study class, and Mems
club, furnished with a lavatory. Ad-
joining this room, with sliding doors
| between, Is the pastors study and IL
brary, with doors leading to the main
auditorium and to the parsonage. The
walls Of both rooms are tinted in a
rich light brown with stenceling, and
the windows draped with handsome
curtains.
At the south side of the south tran
script Is an entrance to the church on
lvel with the ground, which admits
Immediately to vestibule, and from
this vestibule one ascends to the right
to the upper auditorium, and to the
left descends to the Sunday school.
and social or dining room, in the base
ment. This room is about a third
larger than formerly. The walls are
tinted q light cream, and the wood
work finished in natural color in part.
and the ceiling and posts painted in
enamel white. To the east of this
room are located the ladies' parlors
with warm brown finish on the walls,
the floors covered with rugs, provided
with mission furniture. covered with
numerous pillows and draperies. To
the north of the dining room is the
| spacious kitchen, and in completeness
1t rivals a model hotel kitchen. 1t is
the result of visits to the two cities,
and careful investigation by lady
members Of the building committee.
East of the kitchen, and under the
mems room, is the boys room. where
the knights of King Arthur will hold
forth. This room has been especial
ly decorated and It, like the mems
room above it, is provided with an
open fireplace.
/ The entire basement has been pro-
vided with a smooth floor OF concrete
and this has been painted with a
specially prepared paint.
| The lighting Of the church has been
carefully attended to. The main room
UP stairs being lighted by four large
electric chandeliers which are sus-
pended from the ceiling with gilded
chains, the light being diffused by
opalescent globes. Globes OF like char
acter are used in the basement also for
4 diffusing the light.
The seating OF the church has nnlv