Milford chronicle., 1912-05-24
PROTESTANT
CHURCH DEDICATED

The dedication of the new Methodist
Protestant Church here on Sunday, May
10Th, 1912, was, perhaps, the greatest
event in the history of the Milford
churches. The day opened up with I'M
usually fine weather, continuing through
out the day and evening, and everything
was favorable for the success of the
plans of the organization, which ex-
ceeded the highest anticipation of the
most sanguine person. Early in the
morning teams and automobiles from
nearly all parts of the two lower counties
could be seen making their way toward
this new church, either to get a glimpse
of this costly and magnificent building
or to enjoy the elaborate program which
had been arranged for the day, and there
was no disappointment in either.
For several weeks prior to the dedica
tion the merchants report large sales of
finery, the purchasers having in mind
this erowning event of less than two
years labor, and surely the personal ap-
pearance of the people in attendance
was not out of harmony with the impos-
ing and costly structure.
The auditorium was fully completed
and furnished on Saturday before the
dedication, with the exception of the pipe
organ, which the congregation expect to
purchase later. The circular pews, the
decorations of the walls, and the pulpit
furniture, together with the flowers
which were placed around the room made
a beautiful picture, and brought forth
many comments on the beauty and good
arrangement of the building The lights
were excellent and the auditorium is said
to be one of the best lighted in the
State.
The organ used at the services was
loaned by J. A. DOwnes, of Dover,
through the Milford agency of Roy Ban !
ming, as was the piano in the Sunday
School room.
The Sunday School room was COM
pleted with the exception of the opera
chairs, which did not arrive in time for
the days services, the chairs from the |
and a few from Armory Hall |
being substituted for the dedication. |
The large window in the front of the |
church, which was contributed by Mrs.
Sweeney, of Philadelphia, did not arrive
and will not be here for several days,
owing to the abundance of workmanship
necessary to complete the same.
The bell of the church, which was
given by Mrs. George Wilson'S Sunday
School Glass, and which is said to weigh
2290 pounds, is found to be cracked, and
it will be necessary to buy another, the
having expired long before
dedication. It's thought, however, that
the firm from whom it was purchased
will make a liberal concession in the
of another.
At each service there were fully 1900
persons present and a great many per-
sons left the edifice on account of being
lnable to get seat or standing room.
Those in attendance highly compli-
nented the work done by the Dover
Ilee Club, the Berge Sisters, Colonel
1riedler, the Methodist Episcopal Choir,
he Presbyterian Choir and Orchestrs,
md a rising vote of thanks was given
hese persons and organizations who
'endered such excellent service.
The two sermons of the day and even
ng, which were preached by DR.. Green
ield and DR.. Bowers, respectively, were
Master efforts, and they fully established
heir power as pulpit orators.
The addresses at the Platform Service
n the afternoon were appropriate and
All arrangements had been made for !
he feeding of the church guests in the
dining room in the basement
f the church, tickets being given out to
bout three hundred persons.
At the morning service the Ladies Aid
Ociety pledged $500, the Sunday School f
400, William |. Simpson gave $500, and
nth other smaller subscriptions ranging a
rom SOC to $100, the morning collection T
to about S2800. In the after o
OOn the collection amounted to $500. S
It the evening service S11IO was raised, v
ringing the total collections of the day o
p to S45OO, leaving balance of about S
), 800 indebtedness on the new church. t
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