The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-05
WOODLAWN CHURCH
 FORMALLY OPENED Dr. w. M. Anderson Deliv-
 CTS Appropriate Sermon "A PLACE TO FLEE"
Pastor Likens New Fifty-sixth Street Baptist Church to Olden Cities As a Place of Refuge
 From Sin

The handsome new house of worship for the congregation Of the Fifty-sixth Street Baptist church of Woodlawn was formally opened yesterday at the morn ing services. Dr. ". NJ. Anderson, the and the large attendance was composed of the members of many denominations.
 Two interesting features co-incident with the first services in the new structure were the whirlwind collection made to meet an indebtedness of $500 and the uriting of six persons with the church body. Among those either placing their letter of membership with this congrega- tion or becoming members by conversion were s. J. Robinette, formerly of Kimber- ly Ala; w A. Hagood, from North Bir- mingham; Mrs. H. T. Ware and Mrs. H C. Wllkerson of Woedlawn, Mrs. Mrs. P. L. Taylor from the New Prospect Baptist church.
 The offertory, consisting of violin oblgato. accompanied by the piano, was rendered by Dr. A. Hrabe and Miss Jessie Dalby, respectively.
 The text of the morning was taken from Exodus, Fist chapter. reading: Then l will appoint thee 8 place whither he shall flee" pr. Anderson said in part:
 When the children of Israel reached the promised land. they appointed for themselves six cities of refuge. Three Of these were on one side of the river Jordan and three on the other side. It was the privilige of anyone accused of a crime or bounded by an enemy to seek shelter in these cities until their guilt or innocence was proved
 This theory and practice has died away. but the thought has lived through out the ages 10 this day. When the great cathedrals were erected they served as a refuge for the bounded men and wom- en of the towns wherein they were built Today there are no churches or any other institutions affording refuge for the crim iral, but the thought has gone deeper and attained a more vital attitude in the relationship of men and the infinite. To- day the souls of humans are pursued by enemies as deadly as those of the an cient times. Today men and women have 8 place to. rest from the chase of these ibilioil ipSos hS SlNaAtSA iiiottliai pression of the Kingdom of God on earth is the church building and the doors of this symbol are open to all those who are harassed by life's worries.
 ''The physical life we have to live today is a greater enemy than the things fled from in olden times. for if men are not bounded now by enemies, they never were. overwrought civilization is the cause of it. The twentieth century makes gray hairs and blows inroads into the faces of our men and women. The ma terial affairs undoubtedly affect the spirit ual outlook of men,, Have you ever ob- served that when a man has depression in his business matters, his religious at titude goes down to zero?
 "The prince of enemies that the world has to flee from today is sin. Sin is Satan personfled and in addition to the individual sins, the little sins and the so thought minor offenses, there is cur rent of sin continually alive in all of us.
 T earnestly hope that all of you, all Woodlawn, will regard this new church as a sanctuary where you can rest from the temporal strain, and where you can put yourself in touch with the Almighty Spirit. Here you can rub elbows with your fellow man on the Lords Day and breathe into your workyday lungs uplift- ing oxygen to aid you in your next week Of hard work and worldly ambitions. T am proud of this building and hosts of people of this city have complimented us upon our achievement and privilege in being allowed to place this edifice here for our God. May we all find this a place of refuge. Let us come in, rest, pray and commune with our Creator"