Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-10-11

Meetlnqs-Bishop carter Preaches
Dedicatory Sermon, conseerates
Church and Announces Ministerial
Appointments For Year.
The 1lSth session of the Virginia
annual Conference of the United
Brethren Church, which convened
last Tuesday evening in the new First
U. B. church, came TO an end Sunday
night, an ordination service being the
closing feature. The last business
session of the conference however,
was held Saturday night, Sunday be-
ing given over to the meetings OF a
more public character, The session
was one OF the most successful and
altogether enjoyable in the history
of the conference. and it will be mem
orable from the fact that the delegates
witnessed the dedication of the church
edifice in which it was held and par
ticipated in the interesting services
incident thereto.
The meetings of the conference
were presided over by Bishop T. c.
Carter, d. D., of Chattanooga, Tenn.
That the one hundred delegates, min
isteTiai and lay. together with numer-
Gus visitors, enjoyed their stay in
Martinsburg was voiced at the notable
services held Sunday morning and af-
ternoon, while the people on their
part found an equal pleasure in hav-
ing the members of the conference
and their friends with them.
The delegates left for home today,
carrying with them, one and all, the
most pleasant memories of the confer
ence in Martinsburg, and all indulg-
ing the hope that they may meet again
year hence at Roanoke.
Church Dedication.
The meetings Sunday were charac-
terized by a great outpouring of the
people and the profound interest mani
tested by all present. Even the wea-
Their favored the notable events on
Sunday for the day was bright and
beautiful, with almost a summer tenn
perature prevailing.
The meeting that naturally attract
ed the largest crowd was the dedica'
tory service at 1880 o'clock, though
as matter of fact the church was not
censecrated until in the afternoon.
Long before the appointed hour
streams OF people from every direction
were seen vending their way TO the
handsome First United Brethren
church on North Queen street, near
Pennsylvania avenue, so that by II
O'Clock more than a thousand people
had assembled. filing the auditorium
and adjoining Sunday school room
and the three spacious galleries, The
arrangements were perfect and every
thing passed off without d hitch or
confusion.
~ The exercises of the hour began
with a song service, the pastor, DR..
'Gfuver, in charge, and led by large
choir, with Miss Harley Pine as piano
aecompanist. Features of the song
service were a vocal solo by Mr.. Yer
mon Brown and a male quartette by
Dr. Gruyer, J. H, Wilmington, Vernon
Brown and A. II. Stanley, Rev. DR..
C. |. B. Brane, of Dayton. o., read the
Scripture lesson, the 18th Psalm, fol-
lowed by prayer offered by Dr. A. P.
Funkhouser, of Harrisonburg, Va.
Two new members were then ad-
mitted to membership in the church,
DR.. Gruver officiating. one was by
Ifr nc.
sion Of faith.
The sermon was preached by Bishop
Carter, basing his discourse on the
text, Thy word is truth st, John
17;17. He remarked at the outstart
that he had chosen his text from the
new pulpit Bible presented to the
church by Rev and Mrs, C. w. Huts'
ler Of Williamsport Nd, and the
book was first used at this service,
Bishop Carer spoke FOR an hour and
his sermon was scholarly and most
impressive effort, holding as he did
the closest attention OF the large con
gregation throughout As defence
of the Bible as the inspired word OF
God it was one Of the ablest and most
eloquent ever heard IN Martinsburg
M After prayer by Dr. Brane Rev. DR..
Gruver read brief financial state
ment of the church preliminary to
asking the congregation for subscrip-
lions toward paying the Indebtedness
on the new church He stated that
the entire cost of the church includ-
ing ground, was $40 2oSl9 and the in
debtedness, including $4,000 of Dor
rowed money was >l3076S7 He
then asked that this sum- yr as much
of il as possible ba raised this meet
ing Dr. Gruver Pres ding Elder
Hammack and a cerus oL assistants
then went to work and 10 half an hour
or more raised in cash and fye-year
subscriptions d lirrle over $4,000 in
GLIDING d large plate collection This
effort is almost unprecedented In the
history OF MartnHburE churches AND
must have been exceedingly sratify
ing to pastor and people and the con
ference itself