The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-11-29
Contractor, Hubbard.

Tire history Of our city would not be
a complete record of events if it failed
to distinguish the occasion embracing
the dedication services and ceremonies
of the First Christian Church in Union
City AS an epoch period,
~Heavpn smiled and the ornament
was adorned in all its auhlmnal beauty
under the glorious rays Of a Southern
sun. The day was fauItIess, and the
Fanticipations, hopes, aspirations, be-
ginning with the first suggestion of the
new church, the breaking Of the dirt
and the laying of the corner stone, up
to the crowning points Of the beautiful
temple, were realized IN all their full
ness The congregation came together
with hearts akin aud minds in unison
came to worship with forgiving spirits
and contrite hearts, to return their
heartfelt gratitude for the blessings that
the Lord had bestowed upon them.
Hundreds OF the friends were also
assembled on this auspicious occasion,
all joining in gladstone tribute and
praise as one united Christian body-an
audience of eight hundred people.
DIR. w. H. Shelter delivered the
sermon, some thirty minutes in length,
inspiring in its context and the beauty
Of its message, as follows:
The house that [ build is great; for
great is our God above all Gods. -
Divine in conceptions, astounding in
wealth, elaborate in beauty, thr first
temple in ancient Jerusalem arose like
fair and fadeless dream, without the
sound Of hammer and as noiseless as Il
thought of God, When completed it
stood forth draped in the mystery and
glory of Jehovah. With its courts and
porches, its holy and most holy places,
its veil of purple aud blue and crimson,
its golden and brazen affairs and holy
vessels, its candlesticks with perpetuafI
lights, its ark of the covenant and
its consecratcd priests and
sacred services, it became the most
structure Of ancient times,
As wonderful and rs essential as this
temple was to the plans aud ideals of
God, the time came when it was no
longer adequate AS the purposes of
Jehovah unfolded; as the sun Of revela- !
ton mounted higher into the heavens |
of the fullneSs of time" God planned |
and ordered that another temple should |
be built temple broader in its pur-
poses, Weather in its materials, more
lofty IN IFS spiritual ideals, and more
abiding. This temple was not 70: any .
nation alone, but for all mankind. 1t
was not built Of pershable gold or .
stone and TAPESTRY whose fig
nres fade and whose threads turn to
dust but built Of souls as Immortal aS
SOD himself 1t is not tempie Of ami
nal sacrifices, but Of spiritual; It's sac-
'ifces are the sweet aud savory prayers
Jf hesaintS, the deep and pure devotion
of earnest hearts and the unseltish serr-
ce Of lives ennobled by the indweIling
presence otour God. This temple is theS
,hurch of the blessed Christ. Know
'e not that We are the temple of God5
md that the Spirit of God dwelleth il
,ou?" Every disciple is a priest, and
very place made sacred by a prayer OF
ervice of love or a song Of praise is ar
ltar; and every worthy thought o.
hing, helpful to human life and honof
ng to-God, is an offering -pleasinsf
Q the Lord. ;
The building of this house which
edicate to-day is a coniributions 10