The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-04
DIR, ROBINSON
THE SPEAKER

His Sermons Proved Re-
,narkably Effective And
Held Audience in Spell
With every dollar Of outstanding
indebtedness provided for by sub
scriptions which total $95,600, the
First Presbyterian church OF Grand
Forks was dedicated Sunday evening.
1t was a day filled with triumphs Tor
the congregation which has just en-
tered its new house Of worship
structure raised to the propagation
Of Christianity that 1t Is ithou peer
in the northwest.
The congregation enters its magni-
fcent new home with a new spirit
Of doing things which no doubt will
bring about the greatest Of results.
The house is one which allows for
the fullest activity on the part OF ev-
cry part and branch OF the denomina-
ton. lending new energy and tnspir-
alton to the many departments which
go to the making up Of the church
Each Of the three services was
very largely attended. At the morn
ing service there were. by actual
count, 100 people in attendance.
The afternoon service was attended
by 800, and the evening service by l.
200.
At each Of the services Rev. DR..
l.. Robinson Of Chicago delivered the
sermons. and his wonderful earnest
ness and the spirit with which he en-
tered into his several discourses held
the rapt attention Of the big audi
ences . This was particularly true at
the evening service, when the climax
of tho days series Of events was
reached.
Takes Up All Debts.
Sunday a total of $4,000 was raised
services. The original subscription
was $6S, 700, and within h last Six
weeks Rev. William H. Matthews. the
pastor. and A. p. clifford. treasurer
Of the congregation. had secured ad-
ditional subscriptions totaling $22,-
$50. which. were announced for the
first time. on, Sunday.
The subscriptions Of Sunday were
raised in an unusual manner. being,
in every sense Of the word, a free
will offering, and many of those. who
made subscriptions already had plac-
ed their anne on lists previously.
The fund which has been subscrib-
ed pays the entire cost Of the church
buildings and furnishings. amounting
to $4,000. 1t pays the special paw
ing assessments on the property sur
for the entire period Of twenty years.
totaling $4,000. 1T pays the mort
gage and interest on the manse total
ing $3.50, as we'll as an old mort
gage Of $500. on the church property
held for thirty years by the Board
Of Erection society. A deficit of ST.
900 incurred during the past year 10
provided for. while $3.50 Will be
used in providing new equipment Tor
the Sunday school and church.
ventilating System Perfect.
That the building has been excel
1ently designed to afford the greatest
possible comfort for h congregation
was quite evident. Sunday night. even
with the building packed to utmost
capacity. the conditions were excel
lent. the ventilating and heating sys-
to leave the big auditorium filled with
the freshest Of air. and with abso-
lutely no hint Of anything but abso-
Lutte comfort. The systems operate
in such a manner as. to change the
air completely every few minutes.
Acoustics Of the building were
shown to be Of the very finest and
SPEAKERS anu IIISuIDcIo VI l1tO O11Ol4 OH
pronounce them perfect.
The seating arrangement OF the
building is such that a view Of the
speaker at the pulpit Is obtained from
all parts Of the structure, and no n
a any difficulty in hearing from any
point in the building. The manner In
which the Sunday school department
is Joined with the main auditorium
makes both sections practically equal
~ as satisfactory for the audience.
Corhplinnented the Pastor.
At the morning service DR.. Robin
son paid a high compliment to Rev.
Mr.. Matthews. He said that this was
the third church that ne had con-
structed, and that all Of them were
models In every sense Of the word.
His praise OF the pastors work was
It has been through his constant
work that the splendid climax attain
ed Sunday was made possible.
Formal Dedication in Evening.
Formal dedication Of the new build
Ing did not take place until in the
evening. This feature was scheduled
to take place In the morning. but was
was deemed more fitting that It be
carried out In the evening, when all
Of the congregations debts would 81
cared for. and the building would be
ready for use without a single dollar
Of indebtedness not provided for. -
A. I. Hunter. as. chairman Of tho
building committee, turned the keys
of the structure over to. the, conkre.'
cation, and the act OF dedication. con-
Isisting Of the responsive reading. was
carried out. -. -
Musical Numbers ExcelIent.
The musical program of the day
was unusually beautiful and in keep
:lng with the. importance of the coca.
zion. NIB. Black was the only solo
ast Of the day. that honor being ac.
corded him by tho musical commit
Zee. His number, Trust In the Lord"
by Sullivan. was sung at the morning
nervice. -.
At the a~fternoon service a cello So
10 by Max Treacy. "Nachtlied," by
DchuF1Anh, was the only number In
addition 20 the choir members, while
M the 0vening the quartet connosed
Of Mrs.. !. Sovereign Smith, Mrs. ].
\. Parsons. r. J. Dickinson and Law.
renee Anderson, sang ShellSy's ..tBav.
lour Breath an. Evening BtessinG.sssl
The chorus choir OF thifty-otx vote
%. under the direction OF W. W. Nor.
ton. appeared, Sunday for, the nfit-
time In vestiients. the ladies'. wearing
feet was pleasing indeed. The choir
place ID excAllehtly arranged and 10
% placed 1s-toS give the best possible