The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-06-14
FIRST YEAR In
new BUILDING
YESTERDAY Az
STONE cHuRcH coNoRE-
CATION
Pittsburgh Minister Delivers I've
Eloquent acknowledgements
is7 years Ola

Celebrating the 18Th anniversary o.
the organization OF the CONGREGATION
and more particularly the nrst ami
NeFsary OF the dedication OF the new
church. special services were held
yesterday In The stone Pres oyterisn.
officially known a. the Forks OF
Wheeling" church. az Elm Grove
The days celebration Was IN charge
OF The pastor. the Rev. L. r. I.sWeliyn.
while Rev II. b. Strock. assistant
pastor OF the First Presbyterian
church. Pittsburgh. Pa. preached al
both the morning and evening Ger
vices. The various services were well
attended
At the morning service. the treas
urer OF the building committee. MI
J. NJ. Meek. submitted a report q. the
funds received and disbursed on &C
! count OF the new building which was
dedicated just a year ago yesterday
His report showed personal subhcrip-
tions amounting TO Sls.7s4. on when
has been paid the sum % Ss.s5S. sub
scriptlons from the Sabbath school
amounted 10 ssTe. OF which S43U mas
been paid. The pastors Aid Divisions
subscribed $1,000 and have para
5000 Money received BY the build
ing committee from al sources
amount 10 Sl7.Os707. while there was
expended Sl5.s73st
Anniversary Sermon.
The anniversary sermon was deltv-
cred al the morning service by Rev.
Strock. The Pittsburgh divine began
by congratulsting the congregation
upon its lons life OF 49, years. lie
then complimented IL upon the occu.
pancy OF sucn fine building
In beginning his discourse Rev.
Strock compared the church to a
salesman 4 salesman has goods 10
sell; goes out and solicits trade. He
has a commission from. his house. The
successful salesman knows the goods
he has 10 sell and Is equipped and
capable. while the house must have
the goods as represented by the sales
man.
The church, said Rev. Strock. has a
commission. lie defined the church as
the organization founded by Christ
the only organization that carried
/ with II the promised blessing Of Jesus
Christ. He declared that maybs the
church is not doing its duty. but there
Is nothing the matter with the good,
II has 10 offer.
Gospel Is Essential.
Declaring that the Gospel Is the
one thing absolutely essential about
the church. Rev. Strock quoted his
text from !. Romans. lis. For I am
not ashamed Of the gospel Of Christ;
for It is the power Of God unto saliva
ton TO every one that believeth."
Referring to the tine and the cir
cumstances under which the text was
written by Paul 10 the Romans. Rev
Strock said Paul meant IL as a boast
II should be the Christians boast 20.
day. he added. and said that anyone
should be proud OF the gospel OF
Christ.
Declaring that the hardest burden 10
pear Is that OF ridicule, the speaker
lamented the fact that many persons
today are ashamed. apparently. of
Christ's gaspel II is not hard to go
10 church. he said. and neither is il
hard 10 be honest, because business
requires honesty. But Il is hard TO
carry out ones convictions and be.
liefs.
The gospel, ne said. is more than
series ~ good principles: II is more
than a code Of morals. and more than
system Of philosophy The gospel
Is the power Of Jesus Christ. The fact
OF Christis life. death and reserrec-
ton Is the foundation Of the gospel
Coos Free Gift.
Characterizing the gospel as the
Tree grace OF God. the speaker, in re.
ierrlng TO Christ's death. said that
while we were sinners. worthy Of the
condemnation 81 God. Christ died 10
lltt us up: and his death was a free
glft 70 an undeserving people
The speaker emphasized the fact
mat one need not be- ashamed OF the
gospel OF Jesus Christ. but really mas
Just cause to feel proud. he dwelt AZ
length on the portion or his text relat.
Ing TO the power OF God.
Al the evening service Rev. Struck
preached an eloquent sermon Rev
Slrock IL assistant 10 Rev. Mainland
Alexander. D. D.. OF the First Presbv.
terrain church. Pittsburgh. former
moderator Of The General Assembtv
Of the Presbyterian churches Of Norm
go