The Robesonian., 1918-04-29
DEDICATION SERVICES
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sermon by DR.. H. G. Hill and Dedica-
tion Service Thursday Afternoon
Delightful Service of Good Cheer
and Felicitation Thursday Evening.
Lumberton's new Presbyterian
church was dedicated last Thursday
afternoon, just ten months and one
week from the date, June 18, 1917,
when ground was broken at the cor
ner of Chestnut and Tenth streets for
the stately temple Of worship which
now adorns the site.
The sermon was preached by Rev.
DIR. II. G. Hill of Maxton, the grand
old man of Fayetteville presbytery,
which held in this church immediate
ly following this service the last ses-
sion of the first meeting of presby-
terry IN Lumberton since 1887, when
the small wooden church on East fifth
street, recently vacated by this con-
gregation, was new. DR.. Hill took
as his text the 18th verse of the 3rd
chapter of 1st Timothy: But if l
tarry long, that thou mayest know
how thou oughtest to behave theyself
in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar
and ground of the truth. His subject
was, "The Church the House of God
and the Pillar and Ground of the
Truth"
This remarkable man of sc years
breaches with the vigor and fire of
youth. His voice is clear and strong,
his gestures vigorous. At the close
of his sermon Of three quarters of an
hour there was no suggestion of wear
mess about him. He said in part:
The Church is Gods House.
The church is Gods house because
God builds it. He has many sub
builders. TIE builder adorns the
church and the finest specimens of
human character are found within it.
He also adorns the church with bene-
ficent Observation-Disclosures, orphan
asylunls, homes for the infirm and the
aged, educational institutions-not
found in heathen lands. The Lord pre-
serves the church from decay and fail
.; neither human nor satanic foes
can destroy the church. God dwells
in the church, and the dweller al
ways inpresses his character upon his
habit tation. But if the church does not
upho.I the truth it sinks into decay
and Contempt.
If God is not with our armies our
banners will trail in the dust and our
boys will find graves in France. A
great curse Of this Nation is Sabbath
desecration. Congress does not OBJ
serve the Sabbath. No Sabbath-des
ecrating Nation has ever prospered.
A desecrated Sabbath is always a
sign of a decaying nation and d de-
caying church.
In conclusion DIR. Hill earnestly ad-
monished members of the church that
thew must share it's labors if they
would share the rewards. God has
put every one in the church to do
some work for Him, he declared.
The sermon followed reading of End
Chron. 6:12-31 by Rev. J. H. Mills and
prayer by Rev. w. S. Golden. After
the sermon the impressive and beau
tiful dedication service was read by
the pastor, the congregation stand
ing and joining in the responses.
This was followed by the prayer
of dedication by Rev. DR.. IF. 0: Hell
lier of Laurel Hill, after which the
pastor, Rev. DIR. G. r. Moorehouse,
with a few appropriate words handed
the KEYS of the church to Mr.. J. A.
McAllister, ruling elder of the church
session.
Evening Session.
A service of good cheer, felicitatlon,,
god-speed and hand shake all
around, so to speak, was the flttlng
aftermath Thursday evening at S:5o
to the afternoon service of dedication.
Rev. H. A. Grantham, OF Trinity
Episcopal church, read the Scripture
lesson, 1st Chron. 29:1O-18, and offer
ed the first prayer. Rev. K. A. NC
Leod of Galatia, moderator OF the
presbytery that closed in the after
noon, delivered short address IN
which he explained the functions OF
the ruling elder and the signlflcance
of the handling Of the keys by tne
pastor to Ruling Elder J. A. Meal
lister at the afternoon service.
Packing much in few words, Kew
DR.. R. C. Beaman, pastor OF Chestnut
Street Methodist, extended greetings.
He issued the Presbyterians that the
Methodist rejoice with them IN their
achievement in erecting and dedlcatlng
such a splendid house of worship. Inc
day of rivalry, he said, among cnurcne
es, has passed, and this IS a day CT
cO-Operat1On. he ueCldIeU cAAe.. nv
church has lifted the standard OF the
Lord higher or carried it with steadl-
er hand than the Presbyterlans:
In introducing Rev. D.. e. L.
Greaves, pastor of the First Baptist.
DR.. Moorehouse said that shortly al
ter he came to Lumberton man IN
troduced himself to him on the street
and remarked that the Presbyterlans
were highland Baptists, to which ne
replied that it was the other way
about, the Baptists were deep.-Watell
Presbyterians. DR.. Greaves SAID that
some of the Presbyterians came
mighty nigh being made deep-wateil
Baptists in the swollen waters OF
Lumber river on their way to presby,
tery. He said it was fore-ordained and
predestinated that the Presbyterlans
of Lumberton should have a new
church from the time the Baptlsts
built a new one. The Presbyterians
could not build first, he said, nor sec.
ond, so they decided to build quicker
than anybody else. He said ne was
interested in study Of the Scotch char
acter and had Wondered what mani
festation the appreciation Of the Pres.