The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-12-24
SEMINARY DEDICATED.
THE BUILDING COST 100000 WHICH
WAS FULLY RAISED DIR. RICHARDS
DELIVERED DEDICATION ADDRESS.

Use Of history as guide and aid to
true progress was advocated by the
Rev. DR.. George w. Richards, presi-
dent of the Theological Seminary of
the Reformed Church in the United
States when he delivered an address
in connection with the dedication ex-
ercises of the new building of the
Westminster Theological Seminary,
Friday.
True progress is hindered by two
foes, reaction and radicalism, both
unhistorical in spirit, said DR.. Rich
ards. The reactionist, said the speak
er, fails to see that this is universe
in process and that the church is an
ever changing and growing organism,
and ostrich-like hides his head in the
sands of time to ward off the coming
storm. On the other hand the radical
has no use for the past, declared DR..
Richards, and turning his face only to
the future uproots and destroys, but
often fails to plant and build.
The radical needs the reserve and
poise that comes from study of his
tory, Gods way Of doing things" said
Dr. Richards. 'He needs the courage
and aggressiveness of the prophets to
blend with the patience of the saints;
the conservation of the martyr and the
loyalty to facts of the scientist. This
will insure progress, and the gradual
realization of the highest ideals of the
race"
He said that it was at first suppos-
ed that God had revealed a definite
sysem of doctrine and ordained a
form Of government and discipline,
not to speak of mode of worship.
Now. we see clearly that neither
Christ nor the Apostles came to give
men system of doctrine or form of
government but to inspire a life, a
life of faith, hope and love asserted,
the speaker.
This life lived in the freedom of
the spirit and not in the bondage OF
ordinances will express itself through
diverse forms and do the work of
Christ in diverse ways"
Perpetuity of the church was dis
cussed by the Rev. DIR. J. A. Singmas-
ter, president of the Lutheran Theo-
logical Seminary at Gettysburg. The
church was the one institution un-
Scathed by the war, he said.
The new seminary building cost
over 100000. Of this amount Presi-
dent Elderdice had raised more than
$4,000 before dedication day. The
Rev. DR.. ]. H. Straughn, president OF
the Maryland Annual Conference,
presided at the thanksoffering ser
vices this afternoon and raised $780,,
900. The building was dedicated free
of debt.
Simplicity marked the actual dedi-
cation of the new building. The Rev.
Dr. Thomas H. Lewis, president of the
General Conference in the United
States and first president Of the sem
mary, delivered a dedication ritual
written for the occasion. The Rev. DR..
J. L. Mills, president of the board Of
governors, presented the building.
The Rev. DR.. F. T. Benson, editor of
the Methodist Protestant, led in pray
er. Benediction was pronounced by
the Rev. W. H. Hodges. 4
Preceding the exercises proper,
luncheon was held at which greetings
were received from general officers of
the church and from the annual con-
ference presidents. The Rev. DR.. ]. c.
Broomfield, of Fairmount, w. Va, pre-
sided. SalutatiOns were extended by
the Rev. Drs. F. C. Klein, C. II. Beck,
G.. H. Miller, A. G. Dixon, c. S. Johnson
and Presidents c. Cassidy, of Ala
bama; C. S. Kidd, Of Eastern Con-
ference; E. T. Howe, of Indiana; J. H.
Straughns of Maryland; H. J. Hescott,
of Michigan; R. NJ. Andrews, of North
Carolina; S. w. Rosenberger, of Ohio;
A. J. Allen and J. A. Seliby, of West
Virginia.
A laymen's hour was conducted.
with j. Norman Wills, of Greensboro,
n. c., presiding. Those taking part in
the forenoon session included the Rev.
DR. w M. Strayer, the Rev. Lyman
E. Davis, editor of the Methodist Re
corder, of Pittsburgh, Pa; the Rev. E.
A WarfieId, first graduate of the sem
mary, and the Rev. w. Smith Harper.
A