The Penn's Grove record., 1920-04-23
Union Presbyterian
Church Dedicated
Neat Tabernacle Edifice Formal
ly Given To The Worship
Of Jehovah

The neat brick ediice built in Taber-
nacle style of architecture on Walker
Avenue, near the main Salem road in
Carneys Point last fall and used by the
congregation OF the Union Presbyter-
AN Church for two months, was for
maliy dedicated to the worship of AL
mighty God, last Sunday, April 18th.
The main building is 24x60 feet with
wings on each side II feet wide. The
walls + hollow tile with brick
veneer and has a very pretty Taber-
nacle appearance. 1t will seat about
300. BACK of the pulpit is space for
a piano and choir. On each side of
the pulpit recess arc rooms for social
meetings and a dining room. Under
the real end is a pipeless heater and a
kitchen with fixtures and furnishings
for suppers and festivals.
Rev. o. Bell Close, the Pastor, an
nounced the Church cost S22, 900 and
that $4,000 had been collected in cash
and paid on construction and furnish
ings.
This is the first Presbyterian Church
ever erected in Upper Penns Neck
township and their mode OF worship
has the approval of several who have
lived for many years under the Meth
odlstic surroundings. Rev. Close an
nounced or Sunday that 1877 new mem
hers were enrolled during the drive Cor
members in March. The membership
numbers 220. This grew from the first
Union Sunday School organized in the
Community Hall about four years ago.
The Church is a valuable addition to
the religious influences of this region
and fills a niche in sedate method
which many approve.
The Church vas crowded Sunday
morning. Eden Lodge of Odd Eel
lows, also Odd Fellows from Whining
ton and Philadelphia were present in
regalia. The Methodists mad no ser
vice and Rev. w. A. Moore was present
with his congregation. The choir was
augmented and Prof. L. G.. Nilsson led
the singing.
Rev. Close presented VIM. H. Naylor
with a watch fob as an appreciation
fer his faithful service on the build
ing committee. Ee also announced re-
ceiving from Eden Lodge of a baptis-
NAL fount and granite pedestal. Rev.
Close baptised four children then read
a brief service of dedication of the
Tabernacle to the service and worship
of Almighty God, the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
Rev. James X. Shields, of Newark,
N. j., preached the sermon for the oc-
casion. He is President of the Anti
Saloon League of New Jersey and told
of his united work with Rev. Close in
helping the 18th Amendment to pass.
When it was about accomplished, Rev.
Close among other workers, decided to
return to the ministry. Rev. Close
had been offered charges with congre-
cations and conveniences but he de-
cided to come to Carneys Point where
was no edifce nor parsonage, only
people. He gave up c~onveniences for
himself and family to build up Gods
kingdom where the field was white for
the harvester. Surely this edifice and
congregation showed workmanship ap-
proved of God and need not to be
ashamed.
Great thoughts have a part to the
organizing of men and the building of
a Church whose influence will last thru
ages. 1t is a great honor to be con-
nected with a great movement to lead
men out of sin to the worship of Je-
hovah and a higher life.
Moses led the children of Israel out
of bondage and started the greatest
movement on earth to build up the
spiritual kingdom of Jehovah. The
Spirit guided them by a cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night. After
the giving of the law, with statutes,
ordinances and judgments, there need
be a place where the Spirit of the law
and His indwelling presence should be
manifested. So the children of Israel
built a Tabernacle.
While there need be a material man
Hesitation of Gods presence, let US re-
member that God is a Spirit. That
Spirit may dwell with you in person
wherever you may be as well as IN
this Tabernacle. They that worship
Him should do so in reverent attitude
and in Truth. Isaiah and other pro-
phets saw the Lord in the Holy Tenn
pie and read the laws and lived them
in the Spirit. Men were taught to
stand with reverence in the holy tenn
pie and feel grateful for his indwelling
among them. There came a time when
this Spirit became an abiding comfort
err in the minds and their guiding
Spirit with purity of thought and love
toward men.
This Spirit of Jehovah was manifest
I'd in Jesus of Nazareth who came to
live the law and manifest God in the
flesh among men. There is no other
way for the world to be saved but by
salvation thru Him. The Spirit that
truck Saul of Tarsus blind made him
also the real founder of the Spiritual
Christian Church. That Spirit others
have caught and been led to work for
the up building of Gods kingdom on
earth. Over eighty per cent. of all
charity and welfare service work
sprang from the Protestant Sunday
Schools.
In our Churches are taught Rever-
ence, Purity and Love. Where we
learn such become blessed memories to
all as we grow old as we learn to sing