The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1920-01-17
First Branch4T abernacle
Dedicated by Wilbur Glenn Voliva
General Overseer of the Christian Catholic
Apostolic Church in Zion
On Lords Day Evening
January IL, 1920.
(By Deacon Jasper H. DePew)

(By Deacon Jasper II. DePew)
A unique feature in lions work at head
quarters was inaugurated last Lords Day
evening, January II, when Wilbur Glenn
Voliva General Overseer of the Christian
Catholic Apostolic Church in Zion, dedicated
the first outlying tabernacle which he de-
signated as Branch Tabernacle No. l.
This tabernacle is located at 3Oth Street
and Eshcol Avenue in thickly settled part
of the city of Zion.
1t is the first of fifteen tabernacles planned
to cover the entire city, each tabernacle be-
ing designed to accommodate all persons liv-
ing within given district
| Services will be held in each tabernacle on
Lords Day evenings and on one other night
during the week. 1t is the General Over
seer's purpose also to hold social gatherings
in them.
This tabernacle is 80 50 feet in size and
is constructed of redwood lap siding. It is
| plastered with finished coat that presents
a pleasing appearance.
The normal seating capacity is for two
hundred and fifty, but for the opening night
| three hundred chairs were placed on the
saWdust floor All seats were taken and
number of persons stood in the side ais1es
and the rear
The opening of this tabernacle was cause
for reflection to those familiar with lions
history. Several present, this writer in
cluded, were participants in the opening of
the first branch tabernacle in the city of
Chicago more than twenty years previous
when John Alexander Dowie installed the
present General Overseer as elder in charge
of the north side in Chicago.
Coincidentally, the same scripture lesson,
the 35th Chapter of Isaiah was read by Dr.
DoWie on that occasion.
At 80 the bell was rung calling the peo-
pie together to worship.
At 7:45 the General Overseer opened the
meeting, the Sen1i-C Chorus rendering Wood
7vard'S Anthem entitled, "Come at Times"
Immediately following this, another selec-
ton was sung, entitled, 20 Lord, I will
Exalt Thee" by Parker.
The General Overseer then led the con-
gregation in reading the 35th Chapter of
Isaiah
| The reading was followed by the Semi
Chorus singing, "Hark, Hank My Soul by
Shelly
The General Overseer then addressed
few words of welcome to the congregation
and announced the hymns entitled, "Jesus
Shall Reign" and Deeper YETI which were
sung by the congregation.
Apostle Peckham then offered prayer and
was followed by remaining stanza of
! Deeper Yet"
Elder Nelson then prayed and the Semi
Chorus and congregation sang, "No Not
! One always favorite song in Zion.
The General Overseer then addressed the
people in part as follows:
Beloved in Jesus the Christ, few words
of explanation as to why we are here to-
night should be given.
The building of this tabernacle and the
entire plan of at least fifteen of these taber-
nacles in the City of Zion came to me as an
inspiration. My purpose is to erect one of
these tabernacles for every fifty houses in
Zion City.
want to be able to get closer to the peo-
pie and ascertain their needs and to make
this place of prayer and, consequently, a
place of blessing.
would remind you that the erection of
these tabernacles will not in any way inter
fere with the meetings in Shiloh Tabernacle,
for we shall rally there at the Bible School
at $50, Lords Day mornings, and in the
afternoon service when thousands gather,
and on Wednesday nights in the greatest
prayer meeting in the United States and
perhaps in the world.
The most important part of every service
is the reading of Gods Precious Word.
Nothing that we may say can be equal in
Importance to what God says. In Zion we
always give the Word of God the most i'm
portant place.
When I came to Zion in Chicago in 1890,
one of the things that attracted me and i'm
pressed me most was the important place
Dr. Dowie gave the Bible. He read the
Bible He knew how to read it and he
knew how to teach it.
If you were to ask me tonight, "What is
one of the sweetest verses in the Bb1e?"
[ would answer, Isaiah, the Fortieth Chap
ter and the Eleventh Verse, which reads as
follows: