The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-22
Capacity Audience Attends
Dedication OF Church Unit
First Christian Opens
Department Of Relig-
iOus Education 49,

Amidst impressive scenes and in the
presence of a capacity audience, the
new building of the department of relig-
ious education of tine First Christian
church, forming the first unit of what
promises to be a large and up-to-date
institutional church plant to serve pres
ent day needs, was dedicated Sunday
morning.
The dedicatory service was declared
by many the most inspirational occasion
ever witnessed, opening with an organ
prelude, followed by the singing of the
Doxology by the congfega ton, and the
salutation and invocation by the pastor,
DIR. r. N. Simpson. After the singing
of the hymn, Il Love Thy Kingdom,
Lord DR.. Simpson paid a tribute to
the good work of the building commit
tee, of which J. H. McWane was chair
man.
The keys of the church were pre-
scented by Mr.. McWane to Fl. o. Ber-
nard, chairman of the board Of officers.
who responded, and following an an
them by the choir the dedicatory VOWS
and petitions were read by the pastor
and congregation.
To Judge G. r. Harsh, pioneer of
the First Christian church organiza ton,
was accorded the honor of offering the
dedicatory prayer, after DIR. Simpson
had called attention to the fact that
Judge Harsh was member OF the orig
inal building committee, which nearly
40 years ago constructed the first home
of the congregation at Twenty-first
street and Avenue +. and that he also
was chairman of the building committee
which constructed the church at Fifth
avenue and Twenty street, recently
sold to good advantage by the congre-
cation.
The prayer was followed by the sing
ing of the communion hymn, the cele
bration of the Lords Supper and an
offertory trio, praise Ye," by Mrs. L.
E. Conrad, Frank Lewis and L. B.
Conrad.
Visiting Pastor Here
DR.. H. o. Pritchard of indianapolis.
Ind, secretary of the national board of
education, and well known as the for
mer president of Eureka college, was
introduced by DIR. Simpson, and dcliv
cred dedicat tory sermon so full of elo-
quence and inspiration as to hold the
audience spellbound.
DIR. Pritchard declared that, although
he visits hundreds of churches and
church institutions during the year
throughout the country, this educa-
tional building of the First Christian
church represents the best Of any he
had seen.
"You have here the most complete
and up-to-date educational unit in our
whole great brotherhood said DIR.
Pritchard. But l have been most i'm
pressed with the spirit of great humility
which has characterized this occasion,
every word that has been uttered and
everything that has been done. For l
say to you that no religious body ever
rose higher than it's educational pro-
gram"
Scores Narrowness
Taking his text from Matthew 16 :13-
IS and Matthew IS :15-17, DIR. Pritch-
ard pointed out that these two texts
represent the only two instances where
Jesus himself used the word Church"
while the expression Kingdom of
Heaven" occurs 103 times and is espe-
cially the dominating note Of the Ser
mon on the Mount. Pointing out that
in this spirit it was Christ's intention