Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1931-02-05
CHURCH DEDICATION


become an important historical date
in the religious life of Morgan coun-
ty, Ohio; the event was the all day
meeting at the Church of Christ in
McConnelsville (Seventh Street,.
AS matter of local interest, the
church house is the brick structure
formerly occupied by the Baptist
church, at the corner of Seventh
and Union streets, and which had
been occupied by them since it's
erection in 1871 until it was dispos-
ed of to the Malta congregation of
the Church of Christ about five
years ago. When the house became
available for this change, it was
very timely for the Malta congrega
tion to purchase it, for it provided
| the extra needed capacity and great
er accessibility with the new means
of transportation coming into vogue.
The Malta congregation had been in
existence since about 1859, and had
occupied the house in Malta, sit
uated on the hillside, west of the
Malta hotel, since it was built by
them about 1868, until this change
was made The old house was sold
and now is dwelling.
The debt incurred in the purchase
of this new and larger house has re.
Gently been liquidated, and the
event was celebrated by making the
services on Lords day as of spe-
cial dedicatory nature.
A large attendance, filling the
house at each of the three services
of the day, attested the interest in
the event and in the services. Many
congregations of southeastern Ohio
and West Virginia were represented.
The afternoon service was dis
tinguished by number of short eX
hortations voiced by representatives
OF visiting congregations, making
strong appeals to the hearers for the
adoption of greater practical works
in Christian living.
The evening service was dis
tinguished by a forceful sermon de-
livered by Harley w. Bankes of
Cambridge, O., formerly of Malta,
and native of Morgan county His
sermon, being chiefly doctrinal, re-
quired and did show earnestness,
kindness, knowledge and adeptness
in its presentation. The subject
What should we stand for, doctrin-
ally was presented very appealing
iy to the conclusion that "a church
has no right to exist as separate
institution amongst religious sects
and denominations, fnless's it con
tends for and upholds essential
truths not contended for and upheld
by these sects and denominations;
also, it should be ready to give up
all practices in the name of religion
not specifically approved or enjoined
by Divine authority, and should
practice all that is enjoined."
The special historical significance
to the reporter is this-the sermon
appears as a fit successor to that fa-
nous series of sermons of about a
century ago, by such men as Bar
ton w. Stone, Thomas Campbell, |
Alexander Campbell, Benjamin |
Franklin and others. Brother Bank !
es showed forth the supreme i'm /
portance of the adoption, by the
present religious world that believes
in Christ, of the restoration of the |
true apostolic church.
The morning service was dis
tinguished by masterful sermon
on the subject King Solomon's |
Temple by Charles H. NORM who
became a member of this congrega-
tion some 54 years ago, who was or
dained minister by this cOngrega-
tion in 1892 and who has contin
uOusly since then earnestly pro-
claimed the beauties of the gospel |
and Christian living. He appeared ,
as in his prime, in the presentation
of this sermon fit to be called a
classic.
The beautiful symbolism of the
Temple of King Solomon, in typify-
ing the Kingdom of God on earth or
the Church of the First-Born or the
Church of Christ, was delineated in
detail and expounded
in a logical and eloquent manner.
The gloriousness of the church of
the living God was brought out in
the sermon so that all present gain
ed new insight into the beauties of
Gods love toward mankind. in re-
storing man to God through Jesus
Christ and his church.
The historical significance of this
sermon to the reporter is this---the
effect was to create, in the minds of
those present, a new resolve to dedi
cate and rededicate their lives to the
service of the Lord of Hosts, to the
end that they might become fit liv-
ing stones of the spiritual Temple Of
God. Such dedication can not but
mean milestone in the spreading
of the light of the gospel, by this
And may it not also
mean, in these stressing economic
times, that people generally are be-
ing brought to realize the uselessness