Year: 1872

Gift Of u Church and Parsonage TO the


Methodists by Now York Merchant


Interesting Dedicat0ry Exercises by


Bishop simpson.


Yesterday was day Of jubilee among the Metbo-
dists of Long Island and especially to the residents
OF Great Neck and the surrounding villages. II
appears that Mr. Joseph $. Spnney recently erected
upon commanding site beautiful village church,
furnished 1t with bell and an organ and built and
furnished adjoining the church a cOmmodious par
sonage at cost of twenty thousand dollars. Mr..
Spinney also donated the often thousand dollars
to the church, the interest of which to be devoted
to the payment OF the minister's salary. The edi-
fee has just been finished and the services of
Bishop Simpson, the great gun OF the denOmina-
tion, were secured TO dedicate 1t. special train
was from Hunters Point to accommodate
occasion. The Methodist community OF the adj
joining villages OF Whitestone and Flushing was
largely represented, ana the number OF carriages
and other vehicles which met our gaze at the close
of the services fOrcbly reminded the spectator Of
camp meeting, with q larger representation OF the
arstocratic element than Is generally seen at such
gatherings.


The dedicatory exercises were opened with
and gentlemen; the ritual address was read by Rev.
w. $. Studley, pastor OF the Pacific street church


apner and the scpars lessons by Rev Dr. Trne
and Rev: Mr.. Bowditch. After the singing OF
another hymn, Bishop Simpson proceeded to
preach from Isaiah lX 13-"I will make the place
OF my feet glorious" After an introduction, the
Bishop proceeded to say that God made the place
put upon houses Of worship, and In discussing
this point he dwelt upon the magnicence OF the
Jewish tabernacle and the taste which was display
ed in these later days In the construction OF houses
Of worship. They were the glory OF the land and
no man In selecting spot for residence kept out
OF his estimate Its distance from place OF worship.
1t was a remarkable fact that while sanctuaries
seemed to be expensive and required great Offer
ings from those that built them, yet their expen-
siveness never imp0vershes those who engage In
their erection. The lands that built houses OF wor-
ship were the regions that controlled the treasures
Of the eartn, and whenever they needed wealth
God uncovered the mines aud furnished them with
1t in abundance.


The glory of the houses Of God also consisted In
this that they became the foundation ofcivil order,
the place of sanction for the rights OF the commu-
nifty in the protection OF life and property: This
point was ably elaborated, and the speaker showed
that however infdes might scout at the idea of
revelation, yet If his property or life were jeoparded
he rested in the oath Of q witness who appealed to
Almighty God. II men did not believe in the future
and that God would call them to an account for
their conduct In this world what was the value OF
an oath The forms or justice and law were all
based on those great IDEAS. God made the
place of His feet glorious in that His house be.
came the centre Of intellectual light. He admitted
that there was knowledge outside OF the Church,


Its birth in the house OF God in that the great themes
OF the creation, the fatherho0d OF God and other
kindred sublime ideas were the theme Of pulpit dis
cussion. The idea Of holiness was especially asso-
ciated with the house OF God. Then the Bishop
God Was glorious, because Of Tie prob Proclamation 81
the glorious Gospel OF the blessed God, which offered
life and salvation to all men, no matter how guilty,
and dwelt with touching eloquence upon the truth
that places or worship were rendered glorious by
the revelation OF Gods special presence in them.
The glory OF these latter days exceeded the glory
OF the time OF Christ's personal presence in the
Temple, because OF the abiding presence OF the
Holy Spirit, which revealed things unseen and fur
nished baptism OF power which purified the
heart.