NEW ST. ANDREW'S

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 46, 23 February 1923, Page 11

NEW ST. ANDREW'S

BUILDING DEDICATED ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH "Beloved Brethren, this House, which has been built to the glory of God aud for the ministry of His word and sacraments, we now solemnly dedicate unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—one living and true God, to whom be glory and majesty, dominion and power for ever and ever." With these words the handsome new church of St. Andrew's, on the Terrace, was dedicated last evening. There was a large congregation, and the service was conducted by the Hey. S. Robertson Orr. After the scriptural sentences iiiul been pronounced and replied to by the congregation, verses 7-10 of Psalm 24—'; Ye gates, lift up yum- heads on high"— were sung, followed by the Prayer of Invocation, pronounced by (ln> ]; O v. Mr. Orr. The Hey. D. J. Shaw read the_ Old Testament Lesson—l Chron. XXIX, 9-20—and the New Testament Lesson, Ephesians ii 4-22. The Hey. Dr. Kennedy Elliott pronounced the Prayer of Confession, and the Rev. J. Baird, 8.A., Moderator of Presbytery, the Dedication Prayer, which immediately followed the Apostles' Creed, said by the people standing, and the Words of Dedication. The dedication hjimn was "Be with us, gracious Lord, today; this house we dedicate to Thee." The Psalm, "0 Lord, Thou art my God and king," and the hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," were also sung. The choir sang the anthem, "The Heavens are Telling," and the "Hallelujah Chorus."

The Rev. Mr. Orr drew attention to the fact that the new church was the fourth erected in the St. Andrew's congregation. The first was an unpretentious building on Lamb ton quay, and it was a matter for thankfulness that so many who then attended the Sunday School were still among them, some taking a very active part in the management of church affairs. He stated that all the church furnishings had been donated by the members of the congregation, whose names would be announced on Monday evening, when the dedication celebrations would be continued.

The sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Orr, who chose as his text verses 13 and 14 of the third chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark. The theme he had chosen was the origin of ths Christian Church. There were many people who could not understand what a Church stood for, he said. Some Churches did not accomplish their purpose, and it might be better for the world if they were closed, as that would teach the people the lesson they needed. The -origin of the Church was In the mind of a Man with a mission, Who called to Him twelve co-workers. The Church was of divine origin. Christ was still calling to men to follow Him. Christ no longer went up the mountain, but Ha called to them through the Church which He had established. The Church was a divine creation, kept alive, not by the energy oi men, but through the voice of Christ. The Christian Church was increased by supernatural, means. It persisted by regular miracle;! and spiritual transferences from the world. The Church was a supernatural society created by supernatural means. It was like the Phoonix—it arose out of its own ashes. One generation passed on the torch to another. The Church was not merely of divine creation; it was created for the worship of God in Christ.

Tho Church represented an exclusive Bociety of men aud women drawn together by a desire to be »nth Christ. The exelusivenests was forced upon the Christian society. They saw a world that enjoyed the Sunday picnic and the Monday jazz, but for their own comfort and their supreme happiness they drew apart and lived with Christ. The Church of to-day was forced to be an exclusive society. They knew that the influence abroad tended to corrupt them. Good people had to live their life in a godly way. Christ brought into, being the Christian Church that it might be the home of the distressed— the homes of those who desired to follow the ideals of their Master. The Church could not do its work without the simple goodness of men who had been with Christ. It might have its ecclesiastics and cathedrals, but the goods it had to deliver were simple goodness, learned in the presence of Christ. Christ selected averago men, and not . men who were clever and great. The Church of St. Andrew's, added Mr. Orr, had been built to the glory of God. It was a beautiful church, and they were proud of it, but they went forward depending on the simple goodness of the men and women, and not upon the beauty of the structure and the spmfort of its furnishings. Might they bind for ever within the building the love which endureth for ever; the love which was stronger than death.