Evening Bulletin

DEDICATION

OF

CHURCH

EDIFICE OF THE METHODIST EPIS

COPAL CONGREGATION.

Dr. Dille of San Francisco Preaches

the Sermon—Gratifying Exhibit

of Church Finances.

Sunday, April 19, 1896, will al-

ways stand out prominent in the

annals of the First Methodist

Episcopal Church of Honolulu.

On that day the first building

ever erected here by that society

was dedicated to its purposes of

divine worship and religious in-

struction. It is some months

since the commodious and snug

"little church around the corner,"

on Beretania near Miller street.

has been completed and in use,

but circumstances caused its de-

dication to be deferred.

For the purposes of the dedica-

tion ceremonies the front part of

the interior was adorned like a

bride for marriage. The altar rail

was fairly buried in flowers.

Three large palm fronds were

placed against the rear of the al-

cove containing the minister's

platform, the middle one being

chastely decorated with bunches

of lilies, and the wall back of the

organ, adjacent to the platform,

was also screened with palms.

Potted plants studded the plat-

form profusely.

The exercises opened with the

singing of Hymn 5, after which

Rev. H. W. Peck, pastor, offered

a solemn invocation. Rev. Sereno

E. Bishop of the Congregational

Church then read the scripture

lesson in 2 Chron. vi., 1, 2, 18.

21; 40, 42; vii., 1-4. Rev. H. Kihara

of the Japanese mission announc-

ed Hymn 8 for singing by the

congregation. Rev. Hiram Bing-

ham, D. D., the venerable transla-

tor of the Bible into the Gilbert

Islands language, read Hebrews

x., 19-26. Hymn 178 having next

been sung, Rev. E. R. Dille, D.D.

of San Francisco delivered the

sermon of the day.

Dr. Dille took his text in 1 Cor.

xiii., 9, 10: "For we know in

part, and we prophesy in part

But when that which is perfect is

come, then that which is in part

shall be done away." From these

words he preached an exception-

ally

powerful discourse, scho-

larly

yet plain, bold in

comparisons, pungent in deduc-

tions, and, withal, delivered with

rare impressiveness. The subject

announced beforehand was "Cer-

tainties in Religion." In his ser-

mon the preacher described "five

mountain peaks" that towered

above the surface of scriptural

truth. These he elaborated with

great force and perspicuity except-

ing the third, which he merely

named for want of time. They

were:

1, a personal God: 2, a

living Christ; 3, duty; 4, salvation:

5, immortality. No mere epitome

of such a discourse would be sat-

isfactory, and space will not admit

of even a bare abstract. Dr. Dille

uttered fully half of his sermon

in an easy conversational tone, and

for the remainder indulged

just enough in declamation to

show reserved powers of elocution

of no common order. His rhe-

toric throughout was faultless and

his diction flowed like a river

bearing his auditors smoothly

but irresistibly to his well-defined

conclusions.

Besides the regular worshipers

of that church there were several

prominent representatives of oth-

er communions in the congregation,

which filled nearly every seat in

the main auditorium and some

chairs in the class room behind.

In addition to the clergy on the

platform Rev. C. M. Hyde, D.D.

principal of the North Pacific Mis-

sionary Institute, was in the as-

sembly. W. R. Castle, superin-

tendent of Kawaiahao Church

Sunday schools, was also present.

Following the sermon Psalm

122 was read responsively, after

which C. B. Ripley, treasurer,
Cash on hand.......... $1,298 46

Total assets.......... $2,319 12

Surplus............. $171 35

The site cost $10,000; $8,000 of

this amount is unpaid, costing the

church $560 per year interest, but

$480 of this is received in rent.

leaving but $80 per year to be

paid by the church.

Paid on lot......... $2,000 00

Cost of deed, mortgage

on lot, etc............ 109 00

Insurance... 75 20

Total cost of building... $3,069 85

Total cost of furnishings 942 76

Treasurer's book... 50

$6,197 31

Of the subscriptions there was

one of $1,000; one of $500; one of

$300; five of $250; one of $200;

three of $150; seventy five aggre-

gating $3,018.66; eighty-seven

subscribers averaging $77.22 each.

This gratifying exhibit having

been made the board of trustees

advanced to the altar rail, where

Senator

Henry

Waterhouse.

chairman, in a few words present-

ed the building to the society.

Dr. Dille in fitting language dedi-

cated the church to its sacred pur-

poses and offered a dedicatory

prayer. He also suggested that

the offertory should be especially

liberal in token of gratitude for

the possession of a church free

from debt.

The offertory having

been

taken the benediction was pro-

nounced, and the congregation

dispersed with the singing of the

doxology

There was another congregation

filling the church in the evening,

when Dr. Dille again preached

and, at an after meeting, a few

persons asked for prayers. The

congregation observe the post-

poned week of prayer this week.

meeting, this and tomorrow and

the next evening. On Thursday

evening Dr. Dille will deliver a

lecture on Abraham Lincoln, il-

lustrated with lantern views.