Southern Christian Advocate

A CHURCH DEDICATED.-We had the pleasure on the last Sabbath to assist in dedicating a new house of worship. We must give some account of it, though we dare not attempt to reach the exalted rhetorical pitch of some of our contemporaries when they take note of such occasions; for not being familiar with cloud-land, we might never find our way to earth again. Our readers must therefore accept an account written in homely phrase.--The house is not built in the Norman style,-nor should we call it Dutch--though the architecture is that which prevails generally in the "Low Countries." It has four sides and a roof- and after the modern fashion of elegant Churches, is open from the floor to the rafters. It also has a pulpit and a very substantial one,—the preacher must be a son of thunder, and of lightning, too, who can break it down. It is handsomely white-washed-a patent wash, inside and out. The pews are not rented-it would hardly be worth while--for having no backs, you could get into them on any side without the aid of a sexton. The organs- there are several of them-—are going to perform satisfactorily, if we may judge by the music we had last Sabbath. There was no corn, wine, and oil to pour out on the floor. The congregation had eaten the corn—the oil shone in their faces,-we heard nothing of the wine. As to the sermon--there was but one Editor there to report, and he declines saying anything more of it--than that it was no better than it should have been,-hardly as good. A candid criticism at least.-Now, pretensionless as this little temple is, it is a worthier offering to God, than many a magnificent edifice. It has been built by two planters for the benefit of their slaves-and though they are neither of them Methodists, they have given it in charge to the Rev. T. E. Ledbetter, a local preacher of our church. It is neat comfortable and well adapted for the object intended, and was crowded on last Sabbath by a large congregation, principally of intelligent and happy looking slaves, with whom their owners united in worship. May it be the outer gate, for many a happy soul, to the upper temple.