PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEDICATED.
The Handsome Edifice Dedicated With
Appropriate and Interesting Exercises.
The First
Presbyterian Church Society of Cortland was organized in 1825 and subsequently
upon the present site a church was erected, which was believed to be sufficiently
commodious for succeeding generations. The rapid growth of our village and
consequent increase of communicants and attendance necessitated the replacing
the structure of nearly three score and ten years existence, by a substantial edifice
that would meet the desired requirements.
On the
9th of April, 1888, a meeting was called to take action in the matter.
Naturally there was some reluctance in leaving the old building with its hallowed
associations and it was not until February 11th of the following year that the
report of a committee and plans for the new building were adopted—the estimated
cost to be $40,000. February 25th the committee reported enough funds
subscribed to warrant the enterprise. Sunday June 2, 1889, the last services
and administration of the sacrament were conducted in the old church. With the
opening day of the beautiful month of roses, June, '90, the first regular
services will be held in the present church, together with the observance of
the Lord's supper; truly a connecting link of the past and present.
Long
before the opening hour of the dedication people were filling the pews and at
2:30 P. M., Wednesday, May 28, the seating capacity was fully tested. The afternoon
programme was as follows:
AFTERNOON
SERVICE.
Organ
Voluntary and Doxology.
Invocation.
Music,
Choir.
"Praise
Ye the Father."—Gounod.
Scripture
Lesson.
Hymn.
Lord God
of Hosts, by all adored!
Thy name
we praise with one accord;
The earth
and heavens are full of thee,
Thy
light, thy love, thy majesty.
Loud
hallelujahs to thy name
Angels
and seraphim proclaim:
Eternal
praise to thee is given
By all
the powers and thrones in heaven.
The holy
church in every place
Throughout
the world exalts thy praise:
Both heaven
and earth do worship thee,
Thou father
of eternity!
From day
to day, O Lord, do we
Highly
exalt and honor thee;
Thy name
we worship and adore.
World
without end, forevermore.
Prayer,
Rev. J. L. Robertson, D. D.
Music, Choir.
"Hear,
Oh Father."— Ludden.
Sermon by Rev. C. P. Nichols, D. D.
Statement of the Building Committee.
Offertory.
Music, Choir.
"Christian, the Morn Breaks Sweetly
O'er Thee,"— Shelley.
Prayer of Dedication by the Pastor.
O thou, whose own vast temple stands,
Built over earth and sea,
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship thee.
Lord, from thine inmost glory send,
Within these courts to hide,
The peace that dwelleth without end,
Serenely by thy side!
May erring minds that worship here
Be taught the better way;
And they who mourn, and they who fear,
Be strengthened as they pray.
May faith grow firm, and love grow warm
And pure devotion rise.
While round these hallowed walls the storm
Of earth-born, passion dies.
Benediction.
The pastor, Rev. J. Lovejoy Robertson, made
a statement from the building committee relative to the condition of the funds of
that body. The original cost was placed at $40,000, it was afterward deemed
proper that a gallery be built, thus increasing the seating capacity; a
pastor's study and other actual requirements of the church incurred an
additional outlay of $4,640, making the total cost $44,640. A week ago there
was $31,477 paid in and a resolution adopted that the indebtedness be "not
cut down, but cut out," meeting with the liberal response of $8,461,
making the total amount of debt upon the entire church at time of dedication
$4,702 which was decreased $237.10 at the afternoon offering, $176.17
additional was contributed in the evening, besides pledges of donations are
constantly arriving, from various sources decidedly encouraging to the speedy
obliteration of the debt without the customary begging system.
The pastor feelingly alluded to the
magnificent and timely memorial gifts of the clear-toned bell from Mr. Wm.
Blair, of Chicago; the desk bible from Miss Budlong and Mrs. Whitney of Adrian,
Mich., the windows, and the magnificent sum of $500 from the Young Peoples'
Mission Band together with sale of some property from old church foots $3,450
added to cost, $44,640, gives net value of church at $48,090.
EVENING SERVICE.
Organ Voluntary.
Music.
"The God of Abraham Praise."
— Buck.
Scripture Lesson.
Hymn.
Come thou almighty King,
Help us thy name to sing.
Help us to praise.
Father! all-glorious,
Over all victorious.
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!
Come, thou incarnate Word,
Gird on thy mighty sword:
Our prayer attend;
Come, and thy people bless.
And give thy word success:
Spirit of holiness!
on us descend.
Come, holy Comforter!
Thy sacred witness bear.
In this glad hour:
Thou who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart,
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power!
Prayer, Rev. G. P. Avery.
Offertory.
Music.
Soprano Solo.—Selected.
Addresses by Rev. Messrs. Hutton, Lucas.
Benton, and Hinman.
Hymn.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the
Lord!
Is laid for your faith in his excellent
word!
What more can he say, than to you he hath
said.
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not
dismayed,
For I am they God, I will still give thee
aid:
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause
thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious omnipotent hand.
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for
repose,
I will not—I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul—though all hell should endeavor to
shake,
I’ll never—no never—no never forsake!"
Addresses by Rev. Messrs. McVey, Taylor,
Clarke, and Remick.
Music.
Cantate Domino.—Danks.
Benediction.
SPECIAL FEATURES.
The pastor’s study at the rear of the
auditorium communicates with the rear of the platform through a well lighted
hallway and directly into the church parlors, the furniture being of the XVI
century design.
A noticeable feature of the parlors is the
arrangement of drapery for dividing allotted space to Sunday school classes,
both below and in the gallery, which can instantly be drawn aside, in no way
inconveniencing passage or obstructing the view.
Located in the basement is a spacious ladies
cloak room, also s convenient kitchen, supplied with all improved adjuncts
appertaining to the culinary department and supplied with city water. A
skillfully constructed dumb waiter will
convey the viands to the parlors above, as occasion may demand. Yet ordinarily
viewed from the parlor floor the silent carrier's existence is unobserved.
The bellows of the organ is operated by water
power and any embarrassment that the sleeping or absent boy might occasion is
averted.
Universal satisfaction is expressed on the appearance
and full mellow tone of the thoroughly refitted organ. The following well known
vocalists have been engaged as the regular choir: Miss Annie Baum, soprano;
Miss Minnie Alger, alto; Mr. F. Daehler, tenor; Mr. H. C. Beebe, bass; and Mrs.
George H. Smith, organist. Throughout the entire interior of the church the
efforts of the committee to obtain a full view of the desk, from all angles, is
crowned with success The seating capacity of the auditorium is 1100. The
renting of pews will take place on Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock.
Cornerstone
ceremony: http://jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2015/03/corner-stone-ceremony-for-new.html
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