The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume], April 16, 1919, Page 13, Image 15

About The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
ATLANTA'S NEW CHURCH
The First church of Atlanta, of
which Rev. Dr. J. Sprole Lyons is pas
tor, has just completed and dedicated
their new church building. This is
one of the handsomest and most com
plete houses of worship in the South.
The Atlanta Constitution gives this
account of the dedication:
An epoch in the church history of
Atlanta was marked Sunday, when
with beautiful and impressive ser
vices the First Presbyterian church,
located at the corner of Peachtree
and Sixteenth Streets, was dedicated
Sunday morning at 11 o'clock. Dr.
J. Sprole Lyons, the pastor, preach
ing the dedication sermon.
Probably fifteen hundred persons
attended the services and before the
hour arrived the seating capacity of
the church, which is about 1,200, be
gan to overflow and chairs were placed
in the aisles and other open areas to
seat those who came later. These
were soon filled and some were com
pelled to stand.
The church now goes forward in
its work with financial obligations
fully liquidated, the final s lbscription
which freed it from debt being added
to the list of other donations last
Saturday.
Promptly at 11 o'clock the big pipe
organ responding to the mastery of
Charles A. Sheldon pealed forth the
prelude, and as the last notes ceased
to whisper among the vaulted arches
the pastor %and visiting ministers,
clerks of the session bearing the Holy
Bible, ruling elders, trustees and
deacons entered in procession. The
elders arranged themselves in a semi
circle before the pulpit and the choir
led in singing "Gloria."
Short Prayer by Pastor.
?? Following a short prayer by the
pastor the audience joined in repeat
ing the apostles' creed and in respon
sive reading.
One of the most touching periods
of the morning's dedicatory worship
was a tribute from the church to W.
T. Downing, architect, and W. B.
Miles, contractor, both of whom died
while engaged in bringing the struc
ture to completion. Dr. Lyons re
cited the part they had played in its
construction and called on the congre
gation to stand in silent respect to
their memory. Mr. Sheldon then
played Chopin's funeral march.
Dr. Lyons called on all the mem
bers in the audience who were present
at the dedication of the First Pres
byterian church on Marietta Street in
1879 tp stand and about forty mem
bers arose. He then called for a like
indication from those who were pres
ent but not members at that time and
perhaps forty more stood.
Preceding the dedication sermon
Rev. T. M. McConnell, supply pastor
of the Central Presbyterian church,
read the Eighty-fourth Psalm.
Dr. Lyons Speaks.
Preaching from the text Isaiah
62:1, Dr. Lyons said:
"We dedicate this beautiful house
of God with a deep sense of gratitude
and Joy. No text is too brimming
with praise, nor too vibrant with holy
resolution, for this occasion.
"The tongues of prophet or apostle
would be taxed to tell the wonderful
vision of boundless opportunity which
the world of to-day opens to such a
congregation as this one*
"We are laying down the tools with
which a Wonderful structure has been
completed; and we are taking up the
responsibilities which logically fol
low." I
He called attention to the remark
able achievement of building one of
the most complete church plants in
the entire South, during the greatest
wars in all history, and when all build
ing operations except those under gov
ernment direction were suspended.
The congregation matched the
financial perils with big plans backed
by faith ahd courage. Current ex
penses were fully met, and expansion
of local work fostered during the
building period.
"As the result of war conditions,"
said Dr. Lyons, "all building expenses
went far beyond the original esti
mates, piling up a deficit of $60,000
when the church was ready for use.''
Debt of Cliuroh Pnid. ,
He announced that one month ago
a drive was launched to provide for
the $60,000, and by last Saturday
night the full amount was subscribed.
When he announced that the offer
ing for the day would be the usual
morning offering, and not an appeal
for help, the congregation voluntarily
broke into the "Doxology" ? "Praise
God, From Whom All Blessings
Flow."
Dr. Lyons said, "If I were to at
tempt to give credit to those to whom
it is due, I would have to call the roll
of the church, for it has been a march
marked by a grand swell of loyal and
liberal responses.
"I must have the liberty to mention
the names of two men whose initiative
and energy have made the raising of
this large sum possible.
"Captain James W. English was the
member of the board of trustees who
suggested the raising of the money
and led the subscription list with a
generous gift, while the tireless and
enthusiastic leader of the drive was
Charles Elyea."
Dr. Lyons made appropriate refer
ence to "that goodly company now
in the perfect life of the better world,
whose plans and prayers find beauti
ful fruition in the Joy of ihis day."
The new church building is a mag
nificent edifice, being a most beautiful
example of the scholastic Gothic con
struction of the Oxford type.
Beautiful Interior.
The interior is strikingly beautiful.
The walls are finished in rough facing
of a light cream tint. Although an
attractive finishing design, the rough
facing was primarily employed to aid
the acoustics of the building How
near this idea came to perfection was
noted by those who occupied seats in
the rear and in the gallery Sunday
morning. The softest notes of the
organ wpre pleasingly audible, while
the heavy tones carried with the most
agreeable effect.
At 5:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon a
dedicatory oak was planted In front of
the church and the services attending
this ceremony brought to a close a
day that will be remembered by the
members as probably the most epochal
day of the First Presbyterian church
in Atlanta.
Dr. Lyons and Rev. G. W. Taylor^
assistant pastor, placed the oak and
then In turn each officer of the church
deposited a spade of soil on its roots.
The soil was then watered by the
leaders in Sunday-school and those of
the various church organizations.
The recognition service held in the
church closed the exercises. At this
service a score or more ministers of
different denominations In the city oc
cupied seats in the pulpit. They at
tended the services to bring greetings
from their respective congregations to
the new church, and their messages
were full of felicitation and inspira
tion.
It is all right for the dead to look
dead, but those who profess to be
alive in Christ ought to show It In
their looks.
A Year's Work of Christian Education and
Ministerial Relief
By Henry H. Sweets, Secretary.
Many serious interruptions have
come to various departments of our
work during the year. Between three
and four hundred of our ministers for
shorter or longer periods, entered
upon work of the chaplaincy in the
army and the navy, the Y. M. C. A.,
the Red Cross, and the other war
activities. One hundred and eighty
four of our candidates for the minis
try enlisted in the army and the navy.
The organization of the Student
Army Training Corps in our own col
leges and the State universities vir
tually transformed these institutions
into war camps. There was scarcely
a college in the South that could offer
regular training for the young men
who had not reached the age to enter
the national service, and who desired
to continue his literary course. The
demobilization of the Student ^rmy
Training Corps in December brought
added confusion to the work of these
institutions.
Two of our ministers and ten of
our candidates for the ministry laid
down their lives in the service of the
country as follows:
Rev. Thomas McNeill Bulla, Pres
bytery of East Hanover, and Rev.
Herbert Franklin Wager, Presbytery
of Dallas, and Candidates William B.
Anderson, Presbytery of Harmony;
Basil Ball, Presbytery of Transyl
vania; Daniel J. Currie, Presbytery of
Florida; John Morgan Currie and
Eugene Meek Ellison, Presbytery of
Dallas; Deane M. Orgain, Presbytery
of Roanoke; Charles II. Patten, Pres
bytery of Memphis; Daniel Reid
Poole, Presbytery of Concord ; Pren
tiss G. Thompson, Presbytery of East
Hanover; John Henry Wheeler, Pres
bytery of Central Mississippi.
Splendid testimonials to the cour
age, fidelity and Christian character
of all these men have been received.
The Church has suffered a serious loss
in these strong, stalwart men who
were greatly needed. We bow our
heads in humble submission to the
will of God. "His ways are not as
our ways." We pray that scores of
young men of our Church may joy
fully come forward to fill the places
now left vacant.
Financial.
The receipts for the department of
Christian Education and Ministerial
Relief to March 31, 1919, were $214,
803.48 as against $145,921.84 the
previous year, an increase of $68,
881.64. This is an increase of $48,
29 4.39 in the general funds and $20,
587.25 in the receipts for the Endow
ment Fund of Ministerial Relief.
lief, $67,449, an Increase of $6,146
over the amount remitted last year.
This is the largest amount ever re
mitted in any year. What a comfort
to be able to send the last quarter's
appropriation promptly without wait
ing to see whether the amounts must
be scaled and to know that further
increases may now be granted these
faithful servants of the Church.
During the year aid was granted
to one hundred and seven ministers,
one hundred and sixty ^widows and
twenty-seven afflicted orphans. In
these two hundred and ninety-four
homes are seventy little fatherless
children under fourteen years of age.
The average amount sent to the one
hundred ministers was $310.82. The
average amount to the two hundred
and ninety-four homes on the roll
was $229.42 per annum, or 63 cents
per day per family.
III. Endowment Fund of Ministerial
Relief.
We have now in the Endowment
Fund $571,840.35 safely invested. In
addition to this we have $23,110 in
life annuity funds, the interest from
which goes to the donors until their
death when the capital will be added
to the Endowment Fund of Ministerial
Relief.
We must soon increase the Endow
ment Fund to $1,000,000, the goal set
by "The Three Year Program" adopt
ed by the General Assembly last year.
IV. Schools aiid Colleges.
On every hand there has been an
awakening to the supreme importance
of Christian education. The fact that
our schools, colleges and theological
seminaries are all in need of larger
funds is now being recognized by the
Presbyteries and Synods, and we be
lieve brighter days are ahead.
Extensive plans are being made by
the Executive Committee to bring
larger help to all these institutions of
learning.
V. The Student Loan Fund.
The total amount of the Studeat
Loan Fund is now $42,276.56.
The total number of students re
ceiving loans during the year is flfty
four, of whom twenty-three are boys,
and thirty-one are girlsy
Total number of students securing
loans since the founding of the Stu
dent Loan, 218; of these 120 are boys
and 98 are girls. \
We are putting forth every effort to
complete "The Three Year Program"
adopted by the last General Assem
bly, which will increase this fund to
$250,000.
No other investments hold forth
The Endowment Fund The General Fund
1918-19 1917-18 1918-19 1917-18
PhnrrhM . $ 3,791 96 $ 2,618 69 $109,843 58 $ 68,206 38
Sabbath Schools' 391 51 356 51 6,722 87 6,773 79
SoStieV .. 824 40 1,060 32 16,095 08 10,552 45
Individuals ' "" 14,255 24 4, 144 20 11 , 157 77 12,714 80
Kfe \nnuity Funds 10 , 200 00 5 , 076 00
Sacies . 4,430 83 1,384 47 656 07 972 78
Mwcellaneoufl . . . ! ! : ? ? 1 ,875 00 577 50 1 ,221 51 1,550 86
Interest 31,156 66 27,944 03
o9 ou
Hefnnd8.v.:::::::::::::"::.-V 2,181 00 1,935 46
Total $35,768 94 $15,181 69 $179,034 54 $130,740 15
I. Education For tlie Ministry.
Applications from the Presbyteries
for loans from the Fund of Education
for the ministry and mission service
to the number of one hundred and
fifty-one (as against two hundred and
twenty-eight the previous year) were
received, and aid to the amount of
$14,300.69 was remitted.
Of the one hundred and fifty-one
who received aid, one hundred and
thirty-two are candidates for the min
istry, three are candidates for medi
cal mission service, and sixteen are
young women studying for mission
service.
One hundred and eighty-four of our
candidates for the ministry entered
the service of the country for the
period of the war. Eleven gave their
lives for their country. The war ac
counts for the small number of can
didates for the ministry In the col
leges and theological seminaries. The
great need of the Church continues to
be adequate, capable, trained leader
ship. We must continue to "pray the
Lord of the harvest."
II. Ministerial Relief.
We have sent to the homes of our
faithful ministers, and the needy
widows and orphans of deceased min
isters on the roll of Ministerial Re
larger promise than these which are
in the lives of our boys and girls of
approved character and ability who
will soon become the leaders in the
home, the Church, the State, the
nation and the world. The loans are
being promptly returned after grad
uation, and the investments continue
in other lives.
VI. Encouragement.
We thank God and take courage.
With the, larger gifts of money we
trust there will be a corresponding in
crease in prayer and the dedication of
life to Him.
On bohalf of the Executive Commit
tee,
Christianity teaches us to look for
ward, not backward, for the revela
tion of the real meaning of God's
dealings with us. Christ never de
spaired of humanity, or of His own
cause; and why should we? ? W. B.
Dalby.
Wuntod. ? A Middle-Aged Lady to
care for three children. Woman with
some experience and education. Mrs.
E. Drennan, Elkins, W. Va.