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Pastoral Ministry
in churches, are on the platform, which was well proportioned. The
pulpit and highbacked chairs harmonized. Seats and arms are covered
with red velvet of the material generally used. I did not spend much
time taking in all the advantages of that church building, but I praise
the Lord that every debt is paid. Much means have been invested
besides the sum of the building as it stood, to make it what it should
be—complete in repairs. It is now all finished. There are several
rooms. One opens from the auditorium and is seated with chairs for
Sabbath school. If the house should need enlarging, the partitions
could be removed and thus the extension easily made. Washington
within a short distance of the Capitol is a victory gained, and it comes
to us in the order of the Lord, who has looked upon the necessities that
must be supplied. I wanted to praise God aloud for this nice building,
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all ready now to be rededicated to the Lord, in which His people shall
serve Him.—
Manuscript Releases 5:119
.
Church buildings should be plain, neat, commodious, and of
proper dimensions—The influence of a house of worship is greatly
needed, not only in Melbourne, but in our other churches. A plain, neat,
commodious building, of proper dimensions, would fill their hearts
with gratitude, and would give those not of our faith an opportunity to
come into our assemblies, and hear the words of life. There need be no
costly organ, nothing for mere display; what is wanted is a house that
can be dedicated to God, to which the people can come as their home,
where there would be extempore preaching and prayer, and singing
in which all the congregation would join, and where the surroundings
would be entirely in harmony with the faith we profess.—
General
Conference Daily Bulletin, January 28, 1893
.
Construction
In building a church, money should not be spent unnecessar-
ily, but neither should second-class work be done—While not one
penny should be expended unnecessarily in the erection of this church
building, no second-class work should be done. It is planned to use the
basement of the church for church-school purposes. This is right, that
provision may be made by which our children can be guarded from
the evils that prevail in the public schools. If this plan is carried out,