Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ADDEESS TO THE CONGKEGATION BY EEV. GEORGE W. BRIGGS, D. D. Christian Friends: I more than share the universal regret that the older church of our faith in this city speaks to you in these glad services of consecration through a transient occupant of its pulpit. rather than from the lips of its own honored minister, Could he be present now, with all the associations of years of friendship stirring his heart, with all the inspirations of Palestine enkindling his soul, how fitly would he speak the words of fellowship and brotherhood, how glowingly would he utter words of living faith and Christian cheer. Still, though representing his congregation only for the hour I feel authorized to give you the special congratulations of its members; congratulations expressed with far greater emphasis by the names of its delegates, than by any words of mine. I confidently give you, also, the congratulations of our whole brotherhood of churches; of our ministers and people, all of whom glory in your success, and rejoice in your joy. It is always an occasion of true joy, indeed, to see a new temple, enriched by art, by whatever may delight the eye, or charm the taste, as well as speak to worshipping hearts to quicken the religious sentiment and life, consecrated to Christian worship. We would carry the Gospel to the poorest, and pour its life-giving influences around them all, as freely as God sends the air and the light to all alike. Let there be places whose doors open so widely, that they seem to speak to men with the universal, loving invitation of Jesus to the multitudes; places, halls, theatres, groves, whatever they may be, yet made churches for the hour, because living men stand in them to speak God’s everlasting truth to needy, suffering, sinning brother souls. God be thanked for ev…