USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > The history of Saint Luke's Church, Marietta, Ohio > Part 7
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2. Blessed is the man whom thon choosest and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
3. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after : that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
4. How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God ! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. We shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house: and thou shalt make us drink of the river of thy pleasures.
5. O send out thy light and thy truth ; let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God, my exceeding joy.
6. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary : who is so great a God as our God ? We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
7. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that bnild it. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest : thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
8. Help us now, O Lord : O Lord send us now prosperity. Let not the foot of pride come against ns, and let not the hand of the ungodly cast us down. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light.
9. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within the walls, and prosperity within the palaces. For my brethren and companions sake, I will now say peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good.
10. The Lord fulfil all thy petitions. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
GLORIA PATRI.
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THE ORDER OF EXERCISES.
( The Clergy now standing at the Church gate.)
1. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand in his holy place ? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
2. Thy testimonies are very sure ; holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name : and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
3. The Lord will give strength unto his people ; the Lord-will bless his people with peace. Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already, whereof we rejoice.
4. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
5. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord ! O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
6. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord : we have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord.
( On entering the gate.)
1. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go into them, and I will praise the name of the Lord ; this gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
1 2. We will wash our hands in innocency, so will we compass thine altar, O Lord ; that we may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
JUBILATE DEO.
The Rector will then deliver a short address from the Portico, after which the congregation will enter the Church singing,
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS.
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PART II.
Morning Prayer and the sermon being ended, the following hymn will be sung.
The perfect world by Adam trod, Was the first temple-build by God. His fiat laid the corner stone And heaved its pillars one by one.
He hung the starry roof on high- The broad illimitable sky : He spread its pavement green and bright And curtained it with morning light.
The mountains in their places stood The Sea-the sky-and "all was good"- And when its first pure praises rang The "morning stars together sang."
Lord ! 'tis not ours to make the sea And earth and sky a house for thee ; But in thy sight our offering stands An humbler temple "made with hands,"
In September, 1834, Miss Deborah T. Wells wrote to her family in Portland: "Our Church is flourishing. A beautiful new edifice is near-
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EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MISS D. T. WELLS.
ly completed and we expect to enter it this month. It is also, I hope, improving in its spiritual state. My prayer is that the wants of the Church at Portland may speedily be supplied." The following short ex- tracts are taken from her journal :
Sabbath, October 12, 1834. Unto Thee, O my Heavenly Father, let the grateful offerings of my heart arise as incense before Thee, upon this holy day.
Arose at quarter past six, late on account of an unusual interrup- tion the preceding evening. Experienced much of the presence of God in the devotions of the morning. Felt an almost entire resignation to His will. It seemed to me quite entire, but I know my heart tries to deceive me.
What can I do for Sabbath Schools, Resolved to carry into effect a resolution upon which I have of late been reflecting, of proposing my- self as S. S. Teacher. Think my health and. the character of my present . duties will justify and perhaps demand it. Attended Church in the . morning ; Service conducted by Mr. Delafield. Sermon read from the text, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." Prov. 16: 9. Experienced much pain this morning from the tendency of my thoughts to wander. Attributed it to permitting the eyes to wander a little upon entering Church. In the P. M. again at- tended Divine Service. . . . Sermon read by Mr. Delafield from the text "It is good for me to draw near to God." P.s. 73:28.
Sabbath, Oet. 19th.
Rose in the morning at 5. Attended to devotions, study of Script- ures &c. until Church time. .. . Our sermon from Mr. Wheat was sug- gested by the season : its subject, the transitoriness of earthly things; the text, I. Cor. 7:31: "For the fashion of this world passeth away"- Let not your souls cleave to the glittering dust of earth as though it were your chief good. .. . Attended Divine Service in the P. M. Sermon read by Mr. Nye, from the text, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation ; that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I. Tim. 1:15.
The noontime was profitably spent in recalling and reflecting on the morning sermon. Spent more time in reflection and less in the study of the Bible than usual.
Sabbath, Oct. 26. ... Attended Divine Worship in the morning . . . the sermon delivered by Mr. Wheat was from the text: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 2 Cor. 13. 14.
The sermon opened with remarks upon the fervor with which this benediction should be breathed by the clergyman, and the humble, grateful and hearty response it should meet in the hearts of the people.
The first petition was then considered. This presented itself under two prominent heads: the meaning of the term grace, and the charac- ter of Him whose grace we supplicate. The term grace as explained, comprehends all the benefits which Christ confers upon ns, among the greatest of which are those purchased by His atonement - salvation and life eternal. All the blessings which it is in His power to bestow, and to understand this latter we must understand the character of Christ. Texts were adduced to prove His equality with the Father, in which is comprehended His ability to grant whatsoever seemeth to Him good.
The love of God was then briefly considered and lastly the fellow- ship of the Holy Ghost. Scripture proof was adduced of the divinity
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EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MISS D. T. WELLS.
of this person of the Godhead and reference made to His influence in the sanctification of the heart.
And now what application shall I make of this sermon, what better shall I be for having listened to it ?
Does it not embrace everything, or rather does not this short prayer embrace everything which is in the gift of God ? Have I not sometimes dared to offer it without deeply feeling that in so doing I asked for much which I am unworthy to receive? Have I offered it, as did the Apostle, in deep sincerity, for those around me ? If I have erred in these points, may that Holy Spirit whose grace we here supplicate, guide me hence- forth into the path of duty.
The noontime was passed in prayer and reflection. The subject of the afternoon sermon was the witness of the Spirit, as distinquished from the work of the Spirit.
The words of the text were : "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God," from Romans 8:16.
The object of the sermon was to deter us from a confidence in om acceptance with God upon any other evidence than that of the Holy Spirit. The witness of the Spirit was thus explained : 'The testimony of the Spirit which dictated the word of God is, that if there be in the heart and in the life, certain holy dispositions and righteous acts, the soul is born of God. Now if my spirit bears witness that such a one ant I, then does the Spirit witness with my spirit that I am a child of God. Oh, that I may have this gracious assurance ! that I may feel, Blessed Saviour, that I am indeed none other than thine own !
The evening was spent in prayer, meditation and as much reading as my weak eyes would permit.
Sabbath, Nov. 2. Arose in the morning at half past six; too late, an hour. Resolved to compensate, if possible, for the loss of one hour by rightly improving those that remained. Enjoyed my morning devo- tions. Occupied the remaining time, until summoned to attend public worship, in reading Bishop Mellvaine's charge to the Episcopal Clergy. It displays great talent, and deep piety, may it be blessed to those for whom it was designed and to many others. For me it contains much instruction.
Sermon read in the morning by Mr. Buell. Text : "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh, a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Rev. 19:16. . . .
Sabbath, Nov. 9. . . .
A sermon by the Rev. Dr. Bedell, who being dead yet speaketh, was read by Mr. Buell. The text was from Hosea 13 Chapter, 9 verse. "( Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself : but in me is thine help.". . . Passed the noontide in reflection, prayer and writing the above. Sermon read by Mr. Buell in the P. M. from the impressive words of our Blessed Saviour, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Enjoyed the service very much. After Church passed some time in prayer and the study of the Bible. In the evening attended Mr. Bing- ham's meeting. . .
Sabbath, Nov. 16. .... Sermon by Mr. Wheat from the text, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." I. Cor. 11:31.
Saturday, Nov. 22.
A day of peculiar interest. The day upon which St. Luke's Church of Marietta, was first occupied as a place of religious worship. The weather was somewhat rainy, which proved a slight interruption to the prescribed order of taking possession. The services however, were very interesting. Oh that as fair and goodly a spiritual temple may be here built up.
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PAROCHIAL REPORT OF 1834.
Sunday, Nov. 23.
The first Sabbath in the new Church and a most interesting day. Two excellent sermons from the Rev. . Mr. Armstrong of Wheeling. Holy Baptism administered to six children and one adult. The sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper also administered.
Sunday, Nov. 30.
Rose at 53 o'clock. Attended Church all day. Sermons by Rev. Mr. Wheat. Morning text, "And when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his son." P. M. text, "Oh how amiable are thy dwell- ings &c."
Sabbath, Dee. 7. .... At nine entered upon the new duty of S. School teacher to a class of little girls; may God grant me grace to dis- charge with fidelity a trust so important and interesting.
The morning sermon by Rev. Mr. Wheat was peculiarly interesting. Its design was to prove the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Text Gal. 4:4. "But when the fulness of the time was comte, God sent forth his Son."
P. M. A solemm and impressive sermon from Isaiah 40:3. "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness &c." In the evening the first meeting of Mr. Wheat's Bible class.
Sabbath, Dec. 14.
Attended Sabbath School in the morning, Divine Service twice, and the Bible class in the evening. The sermons of the day were interest- ing and affecting. The words of the text are recorded in Matt. 11:2 -- 6. The other sermon of the day was upon the advantages to be derived from an extensive acquaintance with the evidences of Christianity.
REV. J. T. WHEAT'S REPORT TO THE BISHOP, IN SEPTEMBER, 1834.
I. His parochial charge comprehends three congregations in this Diocese and one in Virginia. He officiates at Marietta, where he re- sides, on every other Sabbath, and on every Wednesday night; at Par- kersburg, Va., on every other Sabbath; in Aurelius township, 22 miles distant, onee in two months; in Fearing, eight miles distant, once a month. In his absence, Marietta and Aurelius have the services of lay readers. The attendance on such occasions is general. In Fearing, the congregation is composed principally of Germans, in accommodation to whom the services are all conducted in their language as well as ours. The Sacraments are also administered to them in the German language.
II. St. Luke's parish, Marietta, has been engaged during the past year in the building of a church. It is 60 feet by 40 feet, of the Grecian- Doric order, finished throughout in keeping, and will cost about three thousand five hundred dollars. The pews are joint property of the parish, not to be sold to individuals. It will be ready for consecration in November. The congregation in Aurelius is about to erect a commo- dious house for the two purposes of Divine worship and a school. In Fearing, we have the use of the District School-house.
III. The accessions to the Church by baptisms, during the past . year, are four adults and ten infants. To the number of communicants, twenty-seven have been added and three removed, making the present number fifty-three. Seven persons were confirmed by the Bishop upon the occasion of his late visit. There have been no marriages and no burials within our communion. The Virginia parish is not included in this summary.
IV. There is a Sunday School in each precinct of his eare : At Ma- rietta, forty scholars ; at Aurelius, twenty-eight ; at Fearing, eleven.
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MEMBERS OF FAMILIES SHOULD SIT TOGETHER IN CHURCH. £ 79
These schools are auxiliary to the Protestant Episcopal S. S. Union, and the publications of that Society are exclusively employed in them.
V. There have been no contributions from these parishes to the missionary or other societies. The "Pauline" weekly contributions amount to about one hundred and fifty dollars a year, which for the pres- ent, are expended within our own care, as being itself missionary ground. St. Luke's, Marietta, sends her Rector to the other two par- ishes in this Diocese with a gratuitous service, and furnishes them with S. S. books and tracts, and without any aid from abroad, except a dona- tion of tracts from the "Prot. Episcopal Tract Society," here as else- where gratefully acknowledged. This handful of churchmen have sup- ported their clergyman and put up a building, at an expense to them- selves of three thousand dollars.
VI. As a general observation he testifies of his people, that they are glad to "spend and be spent." for "the Gospel in the Church," and are content, without having recourse to novelties of any kind, to abide the result of a strict and exclusive adherence to the peculiar and distinc- tive polity of an "Holy Apostolic Church." Their growth, thus far, has not been the product of a preternatural heat. In the open air, beneath the sun and showers of heaven, throughout the vicissitudes of all seasons, it is putting forth every goodly form of vigor and faithfulness, and lifting its aspiring brow towards heaven-to Gon be all the praise !
St. Luke's was assessed $3 for Convention expenses for the coming year, the highest assessment on any parish being $6. The Parish was represented in the Convention by the Rector as in the year previous.
Lecture Roon, Jan. 29, 1835.
Vestry-meeting, agreeably to notice given on last Sunday ; present, The Rector-in the chair, acting Secy. Mr. Nye, Senr. Warden. " Swearingen, Treasurer. Mr. Buell & Mr. Bredahl.
Prayer.
Mr. Delafield's letter of resignation having been read,
on motion of Mr. Nve it was
Resolved that the resignation of Mr. D. be accepted & that the Rec- tor reply, in appropriate terms. on behalf of the Vestry.
On motion of Mr. Nye, Mr. Todd was appointed Agt. for this parish in respect to the Ministerial fund.
On motion of Mr. Nve, it was resolved, that upon the Agent's pay- ing into the hands of the Treasurer the amt. due this Parish from the M. F., fifty dollars be appropriated towards the rent of the Rector's house.
On motion of Mr. Nye, the Rector was requested to act as Recorder, pro tempore.
On motion of Mr. Swearingen, I. That it is desirable & expedient that the members of families should sit together in C'h.
II. That to effect this, it is necessary that they have, with mutual understanding and previous selection, stationary seats.
III. That this advertisement be accompanied by such explanations as may secure this arrangement from misapprehension : it not being de- signed to interdict any seat or seats to occasional visitants, "stationary" having reference solely to such as attend regularly, & such as they select for themselves; while they who attend only occasionally are invited to
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PARISH MEETING, 185.
do so without apprehension of incommoding such as attend regularly. IV. That the conduct of this arrangement be entrusted to the Rec- tor & Mr. Senior Warden.
J. THOS. WHEAT, Cn. & Recorder.
Easter Monday, April 1835.
Agreeably to previous notice the male heads of families elected the following officers for the year ensuing, viz. :
Arius Nye & Billy Todd-Wardens. Daniel Greene, E. B. Swearingen, Col. Barker, D. H. Buell & J. E. Hall-other Vestrymen. E. B. Swearingen, Treasurer. B. Todd, Agent for "M. Fund." The Rector, Recorder & Arius Nye &
D. H. Buell-Delegates to Convention with instructions to the Vestry to appoint others in their places should they decline going. .
At this meeting a more complete distribution of seats was effected & the annual subscription towards the support of the Rector was opened.
Monday, June 1st, '35.
At a special meeting of the Vestry-present Arius Nye, chairman, D. H. Buell, B. Todd, D. Greene, E. B. Swearingen & J. E. Hall, vestrymen-
It was Resolved, that the second service of the Sabbath till further notice, shall begin at half past Five.
June 20th, 1835.
Present Rector, in the chair.
Arius Nye & Billy Todd, Wardens, E. B. Swearingen & D. H. Buell.
The Treasurer was instructed to pay Mr. Bredahl Twenty dollars, in compensation for his services as Sexton from 15th of November to 15th May ultimo.
B. Todd, D. H. Buell & E. B. Swearingen were appointed a Con- mittee to take up subscriptions in support of the Rector for the current year.
The Treasurer was instructed to pay the Rector's traveling expenses to & from the approaching Convention of the Ch.
J. THOS. WHEAT, Reg.
Lecture Roon, July 20th, 1835.
Present -- the Rector, in the chair. Arius Nye & B. Todd, Wardens- D. Greene, E. B. Swearingen & H. Bredahl.
It being important to have a full attendance, it was agreed to post-
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THE CHURCH CONSECRATED.
pone the disposal of the business before the Vestry to an adjourned meeting, to be held, at the Church, on Thursday next, at two o'clock.
J. THOS. WHEAT, Rr.
The adjourned meeting on Thursday was attended by A. Nye, B. - Todd, E. B. Swearingen & Capt. Greene. Not a quorum, adjourned to meet at Lecture Room on Friday at 6 P. M.
J. THOS. WHEAT, Rr.
Lecture Room, Friday, July 25th.
6 o'clock. Present-Rector, in the chair. Arius Nye, Capt. Greene, E. B. Swearingen, D. H. Buell & J. E. Hall-
7} o'clock Capt. Todd came in.
On motion of Mr. Swearingen. it was
Resolved, that the Rector and Mr. Nve be a committee to procure of individuals loans to the amount of debts due on the Ch., giving to such as may lend, notes binding the Corporation of St. Luke's Ch. to the re- funding of their respective amts., with interest, whenever the means of doing so shall have been obtained.
J. THOS. WHEAT, Rr.
Marietta Gazette, October 10, 1835.
We are requested to state that St. Luke's Church will be consecrated on next Saturday, the 17th inst., by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Mellvaine : serv- ices to begin at half past ten o'clock.
The church will be opened morning, afternoon and night, of Satur- day and Sunday.
The church was consecrated Saturday, October 17, the Eve of the Feast of St. Luke, 1835. "Doubt not that many living stones were pol- ished and placed in the mystic temple-the house not made with hands."
Dr. Wheat says: "The consecration was by Bishop MeIlvaine, and of course, according to the order of the Prayer Book ; the good Bishop's sermon was in his best style and delivered with great unetion. It made a deep impression, even upon outsiders, who spoke of it in the most eulogistic terms of their vocabulary, as "a real Gospel sermon." The collection was unusually large. The occasion was followed by a con- siderable accession to the congregation and the communion, and an in- creased respect for the Episcopal Church in the community at large."
SENTENCE OF CONSECRATION.
Whereas, the Churchwardens and Vestrymen of St. Luke's Parish, Marietta, in the diocese of Ohio, have, by an instrument this day present- ed to me, appropriated & devoted a house of Public worship, erected by them in thesaid town of Marietta, to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, according to the pro- visions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of Am- erica, in its doctrine, discipline & worship, and by a congregation in communion with said Church and in union with the convention theroof in the diocese of Ohio.
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٠ ٥ ٠٨ غير يد نأملا فى
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SENTENCE OF CONSECRATION.
And, Whereas, the same Churchwardens & Vestrymen have by the same instrument requested me to take their said house of worship under my spiritual jurisdiction as bishop of the diocese of Ohio and that of my successors in office & to consecrate it by the name of St. Luke's Church and hereby separate it from all unhallowed, worldly and com- mon uses and solenmly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned. Now, therefore, know all men by these presents, that I, CHARLES P. MCILVAINE, by divine permission bishop of the diocese of Ohio, act- ing under the protection of Almighty God, have, on this seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, taken the above mentioned house of worship under my spiri- tual jurisdiction as bishop aforesaid, and that my successors in office, and in presence of divers of the Clergy and a public congregation therein assembled and according to the form prescribed by the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the United States of America, have consecrated the same by the name of St. Luke's Church.
And I do hereby pronounce and declare that the said St. Luke's Church is consecrated accordingly and thereby separated henceforth from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and is dedicated to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; for reading and preaching his holy word; for celebrating his holy Sacraments; for offering to his glorious Majesty. the sacrifices of prayer, praise & thanksgiving; for blessing his people in his name ; and for the performance of all other holy offices agreeably to the terms of the covenant of Grace and Salvation in our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ and according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its doctrines, discipline and worship.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal & sig- nature, at Marietta, Ohio, on the day and year above men- tioned, and in the third year of my consecration.
CHAS. P. MCILVAINE,
Bishop of the Prot. Ep. Church in the Diocese of Ohio.
The Bishop says in his address to the Convention at Cincinnati, Oct. 31, 1835 :
"Oct. 17th, visited St. Luke's Church, Marietta. The duties of the visitation were commenced with the consecration of the chaste and beautiful Grecian edifice recently finished by the Episcopalians of that place. A great deal has been done there, with no aid of any conse- quence from abroad and by a small number of contributors, in the put- ting up and entire completion of one of the best designed and finished churches in the Diocese. The parishioners are now erecting a parson- age house for their Pastor. They have also a parish school where in- struction for boys and girls in all the usual branches of a good education, is furnished under the superintendance of the pastor; the religious part of the instruction being altogether of a pastoral character. On the day of the consecration of the Church, besides preaching, I hold a meeting with the communicants and candidates for confirmation in the Lecture Room; and at night there was a third service, when the Rev. Mr. Arm- strong, of Wheeling, preached. The day following being Sunday,
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