Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church Given Over To God

Long befare half-pitst 10 o'clocklast Sunday niorninig, the liour when the keys oí the new Evangelical LUt Iteran Ziom church were formaíly hand-_ ed over to the pastor, Ilev. Max Hein, íor tJic íirst opening of the bandeóme edifice, Washington street at the intereection wlth Fifth avenue, was filiad wlth a crowil oí over a thousand people. Fot half a block on elther sido oí Fifth avenue, the anxious propte stood, wlth unibrellas defending tliem frora the drizzling rain, or trying to protect themselvcs under the bare limbs oí so-me írlendly but incompetent shade tree, and watchlng imtently for the doors of the new church lo swing open as tlieir pastor perforaned Mie glad act of turiiiug the key that was to give to his parishioners a beautiful and commodious new religieus home. At last the Lnfiplrlng sirains of the good (lerman song, "Wie Schoen leucht' uns der Morgenstern," trom Otto's orciiestra, broke the monotony lor the impnüent erowd and so n the ïinndn'ds di people were crowding into the church. Wheo the congregation was seated as nearly as they could be - for when every availnble seet was occupded, the last of the crowd was standing on the out■ide fitepe - the chorus choir of aljno-st ahundred roioes, trainee especially foi-t'he dedieation occasion Bang in tomes just a little more gladsome than usual, th appropriate old hynm ■Wie lieblich is Zion (How lovely is ion. Tlien followed a hymn of praise by the cougregation, and Eev. Max Heie Btepped forward and formally dedicated the church to the service of Almighty God. Following tlie dedicatory prayer was a hymn by the whole congregation, and then Prof. E. Scliinid, of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, preached the dedicatory sermón. Prof. Sohmid is a soai of Itev. Frederick Sclimid, well known to Ann Arbor peopte as the first German preacher in the territory of Michigan. Mr. Schmid took for his text the passage in Joel 3 :21. "For the Lord dweileth in Zion." Following is a brief synopsis of his sermón : "The name of this congregation is 'Zion,' and by the act of dedieation this new church has been set aside for the service of the Triune God. The Lord dwelleth here, through His means of grace : Word and sacraments. The place is holy ground. This is the reason of our rejoicing upon this festive day. "Other places for public assemblages are also dedicated, but our churches alone become through the ceremony of dedieation, sanctuaries ; a house of the Lord. "Such dedications are an old custom in the Christian church. The oldest account of such a dedieation refers to the church of the Holv Sepulcher, at Jerusalem, built under Constantino the Great, 326; then the dedieation of the church of St. Sophia, In Constautinople, 537. It is a beautiful custom, now universal in the Christian church, and the dedieation to-day proves anew its beauty and blessings. "The dedieation greeting to-day is: 'God is with you!' Bat it must have the response: 'We will remain witli the Lord !' A dedieation of heart and life to God is nitor all the main thing to make the ceremony of a church dedication what it is iutended to be- a true and permanent Messing to a congregation and community. May this be the case to-day for this congregatioa and place." Introductory to the sermón, the speaker referred to the fact, that he could rejoice with the congregation with much feeling, siuce Ann Arbor is his native place, having been born here in 1835. He coutrasted then and now. How, from sniall beginnings, great things have followed in the church and town and city. "May greater things still follow. May this beautiful temple of God remain for generations to come, a monument of honor and glory to God and the people who have erected it- a true Zion, a holy place I" I oUowlng this sermón, the pastor, Itev. iMax Hein, made a brief congrí i ulatory address to iiis parishoners, and ia chorus by the viedting Ypsilanti dioir, and Luther's grand old hymn, 'Eim .feste Burg is "Unseir Gott," forbress Streng is our God), closed the exercises of the forenoon. The aftemoon and evening services were eai-ried out as amnouneed in Samrda.v's Comrter. At each service the church was crowded to its greatest capacity. In the aftenioon Rev. Prof. M. Ixiy, B. D., of Capital UniTersity, jn-eaciied a.n English sermón. ■Many American citizens wero present and rpoke many words of admiration for the new church. At 7:30 Ithero were two principal addresses, by Rev. C. Ctessler, of Bridgewater, and Iiev. G. F. H. Meiser oí Detroit, TliO YpsiUmtl parish choir was present in all the services and rendered Tsome well prepared ïnusic. Iu fact the Binging throughout the day was au in.spir.ition and showed the lelfect of diligent and faithflul rehearsing. ThO dedicatio:n was a sn-and event in the hlstory oï Zion ehurch, -and for a large mensure of its success the parish is unanirnous in thanking its pastor, Jlr. Hein, wbo bas been indefatigable in his labors for the church, throughout his peatorate and especinlly since the beginning ol the erectiou of the present ediflce. Siiiiuthinir About the Chnrch. Tlirough the kitadness of Mr. Hein, tlio Couricr was enabled to look through the new church yesterday moiming, jast the dedicatory exercteee. The decoratioos provided for yesterday were beautiful, and gave Hhe church a festival appearance, 'the credit for vhich must be giTOn to the ladiés oí the parish. Thé pulpit was a mass of blossoming potted plante. There is, however, a naturalt astefutoeSB and beauty in the arrangement and finish of the building. ïlie frescoing was done by Carr, Attk-s & Co., of Detroit. The work is not of a bold, flasihy nature, but the tints are all oi a Ugbt character amj neatly done. 'I lic turmiishlngs are all in oak, The ])ulpit fuvniturc is á model of its kind. It was pnid for enttrely by the Sunday School in penny colleetions. The seatS are nlmost ton e;isy fOT a church. Tlicy niay tax Pastor Heln'e treeources to keep his congreLi.-iiirm awake. The Beating capaeity of Wie church is about 1,000. The body öeats will aoooinmodate at least 800 (and the gallery seate ni.-ike room for the extra 200. Every available inch of space is utilized. Entering the clrarch from the big center doors, ane fiinds himself in a commodïous vestibule from either side of whlci lends a fiaely built oaken st.iirca.se to the gallery. In yesterday'8 services the big chorus choir of 75 vodces occupied tlie gallery, a.n organ ha-in.g been placed there for the occasion. Descending into the body of the church, one finds himkcIE dn one of the most convenient audiemce o-ooms in Ann Arbor. Tlie aiisles ere nicely carpeted, but tinder itlie seats the flo'Or is bare from choree, the vestry chosing to have a hard oak floor rather than to put up wit.h t he incoaiveniences of carpets under the pens. In the northwest corner of tjne room stands the old organ th&t was in the old church. From !the right of the pulpit leads a 'door unto a small ante-room. Here, on 'the wall haiugs a natural picture of the old church, being in a frame made oi mouldiins" taken out of the old building. It is highly prized by the pastor and hi people. Fróm the ante-room one descends into the basement. Here, in one piart, will be held the parish day school, white in another wiH be tlie Sunday school. The furnace and coal rooms are in itlie rear. Tlie edifice complete hos cost about $25,000, all but $3,000 of which has already been paid. Zion church certainly lias a convienient, comfortable amd beautiful home.