Dedicatory Services of the Church for Colored People in Chicago by William Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1911

Dedicatory Services of the Church for Colored People in Chicago

By William Covert

THESE services were held May 4-7. Elder A. J. Haysmer was with us all the time, and Brother Brown came up from Springfield, Ill., and rendered very acceptable service in his preaching and in other ways. Elder W. D. Forde delivered the dedicatory address on Sunday, May 7. We had provided 220 chairs for seating purposes, and almost every one was occupied, more than two hundred persons being present at the time of the dedicatory services.

It has been my privilege to provide a good many meeting-houses for our people during my long experience in the Lord's work, but I have never seen a people who seemed to enjoy getting into a new house more than these brethren and sisters enjoy their church home in Chicago. The entire cost of the lot and building, with equipments complete, amounts to five thousand dollars. This does not include the valuable services of Elder J. Tabor, who superintended the work all the time.

On Sabbath, May 6, three persons were baptized by Elder Forde in the baptistery in the church. The church-membership is now thirty-four, and a number of additions are expected soon. An immense field is opened up for these people in Chicago, and we are sure that what has been done for them is in the order of the Lord. There is yet to be raised about seventeen hundred dollars to complete the payments on this new church, and we shall be glad to receive any offerings for this purpose until it is all paid for. WM. COVERT.