Dedication at Chatham, Ontario
By E. K. Slade
It was my privilege to attend the dedicatory services of a neat church building at Chatham, Ontario, June 15-17. A tent effort was conducted in that city a few years ago, resulting in the formation of a small nucleus to which others have been added until there is quite a good company there now. The members of the Chatham church are all of limited means, the most of them being sisters. To raise the money and erect their church building has been a hard struggle from the start, but their efforts were blessed in a marvelous way, so that it was possible to dedicate their chapel practically free from debt. It will be remembered that Chatham is the place where Brethren Howe and Simpson were made to serve a term in jail for violation of the Dominion Sunday law while engaged in the work there a few years ago. It is a place of much prejudice and marvelous loyalty to Sunday. The establishment of a church with a house of worship in this city greatly encourages the brethren of the Ontario Conference. Elder A. O. Burrill, president of the Ontario Conference, was present at the dedication. He gives a very encouraging report of the state of the work in Ontario. Especially is their industrial school in a prosperous condition, financially and otherwise. We were much pleased to meet with Elder Isaac Sandborn, who took an active part in the meetings, and spoke several times with much power, giving the definite message with a true ring although he is a man past eighty-four years old. It was a source of great encouragement to hear this veteran laborer in the cause give the distinctive lines of the message with such clearness and power. The dedicatory sermon was based upon the words, “The Lord reigneth.”