The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Sheet 165

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 163:
into the chureh. The act of dedication was
performed by the pastor of the church. After

Rev. J. A. Moldstad.

Rev. E. A. Westcott, of Selma, Ala., has been
appointed to succeed Pastor George A. Schmidt as
superintendent of the Alabama field.

Prof. William Gehrke has been called as super-
intendent of the Eastern field.

Dedication of St. Philip’s, Philadelphia.

September 28, 1930, is a day that will never be
forgotten by the members of St. Philip’s Church in
Philadelphia, for on that day we were permitted to
dedicate our beautiful new house of worship to the
service of the Triune God. About 2.30 in the after-
noon the crowds started to come. ‘The time of
dedication had been set for 3 o’clock. At the
set time all gathered at the door of the chapel.
The keys of the church were handed to the
pastor, who unlocked the door. After appropriate
words by the pastor the doors were opened by the
president of the congregation. While our bell,
the gift of a man and his wife, was making the
joyful news known in the neighborhood, the new
Wick’s pipe-organ took up the strains and sent
its sweet melodies into the sacred halls of the
church. During the singing of the hymn “Open
Now Thy Gates of Beauty” the congregation,
preceded by the pastors present, slowly marched

2 ——————

the singing of another hymn, the reading of
a Seripture-lesson, and the confession of the Nicene
Creed in union the Rev. Prof. G. A. Romoser, D. D.,
president of Concordia Institute, Bronxville, N. Y.,
delivered a very powerful sermon, basing his remarks ;
on the Gospel-lesson for the day. Needless to say,
the seating capacity of our new church was taxed
to the utmost; over 330 attended this service.

Another dedicatory service was held*in the eve-
ning at § o’clock. At this service the Rey. Theo.
Martens, of Dover, Del., preached to another large
audience.

The third and final dedicatory service was held
on Wednesday, October 1, at 8 o’clock in the evening.
At this service the Rey. H. E. Polzin, of Colden, N. Y.,
preached. ‘This service was followed by a social eve-
ning in the basement of our church. At this service
and social it was also our privilege to have Mr. Henry
W. Horst, of Rock Island, Il, as our guest.

Our chapel was designed by Mr. Theo. Stein-
meyer, of St. Louis. The style is that of the Old

Snglish parish church. It is of stone and brick con-
struction, with a tile roof. The main entrance is in
the center of the building. Just inside this main
entrance is a spacious narthex. To the right of the
narthex is the Mothers’ Room. To the left is a stair-
way leading to the basement, which can also be
reached from a door just to the left of the main
entrance. A little beyond the basement steps are the
steps leading to the balcony. The balcony contains
a new direct-electric pipe-organ, which was pur-
chased by the congregation. About 50 people can
be accommodated in the balcony. Five steps above
the narthex we enter into the church proper. With -
its open truss ceiling, lead-glass windows, deep
chancel, and appropriate appointments, it really is

St. Philip’s, Philadelphia, Pa.