Excerpt from The Perfect House; A Sermon: Preached Upon the Occasion of the Opening of the Memorial Church, Baltimore, MD Lord to Solomon, accepting the dedication of the Temple; and So the house of the Lord was per fected. Not' perfected when the wealth of Jerusa lem and the art of Tyre had lavished their treasures upon the building, not perfected when its garniture of precious metals and sparkling jewels and costly woods and embroidered hangings were complete, not perfected even when the tabernacle furniture was brought into it and the solemn dedication was made to Him for Whose honor it was reared and embellished. But it was perfected after that the prayers of the people had gone up and the favor of God been revealed in benignant responses. For this purpose was the Temple built, and not until this its true spiritual character and office had been de clared, was the house of the Lord perfected. He who hath filled the caverns of the earth with riches and clothed the ground with verdure and planted the pathless forests and who is Lord of the cattle upon a thousand hills, hath little need of glittering gold or precious stones or bloody sacrifice to enhance his glory. He who dwelleth in pavilions of light, canopied with splendors, adored in unceasing chorus by a myriad host, who traileth the garments of his glory along the endless corridors of the Skies, and whose mighty fiat creates or crushes, sends delight or despair to the reaches of the universe, -the great God of heaven and eternity hath little need of earth's choicest materials or man's cunningest handicraft to shew forth his honor or pay tribute to his dignity. But he will get glory to himself by the love and adoration of his intelligent creatures. What has been made in his spiritual image he hath ordained should render him spiritual homage. The shewing forth of this devout allegiance is an augmentation of God's glory. Therefore it was that the house of the Lord was only perfected after it was filled with the breath of prayer for incense and the pervading Shekinah for a testimony of the Divine favor and blessing. Upon this idea of a perfect house we are gathered here to-day to declare and celebrate the perfecting of this house of the Lord. It matters not that a portion of the edifice is yet incomplete. It matters not that the formal service of consecration is yet to be solemnized. The doors are thrown widely Open to the eager feet of worshippers. The voice of holy humble prayer has filled the whole house. Pure worship has been offered to him in whose honor these walls are erected. We have felt the divine presence since we have stood here in divine audience. In so far then as regards the spiritual character and Office Of this place of devotion, the house of the Lord is perfected. It matters not that this simple structure compared with the gorgeous Temple of Solomon is but as the cottage to the Capitol. Both the one and the other bear the marks of man's imperfection, in their material construction as in their appointed uses. If they alike answer the ends for which they were designed in contributing to the Creator's glory and the soul's welfare, it may be as truly said of this church as of the Jewish Temple, the house of the Lord is perfected. Widely dif. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com