The Soul of a Building

The beautiful new Unitarian church, on Seventh street, near Pike, has just been completed and was dedicated yesterday morning. The ladies had appropriately trimmed the church and pulpit with flowers and palms. A chorus choir, with the assistance of Mrs. L. V. Nicken, rendered very excellent music. Rev. Thomas L. Eliot of Portland preached the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Eliot said: The first occupation of a house is an impressive event. That which was a mere inanimate assemblage of timber and iron, in a moment becomes a living home. Not long ago, the stones and the foundations of this building were part of an ancient drift; they lay where the retreating ice left them thousands of years ago. These timbers were once rooted trees—trees that perhaps sprang up before the Declaration of Independence or the landing of the Pilgrims. Behold them brought together—the hewn stone, the tree, the plank, driven into a building. But for what end have rock and iron and forest given up their ancient abodes? They have surrendered their own identity. They are to take on new functions. The building is shelter, a projection to something of greater dignity and prophetic outlook than the mountain or forest give. When that day comes, the house ceases to be a shell and begins to share the life of man; it becomes an integral part of human history.