"And it came
to pass.” The long-looked-for event has taken place. Alma Temple (Pillar
of Fire Church, Denver, Colorado) is finished and ready for service.
Sunday, October 31, 1937, will
go down as one of the greatest days in the history of the church. In one
sense it is the greatest event in all the career of the organization.
The construction
has been a long, wearisome ordeal, beset by many trying circumstances,
but courage, faith, and persistence have brought the tremendous undertaking
to glorious fruition. “The end crowns the work.”
We can imagine
with what joy and expectancy the children of Israel assembled at Jerusalem
for the dedication of the house of God in Solomon’s time. How our hearts
welled up with praise and gratitude on this eagerly-awaited occasion! Truly
our souls at times on this day were too full for utterance. We longed that
all our members, friends, readers, radio listeners, and those who have
contributed much or little to this cause, could have been present to witness
the memorable scene.
It was a beautiful, warm morning,
the kind of day for which Colorado is noted, as we assembled for the 11
o’clock service, the first in the upper (main) auditorium of
Alma Temple. Weary with the anxiety
attending the finishing work especially of the past few weeks, the Founder,
Bishop Alma White [then 75 years of age], hardly
felt able to be present; but God
again gave her needed strength and she preached an inspiring, enlightening
sermon from Matthew 16:13-19 on “The Church on the Rock.”
Long before
time for the dedicatory service announced for 2:30, the people began to
assemble. The auditorium and large gallery were soon filled, making it
necessary to bring in seats from the lower auditorium to place in the aisles
and elsewhere. All available space was taken, and yet the people came,
occupying even the vestibule, grateful for standing room. And it was a
representative congregation, estimated in number from 1,800 to 2,000. Automobiles
were parked for blocks in the Temple area. Services at the Pillar of Fire
churches at various points in the state were called off, that the ministers
and missionaries might attend; and members of the respective congregations
came also. Truly this was the crowning event of a half-century of continuous
activity in religious work in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region..
Fifty years
ago Bishop White began missionary and evangelistic labors in the state
which became world-wide in extend and effectiveness. Such an inspiring
sight! Again, we repeat, our hearts were too full of praise and gratitude
to God for utterance! True Christianity is still a vital, moving force
in the world. Praise His name!
What more appropriate
hymn could have been used than “How Firm a Foundation” to open the ceremonies
which were broadcast over KPOF, our Denver station? Verily the foundation
of the grand edifice trembled as the splendid
organ pealed forth the notes of
the soul-stirring song. And the congregation sang most feelingly. Prayer
was offered by the Rev. Ray B. White, who with his brother, Bishop Arthur
K. White, were masters of ceremonies. Came next the Christians’ war hymn,
“Onward, Christian Soldiers,’ which was followed by an inspiring selection
by the Temple band.
The Honorable Benjamin F. Stapleton, Mayor of the city, then gave a short address, speaking in part as follows:
Mayor
Stapleton’s Remarks
Top of page
“It is
indeed a pleasure for me to be present with you this
afternoon. I think that it would be a fine thing if we hadabout forty thousand
other citizens of Denver present so that
they could see what Bishop White and this congregation
are doing for this community. This Temple
is architecturally and
financially fine enough to be a compliment to any
church organization; but
this congregation and
this audience is a far greater tribute to Bishop
Alma White and the Pillar of Fire than is the Temple.
“We hear
a great deal of talk these days about war, about
economics, and about finances [at the height of the Great
Depression], and apparently have tried most
everything except religion; and
I have been wondering the last
four or five years more than ever, if it would not be agood
plan to try mixing more religion in the finances andeconomics of this country
than they have been doing.
Insome of the
other countries where they are now in turmoil, they
have been trying for some years to eliminate religion from
family life, from public life, from finances—in fact, eliminate
it altogether; and the thing that surprises me most in
connection with these discussions for the last few yearsis to find occasionally
some man who says he represents some
church and he pays a visit to Russia, for instance, thencomes back to this
country and talks to us about seeing something
in Russia that we should adopt or copy; I can’t understand
it. It seems to me that the difference between this
country and some other countries is to be judged (if judged
correctly) by the difference between the attitude toward
religion in this country and in those other countries.
I am sure that
none of us wants to go to Russia to live; none of
us wants to go to Germany to live, or to Italy.
“We may
have had during the last seven or eight years what
we call hard times. I think we will all agree that they were
hard times, and for many, many people very difficult times,
but I believe I would rather be on relief in Denver than
have anything they might offer in Moscow.
“As a
citizen and Mayor of this city, I want to express my
appreciation of the wonderful work that Bishop White and
this congregation have done and are doing. There is nothing
that will help this country solve our problems like a
real consecration to God and to His service, through ournation’s faith.
I thank you.”
--Denver
Mayor Benjamin Stapleton
Led by
the Temple chorus, the congregation sang the hymn,
“We
Dedicate This Temple, Lord,” the words of which
were written especially for the occasion by the Rev. Grant
Colfax Tuller, of New Jersey. The Junior
Bishop, Dr. Arthur K. White, representing the eastern
portion of the United States, and the Rev. Ray B. White,
representing the western portion, presented the Temple
to Bishop Alma White who dedicated it to God for His
service and offered the dedicatory prayer.
The Founder
used as the basis of her sermon part of I Chronicles
21, the account of King David’s numbering Israel
and God’s sore displeasure and punishment inflicted on
the land for his so doing. [Here Rev. Ingler gives a briefsummary of Bishop
Alma White’s sermon.] The account of how
Westminster College, now Belleview,
and the ten lots on College
Hill, upon which to build Alma Temple and a
parish house were secured, held
the rapt attention of her hearers
and showed how God had worked miracle after miracle
in her behalf because of her reliance entirely upon Him.
It was evident that a majority of the congregation never
had heard such a rehearsal of marvelous faith experiences.
As Bishop White
concluded her message the ushers came
forward bearing beautiful floral tributes. Among them was
one from Station WAWZ in New Jersey; one from the students
of Belleview College, and another from her Swedish
friends and listeners over KPOF, as well as others from
local business firms. Dr. Arthur K. White, who has supervised
the completion of the Temple during the past three
years, was also remembered with flowers and a contribution.
Telegrams of congratulation to Bishop Alma White
were received from New York City, Florida, Los Angeles,
from Governor Hoffman of New Jersey, and the owner
of Station KFKA in Colorado. It is needless to state that
the Bishop was quite overcome by such a profusion of remembrances,
showing a sincere appreciation of her years
of faithfulness in self-sacrificing
devotion to the cause of Christ
and humanity. But it was fitting and proper, for she is
worthy.
To add to the
joy of the moment, Ray B. White announced
that the examiner for the Federal Communications
Commission, in Washington, had recommended
that KPOF be given an increase in power, which
would give the station 1,000 watts for day and night time
service.
"The power of God working in the
heart of one woman, [Alma White], is a marvelous manifestation of
spiritual power of God working through human instrumentality. "
–Judge Harry C. Riddle
Top
of page Mayor
Stapleton's Remarks
Judge
Riddle's Concluding Remarks
The
Denver Post Report
In paying tribute to the various
business firms in Denver and
other parts of the country that had made generous contributions
of supplies and materials for the construction of
the Temple, also to the Pillar of Fire workers who have borne
the burden of the work, Arthur K. White said that it would
take an all-day meeting of that kind to tell of all the wonders
God had performed in behalf of the Temple.
Judge Harry
C. Riddle was called on to speak in conclusion
of the dedicatory ceremonies.