C. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

M. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall coine in.

C. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

M. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.

C. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.

Let us pray.

Then shall the Minister say:

O ETERNAL GOD, mighty in power, and of majesty incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands, to Thee alone be praise and adoration, from all the hosts of heaven and all who dwell upon the earth. With joy and gratitude we are now assembled in this house, built to the honor of Thy great name. Send down upon us, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, that we may lift up holy hands to Thee, and worship Thee with pure hearts. O God, who art from everlasting to everlasting, hear us for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here the Scripture Lesson, 1 Kings VIII, shall be read.

Amen.

After this the Eighty-fourth Psalm shall be chanted, or said, as follows:

M. How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

C. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God

M. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

C. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee.

M. Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee, in whose heart are the ways of them.

C. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

M. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

C. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.

M. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed.

C. For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

M. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

C. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.

Then the Minister shall say:

DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD: God, our heavenly Father, in all ages of the Church, has approved the acts of devout and holy men, who, moved either by His express command, or by the secret inspiration of His Spirit, have erected sanctuaries for His worship, and separated them from common use, that they might be sacred places, wholly consecrated to Himself. Animated by the pious example of those that have gone before us, sustained by the grace of God, and directed by His Spirit, we have built this house to the honor of His great name; and we are now together before God, that we may, by a solemn act of worship, devote it to its intended use.

Blessed be the Lord our God, who hath with His hand fulfilled the desires of our hearts, enabling us to build this house, where His name may be recorded, and His praise be made honorable, from generation to generation. Amen.

Here, the Congregation rising, the Minister shall say:

LET us now unite in confessing our holy catholic faith.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Minister shall then say:

The Congregation who are here assembled, having erected this house for the worship of God, we now set it apart from all common and secular use, and, under the name of do

,

hereby consecrate it to the worship of the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let us pray.

O LORD OUR GOD, there is no God beside Thee. Thou alone art worthy to receive adoration and praise; for Thou art holy, and all nations shall come to wor ship before Thee, when they learn the joy of Thy salvation. We praise Thee, most merciful Father, for the foundation of Thy Church on earth for Thy sacred oracles; for the ministry of Thy word; and for Thy holy sacraments. We give Thee thanks, that, by Thy providence, this house has been erected for

the worship of Thy name. Accept, we beseech Thee, the work of our hands. Let this house be the house of God. Here let Thy presence dwell and Thy glory be revealed. When Thy holy word is read and preached in this place, and the holy sacraments are administered, send down upon the congregation the dews of Thy heavenly grace. When Thy people bring to Thee their thanksgiving for the gifts of Thy providence, accept their offering and bless them, that their joy may be full. And when, in seasons of calamity and distress, they humble themselves before Thee, and implore Thy mercy, hear Thou in heaven, and pity them; forgive their sins wherein they may have transgressed against Thee, and deliver them; or else comfort and support them under their trials, and sanctify unto them their affliction, that it may bring forth in them the fruits of salvation and peace.

Hear us, we beseech Thee, O God of all grace, Father of all light, and Fountain of all good. Let our prayer come up before Thee, and be acceptable, through the merit of Jesus Christ; and do unto us according to Thy great mercy and love. And unto Thee, the King eternal, immortal, and invisible; who alone art mighty, wise, and good; who dwellest in light which no man can approach unto and live; unto Thee be all glory, through Jesus Christ, in heaven and on earth, forever and ever. Amen.

Then shall the Gloria in Excelsis be chanted or said.

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee,