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97 

Sunday, 4 October 1925 

Most of the morning was spent in writing of various kinds, but in the afternoon came the great show of the season for the Y. S. C. S. - our dedication. The new buildings are well enough finished so that they can be used, but many details still remain. However, Monday is the day for starting school and start we will. By working day and night and getting the things that show most in some sort of good order Sam Dean has succeeded in making both building and grounds presentable. And with the curtain up in the auditorium and many flowers on the terrace and in the halls, and with Chinese writings and rubbings up in the corridors and on the stairs all is in good shape for our welcome. 

The Union Church combined their regular Sunday service with our dedication, and at five-thirty we had a full house, with more than 400 people present. I went down early to see that the library was in good condition to receive guests, and quite a few people did come early to inspect the plant before the service. I was pressed into service to see that the ushering and collection were properly cared for, and in the latter capacity I got three former principals of the school, Mr. Edwards, Dr. Wilder, and Mr. Strong, to help me. 

The service opened with a prelude by Bliss Wiant. The first part of the program was the turning over of the keys by the chairman of the Building Committee, Dr. Hopkins, to the President of the Board, Dr. Fenn; Dr. Fenn's appreciation of the school and all associated with it in the past and his turning over of the keys to Wm.B.; [[Pettus' ?]] few words of dedication; and Bishop Grose's prayer. Lucius Porter read scripture, the Reverend Mr. Keyte prayed, Dr. Knox sang, and Dr. Rawlinson preached. The sermon was really excellent, and well calculated to put the newcomers on the track on a right attitude towards China. More and more the leading friends of China are coming out saying that the problem now is not to Christianize the heathen Chinese, but for the foreign Christians to act in a Christian manner in China. 

It was late before the service was over, and as we rode home, me feeling quite pleased about the general success of the affair, and still thinking