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Raising the
Tabernacle
by
David Ridley
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April 1953
THREE WAYS TO HELP...
By Furnishing a Rafter
Special rafters built "according to plan" for our new tabernacle cost about
$1,200 each.
Estimated Construction Cost this Summer:
$75, 000
August 1953
BUILDING... is still hampered by frequent heavy rains, and by non-arrival
of the trusses for the Tabernacle roof. With the arrival of the pillars, the
walls are going up steadily. If the roof cannot be put on, we shall have to
wear hats during the services in the winter!
September 1953
BUILDING... no need for hats after all. The new tabernacle is now fully
roofed over. We praise God that the 11 arches were raised and set in place
without accident. Each unit, when fully assembled, weighs three tons. Now the
men are busy completing the work, seeking to have the tabernacle usable by the
time school starts, but from now on crews will be depleted with men taking
holidays in rotation...
PRAIRIE-GRAMS
The first Sunday services were held in our new tabernacle on October 11. On
the 25th we held a preliminary dedication service, in the course of which Mr.
Sanford Hanson, as head of the building department, gave this report:
With mixed feelings we saw the old tabernacle collapse to the ground this
spring, in a helpless and hopeless pile of old lumber and rubble- thus
signifying its days of usefulness had forever come to an end. It illustrated in
a new way to us that we too must some day put off this old tabernacle, as Peter
mentioned in his epistle.
Many and precious had been the sights its crude rafters and unfinished walls
had witnessed, sights which the angels rejoiced to see. We could but turn from
the dismal scene with a lump in our throat for the passing of this old soul
trap.
On the other hand, we faced the future with expectation of a bigger and
better building. No longer were we to be plagued with the need of playing
peekaboo around defiant posts, or craning weary necks in hope of catching a
glimpse of the preacher- not to mention the bliss of forever forgetting stuffy
balconies and drafty windows. All these deficiencies, our blueprints declared,
would be forever done away with. Hence with hope and vision we began the
tremendous task of building that which we are now enjoying and dedicating to
God's glory today.
Almost from the beginning we were beset by most inclement weather. Our
insurmountable task (faced by a mere handful of men) became more hopeless, it
seemed, as the weeks went by, until we felt like Paul in II Corinthians 4:8: "We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair"- though I am not so sure about the despair part! The job was so big,
the crew so small, the weather so terrible, and time so limited. God, however,
was with us through it all; and by means of winch truck and tractor, wading
boots, a dugout to drain off the water, and willing hands, we were able to pour
the foundation and erect the walls in readiness for the rafters, which in God's
mercy arrived almost at the hour they were needed. From that time on everything
seemed in our favour and we went forward at full speed. Hence, by God's grace,
we were able to complete it to its present day condition. However, there is
still much to be done as you can readily see.
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