Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-04-15
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON, April |, 1854.

--PurchaSe ofG Ste--Hgency-- Union
Of the General and .AnnuaL CoWere,a,
ces Thereon--.Award of Me Design
-ApprOuaI Of the Bish0ps-Detailed
Description cfthe Edifce-. commence-
ment QfMe Uork--Bmlding Com
mittee, &C., &c.
The new Metropolitan Methodist
Church was determined upon by the en-
terPrising members of that denomination
in this city about two years since. Sub.
sequentlY, their committee purchased a
site of ample dimensions, and most eli
gibly located on the Southwest corner of
A. and G streets, equi-distant between our
great thoroughfare, Pennsylvania avenue,
and the City Hall, and near the centre of
this great city. Soon after obtaining pos
session of this desirable lot of ground, the
valuable aid Of that energetic preacher,
the Rev. Henry Slicer, was, by the board
of managers, earnestly solicited, and, al
the Baltimore annual Conference of March
1852, the appointing power Of the church
acceded to the universal desire by assign
ing to Mr.. Slicer the sole agency of the
contemplated enterprise.
That faithful minister at once entered
upon the duties Of his mission, and adopted
the earliest practical means to propose to
the General Conference, which was soon
after held in Boston, TO the respective an
nual conferences, and to the whole Meth
odist Episcopa! population throughout the
United States, the erection of temple oI
such size, appropriateness and architectu-
raj finish as would justly represent at the
Capital of their country, that immense
body of christians.
The project met with the hearty ap-
proval of the general conference; the an
nual conferences, respectively, were vlsl-
ted, and the preachers thereof responded
in a most emphatic and gratifying manner.
DISTINGUISHED and opulent individuals OF
kindred secls voluntarily acknowledged
the propriety and eXpediency of the new
church, and contributed thereto, whilst
from every part Of the United States the
concurrent echoes of the Methodist mem
bership declare its approval of and deter
minaton TO aid in the elevation of the no.
| bic work.
Preliminaries having thus far pro-
gressed, invitations were issued to emf
nent architects, and other professional
gentlemen to furnish plans accordingly.
Several designs were received and care
fully considered; they exhibited the taste
and skillfnlness of master minds, but
whilst all elected high admiration, the
best judgment Of the committee was chal-
Ienged 10 select but one. After mature
delberatiou the choice has fallen upon the
plan of our young and meritorious design
er, Mr.. Samuel II. G. Morsell. This
gentleman, not an architect by profession,
has certainly distinguished himself there
in, and won from those most competent TO
Judge, a high need Of praise.
The plan of Mr.. MorseI was unani-
mously adopted by the committee, and
there is good reason for believing will re-
ceive decided attestaton of favor from
the bishops of the church. here hastily
describe it:
Plate No. l Furnishes full view Of
the first floor. The dimensions are rs
feet fronting on G street, and on Four and
half street lO8 feet. On the main front
&C street-there are three entrances
and one in each tower. Beside these,
there is, about the centre of the east side
of the building. another ample doorway
for ingress and egress Of the Sabbath
school room. From the vestbule-on &
street.-the Sabbath school may be en-
tered by two doors--which are designed
as separation Of the sexes, as they pass
in. This apartment is AZ feet 6 inches,
by SO feet, and i3 feet in height. The
divisions embrace four handsome rooms
for the accommodation of class meetings
another for book depository--a sixth
for Iibrary--a seventh for the preachers
study--and all private.
Plate No. 2.-Ascending two beauti-
ful geometrical stairways, the visitor
reaches the first or principal floor. The
first apartment corresponds in size with
the spacious vestibule Immediately under
it. Entering the main body of the edifee
there are presented six ranges of Pews-
36 in each--so planned as to render from
every part Of the house an unobstructed
front view of the pulpit. Side galleries,
of light and beautiful structive, will also
be introduced. The interior heightb of
this story will be thirty feet up TO the
square. On each side of the ediice there
will be FIVE windows, besides one cores
ponding in each of the towers.
Pate No. presents striking and
elegant view Of the front on G street. I'm
mediatelv on the corner of43 and Z streets
there will be steeple two hundred feet
hpoUtiGi1l carved