New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-18
FIRST Presbyterian church.

In company with MIR. Howard, the architect, we
recently took look through the interior Of the new
church on Lafayette Square, the finished exterior Of
which is by far the most beautifali the city Though
theinterior isyery finely and pretty finished ~ i's
different details, the coup dsoef rather disapponts
the spectator whose antcipatons have been bright
eued by an inspection Of the beautiful exterior.
The fault inside is the absence Of holiness though
beautiful it il devoid Of majesty The ceiling is flat
and surprisingly low for building Of though
it is somewhat redeemed by the elegant groins on
which II rests aud by thsrescoe combinations of the
groirs with which it is decorated. Mr.. Howard in
formed us that lofty arched ceiling or trels-work
could not have been constructed without building two
interior walls all which would have cost the congre
CATION some $4,000 or $4,000 more. AS it is, we
learn that the congregation extremely well salts
fed with it, and attach extra value to the acoustic
advantages Of its construction The interior is so
shaped that sound easily reaches all parts Of it with
out calling forth echoes.
The accommodations for the congregation are
roomy and superb. The floor slopes gently from the
entrance down to the pulpit and the position Of the
pews Is slightly semicrcalar. The gallery is very
capacious and will have in its center of the larg-
est and finest organs ever ordered for the South 1t
is expected from Eben, the great organ builder
Of New York. The finish Of the woodwork Of the
gallery and pews is very fineall being faced with
oak carvings, Or tracery Of the qlat'efol pattern
The pulpitis unique: it Is rather rostrum than a
pulpit being an elegantly finished stage, to have
nothing On u buta carpet sofa and slender reading
desk, SO that the minister's full length will be at al
times visible, The pulptwe learn thus constructed
at tue express desire Of the pastor, the Rev. Dr.
Palmer who likes to have plenty Of room in delivering
his dscourses. In front Of the pulpit is to be com
munion table, Of q beauty in harmony with its sur
roundings The interior will not derive the gorgeou
tinge which Gothic windows usually impart--th
glass being Of the ground = kind, and coloress.
large heating apparatus beneath the pulpit is to d
pense warmth through vents appropriately located
cold weather. Ss Ssa
At the back end Of the church, and separated el
tirely from it by the pulpit wall are two large room
one over the other, with the windows opening Q
Girod street. The lower room is to be appropriated
fitted up for the yestry, and the upper room for IL
Sabbath school, Both are admirably adapted to the
respective purposes, and have small rooms at the
ends for retiring places, libraries, etc.
The walls Of the ediHce and the main towera
very massive, but SO we'll have their foundations be
laid. and so scompactly and evenly have they be
built, that crack of hairs breadth has not sho,
itself in any part Of tile building, nor has the TOW
settled in the east-a very unusual thing in buildn
Of the size in this city 1t is piece Of work ree
ing the highest credit upon both architect a
buider-Messrs. Howard and Puryes. The church,
are informed, will be ready for service about the
Of September
a Prize FouND,-Th Delaware Reporter So
ec,....