The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-17
SERVICES LAST NIGHT.

The dedicatory services were concluded
last night bya very able and eloquent SER
mon from the Rev. G. II. Hall, OF Baiti-
more. The church was again densely
throngcd, and the deepest interest in the
services was manifested.
DESCRIPTION OF TRINITY CHURCH.
Tb;sed;fice was commenced in the spring
of 1850, The first meeting of the building
committee was held on the 29th Of Decem-
her 1880. and the cornerstone was laid
carly in the following year. The work was
Immediately put under contract, and
pushed forward with vIgor until the spring
sa6 1861, when the iecture-room, being
completed, was formally dedicated to the
service of God. The work on the main
audience room was continued until Sep
tember. 1861, when it was suspended in
conseunence of the war, although the
mastering and frcscoing were done, and
everything was in readiness for putting in
the pulpit and pews, and adding the finish
ing touches. The frescoing was done by
Roeth, and is perhaps the most beautiful
specimen of that art ever completed in
Richmond. After the lapse Of four or five
wears. during most Of which time the
church has been closed, it is now as bright
and fresh as when first applied. Thus the
building stood until the beginning OF
the present year, when it was deter
mined to make an effort for its compile
tion: and accordingly the faithful and ener-
cetic pastor, Rev. DR.. J. f. Edwards,
commenced the difficult and laborious task
of raising the necessary funds, IN winch
he so far succeeded as to enable the build.
ing committee to put under contract all
the work except the steeple, which re-
mains to be completed at some future,
and we hope not far distant day. These
contracts have all been completed in
most faithful manner except the stuccoing
of the front, which will probably be
finished in a week or two.
Having thus hastily skctched the history
of the church from its commencement to
completion, we. will now give brief de-
scription of the building. 1t is in the
Florentinc Italian style, though the ex-
amples of this style, for several reasons,
are not rigidly followed; and is of the fol-
lowing dimensions The body of the
building fifty-fve feet front by eighty
feet deep, with an alcove at rear four
feet, and tower at front fourteen feet
projection, making the entire depth from
front to rear ninety-cight feet. The
basement, which is entirely above
ground, is twelve feet pitch in the clear, the
main audience-room is twenty-nine feet
six inches pitch in the door. Galleries
containing two ranges Of seats extend
along the sides and across the front Of
the audience room, and are supported by
ornamental brackets. The lecturc-room,
which has been in use for about five years,
is handsomely frescoed and furnished, and
is, we believe, the most elegant one In
the southern States. The main audience
room is arranged with centre and two
side aisles, with ranges of pews on each
side. 1t is lighted by three groups of
lights located in the ceiling, one group
having twenty-one and the other fifteen
lights each, each group being furnished
with a magnificent futcd glass reflector.
The symbolic expressions intended to he
conveyed in the details of the arrange
mcnts have not, from necessity, been fully
carried out, though the great leading idea
has been. This remark applies to some cX-
tent to the entire building.
The gas jets in the ceiling, of which we
have spoken above, shed a soft and mellow
light over the entire audience-ro room, so
that one can read with the most perfect
facility in any part. The effect of the
light is beautiful, and the scene from the
centre door is like that Of magnificent
picture.
In the construction Of the pulpit the
architect has carried ont a peculiar but
most appropriate idea. 1t is small, and oc-
tagonal in shape, resembling somewhat the
baptismal founts of the medieval churches,
and contrasts strongly with the bar-room
counters and boxes so long adhered to by
church architects, and which have reflect
cd but little credit upon their taste. This
pulpit has an elegant and handsomely
decorated desk, while the settees, rich
with crimson velvet, give to the whole an
appearance Of splendor that has seldom
if ever been surpassed in any southern
church. The floor is covered with an
English ingram carpet, in the selection of
which the committee have displayed ex-
cellcnt judgment.
The steeple, when completed, will be
about two hundred feet high above the
street, and for graceful beauty will COM
pete with any other in the State. In the
tower upon which the stccplc is to stand
there is a spacious organ loft, in which it
is contemplated to place, at no distant
day, a magnificent organ. At present the
excellent choir have iine-toned Mason
s. Hamblin organ as an instrumental ac-
compartment.
Through nearly seven long years the
biYfldipg committee of the church have
toiled on under circumstances peculiarly
difficult and trying, until at last their
efforts have been crowned with success.
The work of the architect, Mr.. Albert
l.. West, has not been altogether so easy
as might be imagined, owing to its long
suspension. Commencing it in December,
1859, he continued it until September,
1861, when it was interrupted by the war,
and he, receiving the appointment of archi-
tcct of Confederate Government works at
Augusta, Ca, left the city. Returning in
1865, he resumed his task, and has prose-
cuted it up to this time, with what success
the magnificent building we have been de-
scribing will show. 1t is, in fact, ono OF
the finest church edifces in the South, and
in all its designs, appointments, and finish,
reflects the highest credit upon tho erchi;
tect, the contractors, and builders. !
PRESENTATION OF A CANE.-A very in.
teresting ceremony transpircd on Saturday
afternoon at the Gallego Mills. At half
past 4 O'Clock the workmen assembled in
one of the rooms of that immense struc.
ture, and summoned to their presence Mr..
Joseph Hall, the superintendent and archi-
tect of the mills. Mr.. Robert Priddy then
came forward, and holding in his hand a
ba,ut;f,I cold headed cane addressed Mr.