West-Jersey pioneer., 1867-06-21
CENTRAL M. E. CHURCH.

On InufSQay OF next week, June 18th, the
new and beautiful chapel Of this society situ-
ated on Bank street near Commerce, is to be
dedicated to the worship of Almighty God,
according to the ceremonies of the denomina-
ton. Rev. DR.. Mattison, of Jersey City,
whose previous visits to us have received so
largely the popular applause, is to officiate at
the service of the morning, and Rev. DR..
Bartine, of Trenton, one OF the most popular
orators in the denomination, in the evening.
What services, if any, are to occupy the after
onon are not yet settled, but will be an
able speaeeerrssh VIII m the ts1
afternoon and evening, and Saturday morning
and afternoon. The entire arrangements
are made under the supervision of Rev. Mr..
Morris, their popular pastor and his oficiary,
and will no doubt be SO planned as to ensure
the fullest success in what they propose to do
at that time.
The chapel is thirty eight feet front by sew
enty in depth, giving an audience room of
thirty y-fve and a half feet by sixty-seven ard a
half. This room is finished in elegant Gothic
style, with windows of enamelled glass, which
gives to the whole appearance, both outside
and in the room, picturesque gracefulness
not easily described. This room is on the
second floor and accommodates, comfortably,
about four hundred persons.
The lower floor is divided into prayer and
class rooms with accommodations for the Sab
bath School, and will meet the wants of the
society in this regard most admirably. Its cost,
including the entire lot, is about $40, 900,
which, taking all the circumstances into the
account, is not more than might reasonably
be expected for an edifjce of the kind they
have constructed.
1t was originally intended to erect the entire
structure of stone, but the Trustees subse-
quently changed the plan, and it has been built
of the very best material of brick that it has
been possible to procure. The sty lie and taste
of modern days have been consulted in its
erection, and while its pitched roof and Gothic
windows are somewhat different from the most
ofthe churches in the District, yet their beauty
and grace is such that they will no doubt aid
editices, for if there is any place where beauty
and taste should lend their attractiveness, it is
in the temples of the Lord.
This spirited society was organized only a
little more than two years ago, almost entirely
from the Commerce street church. Some
where about one hundred and thirty members
left that society and united in the effort to form
third Methodist Episcopal Church in this
city. Rev. Henry Baker, of Pennington SEM
mary, was the first preacher appointed to them
which he had presided. 1t was intended to
occupy the chapel of the parent church, on
Bank St., until they should find themselves
ready to build house, but their congregations
became at once SO large as to make this i'm
possible, and Grosscup's Hall was leased for
period of years, so as to allow them ample
time in which to select their site and erect
their house. During the first year their con-
gregations were such as to warrant them in
proceeding further, and after various examin-
atoms site was selected on the old Stratton
property, corner of Bank and Commerce
streets, directly opposite our bank. At the
beginning of the last conference year Rev.
Mr.. Given was appointed to the charge, and
under his energetic pastorate, the beautiful
chapel which now graces the property was COM
menced, and carried forward as rapidly as the
difficulties in the work would allow. 1t was
found impossible to complete it by the winter
and it was thus of necessity laid over until this
spring, when, in connexion with the pastorate
of Rev. Mr.. Morris, the work was recon-
menced and is to be fully completed by the
day we have indicated as the one for dedica-
tion. Both the Trustees and society deserve
the fullest credit from our community as well
as from their own denomination, for their sue
cessful efforts to add another beautiful edifice
to those which already ornament our city, and
we trust that their appreciation will be shown
upon the day of dedication, in material assist
ance to the Trustees who have assumed large
pecuniary obligations in carrying out their
idea ofa Methodist Episcopal Church, which
should at once illustrate the advance of the
denomination and the progress of our city.
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