The Portland daily press., 1869-01-15

FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY LEvEE.-The ladies
connected with the First Baptist Society gave
a social levee and supper at the vestrs room of
their lew church on Congress street last eve
nng. As some particulars in regard to this
church may not prove uninterestIng to our
readers we give slight description of the So
ciety and building. After the great fire which
burnt out ninety families connected with the
rlsh, the society met togetf er, thirty nine
families IN number. They held their services
on Locust street and elsewhere. until they now
number one hundred and sixty families and
have erected and almost completed this fine
stone structure.
The church is 10 feei in length by CT feet in
width. 1t is built 10 the Norman Gothic style
of architecture, with two large towers on each
end OF the front OF the edlfice. The vestry
vestibule is IL feet wide (entering door on the
left side of the church) by % in length. On
the right of the vestbule is nice cook room
supplied with cook stove, ink and all kitchen
cOnveniences, while door leads from it into
we'll room containing we'll of nice pure wa
ter. At the end of the vestibule, on your lett,
Is the vestry used for Sunday school meetings,
amply lighted and we'll waamed 62 ieet wide
aud 68 feet long. Directly in front OF the YES
thule is room for evening meetings, % feet
wide and 40 long, also well lighted, and nicely
carpeted. Opposite the door entering the ves-
try from the vestibule is wide staircase lead
ing to the church proper or audience room.-
At the rear of the vestry, on the same floor
and at one end, is the library room, IL feet
square, and supplied with large and we'll Sc
81 1t IooI -. ~ H.
end is an entry, II feet square, with door
opening on the side street, and containing
staircase that leads directly up to The pastors
room.
The audience room of the church presents
beautiful appearance. 1t is plainly finished
without tre>coiug. and the peculiar style of ar
chitecture is singularly adapted to this simple
dress. There are five pillars on either side,
flushed at the top in stucco, and forming
arches with each other, which have an extreme
ly pretty and graceful effect There ara two
side gall ries, and proscenlum gallery. The
organ is to be placed on the right of the chan
cal, fac NJ the audience, aud will be concealed
fiom them, the or2an!st sitting with his side
towards the congreg alton. Ia this way an ex-
pensive case is avoided, and the money can he
spent on the instrument The main body OF
the church is 70 fet long, s. VIDE, aud A. feet
high. 1t is lighted by til ee circular chande-
Tiers aud by brackets placed round the sides OF
the room. The registers are placed in each
aisle about half way the length of the church,
with two others on either side Of the pulpit.
The arrangements for ventilation are of the
best. There is room in each Of the front
towers for committee meetings, and one on the
left Of the cbancel facing the audience for the
minister's retiring room. The choir will stand
back of the pulpit facing the audience. The
stucco work was done by Sheridan s. Griff,hs,
and the carpenter work by Whitney and
Means. al.-E.
The church and vestry were filled last eve
ming with very large company, who seemed
| to be enjoying themselves highly and who did
Justice to the excellent supper provided, and
fully appreciated the singing and dialogues
which took Mace according to propramma