The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-15
ARCH STREET M. e. CHURCH.


Street Methodist Episcopal Church, on Sunday
morning, Rev. DR.. Payne, the pastor, announced
that me new @ eSnTe Teasv or she GnaPe
Thursday atnoon OF the present week In the
and interesting character Keeping with the cir
cumstance that the congregation were then assem-
bed for the last time in the buildng.which they had
DR.. Payne, after the customary opening exercises,
stated that no sermon would be preached, bat that
the time would be occupied by addresses prnci-
pally byI prominent lay members OF the congrega-
loD. Before introducing any Of the other speakers
however, he dwelt ct SOME length upon the past MIS-
tory and present prosperity OF the church orgahiza
tion. Eight years ago last spring NUMBER Of
earnest Christian young men abandoned their old
and pleasant church connections to lay the founda-
tion OF the new society They came
out the city, rented the hall in
the building on the northeast corner of Broad and
Arch streets, Immediately opposite the church
building and by their earnestness, activity, and
mony soon gathered about themselves hOunshRg
congregation. DIR. Payne questioned whether any
other church. either in the city Of Philadelphia or
out OF it, had made as much progress in tue same
length OF time. We have now, he SAID church
property unsurpassed in this city or bysny Metho-
dist Episcopal church in the whole country; there
than three -fourths OF the cost OF the new edlice
having been already lqudated, while the remain
ing Indebtedness could easily be met. This new
church, he continued has not been built to be In the
slightest degree OF an exclusive character; it has
been built Tor no special favored class OF people, we
the rich among us, and we propose to make provi-
sion for any and for all
who had been connected with the enterprise almost
from the start, and who recalled happily maay re-
miniscences concerning the founders OF the church.
He was followed by Colonel Wright who dwet with
much earnestness upon the soclabilty and activity
which had heretofore characterized the church, and
warned its members against the two great dangers
unsocability and inacivity-which threatened
them now that the great task OF erecting their mag
nifcent place of worship was approaching an end
DR.. Payne then introduced John M. Maris, ESQ.,,
and in doing stated that for the completion OF the
new church edifce they were indebted to him more
than to any other living man; he had given days,
and weeks, and years unweariedy to the arduous
task, had watched anxiously over every step taken
in the enterprise, and was entitled to just praise for
his great zeal and activity Mr. Maris then ad-
dressed the congregation at considerable length,
dwelling especially upon the apprehensions which
had been entertained and overcome during the pro-
gress OF the enterprise and stating, with respect to
the ast-the fear that the new church building, now
that 1t is complete is too small-that there was no
cause for this apprehension, as it is the largest
Methodist Episcopal church in the city. Mr.. Maris,
in conclusion, announced that the sale OF the pews
in the new building would commence on Wednes-
day, November 23. Only one-hslf OF the pews would
be sold and these would be scattered all over the
building: the remainder would be reserved for
rental and the finances of the church were in such
state that the rentals could be placed sufficiently
low as to allow even the humblest member OF the
congregation to secure a comfortable sitting.
After other addresses the exercises of the even
Who enloSzed the high Spiritual t character of the
people Of the church. and the harmony aud activity
which S had always chaTacterzed ara @ their abors ,
next On that occasion Bishop Simpson will preach,
will conduct the services every succeeding
ing until Thanksgiving Day: The programme of
| these services will be published in full on the day
| previous to the first service.
The buildingto be dedicated is one of the finest
| church in the country. 1t is a specimen of pure
Gothic and in that respect is surpassed by but 1ew
AS far as can be ascertained it is with one eXcep
tion, the only pure Gothic church in white marble
IL the world. The great cathedral at Milan is the
| The architect is Mr. Addison Hutton, aud his
elaborate designs have been strictly carried out in
every particular. The outside length OF the whole
| structure Including the chapel, which now forms a
transept TO the main building s 1873 feet Broad
is of stone to the top is % feet square, aud with the
spire is 233 feet In height 1t is surmounted with an
The great mass OF stone in the tower is estimated to
weigh $500 TONS but so good is the work ana firm the
Ioandatons @ that not a single crack or nav can be
for it, was necessary to to the depth OF 20 feet
where the nrst stones were laid on natural bed OF
The stOne-work throughout has been erectsd with
| the utmost care. The building committee are
greatly satisfied with and highly commend the con-
| tractors In that department. Messrs. Copeland and
Browning who 1t is said, have done more than they
| promised The walls of the tower are strengthened
with great solid masses of stone and in the walls OF
the main building long iron bands inches wide by
a Of an inch IN thickness are built both floor
| and ceiling, which strengthen the whole and tie the
| walls nrmly together In the tower similar bands
| built into the stone-work. in addition to the
large stays, and IN the splre lighter ones are
| fixed at intervals OF four feet.
In the interior the main auditorium is so feet in
length by Go in width. The seating capacity Is Tic
| on the ground floor, and including the galleries,
which are on three sides, reaches about 900. This
| out regard to the room which can be filled with
| extra seats In case OF necessity.
The ceiling is in the form OF Gothic arch, and is
feet to the top and 80 feet to the spring This is
| elegantly frescoed the fresco work OF the entire
| church being done by the firm OF Walter Boley.
| The carpenter work is also OF great excellence
1t Is nearly all OF carved and oiled walnut, and IL
finished in every part with as much care as piece
OF walnut furniture. The carpenters were Messr5
Kemp and Garrison, and these gentlemen, have also
the greatest cemmendation from the building COM
| mittee.
The front window is the largest stone window in
the city. 1t is l6 by 81 feet, and is filled with stained
| glass, made after the designs OF Goget OF Paris
| The design of the side windows was made in Metz
| and 1t was originally intended to order the entire
| glass from that town. Had that been done they
| would probably never have arrived, on account Of
| the European war.
There is also beautiful circular stained-glass
| window over the pulpit made by BroWnhotz
| Acklin Co., OF this city. Ii contains three de-
| signs, a cross and crown, an eagle feeding her
| young, and monogram OF the Greek letters Alpha
The moor OF the vestibute is laid in tiles. The
| church Is heated by four Reynolds furnaces, and
| ment. Under every other pew there is SMALL
register, from which the impure air is sucked into a
special nue, in which an artificial draft is created
| by means OF heat from the furnaces. In summer,
in addition 20 this, there are openings in the cein
| which can be opened at wl and which are equtya-
lent to thirty square feet OF surface. This venti
| lates both above and below, and the apparatus Is
| probably the best for the purpose in existence.
In every pew hat and book racks are or will be
provided The pulpit is OF pure white Lisbon staau-
airy marble with settings OF Aberdeen granite. on
either side OF the pulpit stained glass windows
with inscriptions. In the north gallery large organ
OF 1lty-two stops and three finger boards Is being
erected, which is 80 arranged as not to hide the
large window behind II. The gas fixtures from
Cornelius Sons and are very neat and beautiful.
The entTe sost OF the building Is 500 600 Ihls is
OF the ground which cost S35 900 additional OF this