Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-27

lost in the admiration of the critic lOr the
almost perfect manner in which the various
characters were sustained. 1t was admitted on
all sides that never since the Music hall was
erected has company appeared upon its stage
all the members of which so well deserved the
hearty applause of the audience. Mr.. Mathews,
though now an old man, proved again that;
"There is no limit in time to the power which a
real comedian, in the full exercise Of his faculties,
can WELD over an audience; no statute of limi-
tations runs against the dramatic genius, and
least of all against the actor who holds as it were
in his own hand the risble muscles of his au-
dence." The audience was most fashionable
and discriminating one, and nearly filed the
theatre.
The NEW UNIvERsALIsT CHURCH.-1he
new Universalist church, on the south side of
Pleasant street, just above Chestnut, is receiv-
ing the finishing touches preparatory to its dedl-
cation on Wednesday. The plans of the church
were decided upon in September, 1869, and
ground was broken soon after. The corner
stone, purchased by the Sunday school children,
was laid on the Sth of June, 1870, with appro-
PIRATE ceremonies, and since that time the work
has been steadily going forward. The edifice
is handsome one, built in the modern G lthic
style of architecture, and designed by Tourtel-
lot & Cherrington, of this city, from whose plans
many of the large buildings in the city have
been built of late. The building material
is brick, trimmed with both Nova Scotia
and Portland freestone, which, with
the grey granite steps leading up
to the main entrance, gives pleasing effect to
the whole front of the structure. The point of
the spirc is 175 feet from the ground standing
on the northeast corner. Its height renders it
a conspicuous object on entering the city from
either directiOn-north, south, east or west;
and from the small windows, within thirty or
forty feet of the top, beautiful and extended
view of the city and surrounding country may
be had, if one cares enough for the prospect to
climb the succession of steep staircases. The
contractors for the building were NorcrOss
Bros, the builders of Crompton's block, and
the work is most thoroughly done, from cellar
to roof. The mason work was done by Burgess
and the Stating by Capt. Barnard.
The inside of the church differs materially
from any other in the city, and the audience
room particularly strikes the beholder as one Of
great beauty, both of plan and finish. The
fresco painting, which was done by Mr.. Charles
Strauss of Boston, was described by us several
weeks ago, our attention having been called at
that time to the elegance of the job. The room
is finished to the point of the truss roof, is
seventy-two feet in length, sixty-four across the
nave and aisles, and seyenty-twO across the
trausepts. In connection with the gallery, which
extends across the front only, it will seat about
thousand people. To the right and left of the
chancel are the singers and pastors rooms, IA
by Is feet. The chancel is entirely filled by the
large organ and the singers stand, while the
pulpit stands on the platform in 'front.' The
desk, by the way, is the handiwork of the
clergyman who will preach from it, which is a
fact worthy Of note. The organ will come in
for detailed description after its powers have
been tested. 1t is certainly a remarkably fine
one in appearance, with thirty-six registers, ac-
ton work of new invention, mechanical regis
tiers, a blower operated easily by a crank and
balance wheel, and many other modern fea-
lures. 1t was made by Steere & Turner of West.
field.
The room is finished in ash and black walnut,
and the seats are placed in circular form, di-
yided by very broad aisles and upholstered with
light drab. The windows are fourteen in num-
Der, including the magnificent one in the front, in
which rich and beautiful tnts are harmonious
y blended. The facilities for lighting with gas are
abundant, star jets depending in TWO rows. The
whole number Of burners in the room is eighty.
The front entrance doors open into a spacious
vestibule, from which, to the right and left,
stairs lead to the upper landing, and off from
this the audience room described above opens.
A passage ten feet wide leads from the first
landing down to the Sunday-school room, which
is fifty-four feet in length, with an average
left of this passage, aud separated from the
schoolroom by large sliding doors, are the infant
class room and ladies' parlor, which are seven
teen by twenty-siX feet. The former, which is
to be used as dining room when occasion may
require, is connected with a kitchen fitted up
with pantry and all necessary arrangements
AT the head of the large school room, or main
yestry room, is platform for the superntend-
ent, back Of which is a commOdiouS stage for
use in Sunday school exhibitions, a means by
which the scholars frequently raise money Tor
parish or charitable purposes. On the right and
left of the stage are the library and sections
rooms, fourteen by fifteen feet, from which
stairs lead to the pastors and singers rooms
above. There are five entrances to the church,
including one from the carriage porch under
the tower.
The order of exercises for the dedication on
Wednesday was published in Monday morn
ing's paper