The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-08
THE NEW pREsBYrEnIAn CHURCH.
Dedication last sAebath.
A Description Of the Balld,ss.

last. AhC COmpACSlOh Vi 81 AAC .
together with the services OF the occasion,
demand of us more than passing notice.
A little band OF faithful, earnest Presby-
terisns were first called together here we
think, In 1868, by Rev. Mr.. Gordon, now Of
Eldorado. They fitted up q room in Jones'
building, over Bowman 4 Co.'s store. In
July, 1860, there were IL members. In No
: vember, OF the same year, the number had
been increased to about 30 and the church
was fully organized and Incorporated. Rev.
X. n. OVerstreet was the pastor. The church
grew naprospered, and the halIoyer Tandy's
drug store was rented and fitted up very
comfortably for its use. In September, 1870,
the membership had increased to 90. and Rev.
Albert McCalla, the present pastor, took
charge Of the church.
About the first OF November, 1870, the sub
ject Of q new church building began to be
agitated. The proposition TO build met with
favor. 1t soon took shape. by the appoint
ment Of Building Committee, and a com.
Inittee on Finance. In their efforts this latter
committees were greatly encouraged by the
liberality Of our citizens, and by offers OF aid
from abroad. Work was immediately COM
menced in earnest. Three lots were donated,
one by Mrs. Hornsby and one by Mrs. Carpen-
ter, both OF Lawrence, and one by the city.
They are valued at 81 900. A plan was drawn
! by John W.. Roberts, one OF the leading archi-
tects Of Chicago, and adopted by the building
committee. The location is on the corner Of
Eighth avenue and Commercial street.
On the LIST OF April last work was commen-
ced on the building. 1t has been pressed for
ward with energy, stopping only for bad
weather. The contractors were as follows:
Excavation and foundation, o. Douglass;
brick work, Henry Grub; carpenter work,
Anderson & Park; cut stone work, Daniel
Davis; plasteriDg, Frank Mccain; painting
and vanishing, W. c. Fithian. The manner
In which all these gentlemen did their work,
IL entirely creditable to them, as will be seen
by an examination Of the building. We
| anywhere In the State.
The building is OF prick, Ssx65 feet; the
side walls are Is feet high, above the floor,
and the building IL covered with steep goth
ic roof. The outside walls are supported by
brick buttrssses which run to the height OF
the window tops, and these have white cut
| stone trimmings. The finish around the win
dows consists of cut stills, set in gothic style,
gothic heads, with n tour-lnch splay OF brick
on the sides, and double arch over the heads
| They are filled with figured stained glass,
| from the house OF Misch q Bro, OF Chicago.
| The glass were started out Iom Chicago just
in time 10 escape the great fire, the establish
ment having been entirely destroyed. The
south end OF the building, fronting on Eighth
avenue, contains two small windows and one
11x23, in the main room, and small tri-form
window In the gable peak. These are also
1 filled with stained glass. The main entrance
is at the southwest corner OF the building on
the side, where a tower is to be built hereaf-
ter. The building Is so located upon the
/ Ilka Nn "a Honf ofra nm ~ aRf
side, and a door is provided for exit en- that
side also. Underneath is furnace room,
which will contain heating apparatus a.
soon as convenient. The whole building pre-
sents, from the outside, neat, proportionate
and beautiful appearance.
Inside the building, the ceiling is formed by
. double construction Of the roof, showing,
below the ceiling line, the principals, and
parlln plates, which are all neatly cased,
moulded and chamfsred, the principals being
supported on the sides by heavy brackets,
| which are neatly moulded and paneled. The
effect Of the finish on the ceiling is to repre-
sent it as in panels. In the rear Of the pull
pit rostrum is a large moulded and stucco
gothic arch, supported on pillars, with neatly
turned capitals and bases. The walls are
wainscoted to the hight Of four feet,
| and have a handsome moulded plaster cornice
in the angle formed by the ceiling and side
walls. The pulpit and pews are Of ash, trim
med with black walnut, very handsome and
elaborate in style and finish. These are from
the establishment OF George Il. Grant & Co,
Of Richmond, Indiana. The pews are all
nicely cushioned. In the arrangement Of the
pews two broad aisles are left, dividing seats
| into double body slip with side slips. The
side slips stand at an angle OF about 80 deg,
with the walls, thus bringing every sitting IN
| direct line Of vision with the pulpit The
| floors are entirely covered with neat ingram
| carpet, Of green and oak colors. The colors
| Of the carpet, pews, wainscoting and ceiling
finish all hArmonizs and blend beautifully,
| while the stained glass OF the windows difuse
a mellow light over all, rendering the effect
ON the eye most pleasing and cheerful. In
| this respect our Presbyterian friends have as
pleasant u church as we ever sat in. The
room is furnished with pure air by ventila-
tor at the base on the left hand side OF the pull
pit platform, 2Ox26 inches, opening into the
large stack provided in the rear of the church
for ventilation, and is perfect in this respect.
/ The acoustic properties of the building are
| all that could be desired, it being just easy
| TO hear q speaker in the rear end as in the
| front.
The entire cost of the building, exclusive OF
1 lots, so far as completed, is about 1900, Of
| which there remained unpaid, at the dedica-
tion, about g. O0 In aid Of the enterprise the
| church received from abroad the following
amounts: From c. w. Potwin, Zanesville,
Ohio, $500; from the first Presbyterian church
of Chicago, Illinois, OF which Mr.. McCalla
was formerly member, 500; from members
Of the first Presby terrain church Of Ports
mouth, Ohio, Of which there are eight former
members now members Of the Emporia
church, about 81 900; and about $3.50 paid to-
Mrs. Col. Robinson, by lady friends Of other
churches.
The committees Who had the work in charge
are as follows: Building Committees. b.
Riggs, L. n. Robinson, c. Beckss, j. II. Cars
well, George Smith, and j. NJ. Steele. Finance
committee-R. r. McCandliss, c. z. Kelsey, T.
+. Davenport, ii. W. McCune and d. c. Nc
Murtrie.
The sittings OF the church are all free, as the
} voluntary plan OF raising funds for pastors
salary and current expenses has been adop-
ted.
The dedIcatory services took place on Sab
bath last, the 81 inst, Rev. DIR. McCabe, Of
Topeka, preaching the sermon. Most Of the
pastors OF the city dispensed with the regular
morning services in order to give their respec-
tive congregations opportunity to attend.
, Notwithstanding the weather was very un-
favorable, every seat in the new church was
. occupied. In the pulpit, besides DR.. McCabe
. and the pastor, were Rev. A. N. Ayerill, Of
the Baptist church, Rev. q. T. Melvin, Of the
First Congregational, and Rev. Bernard KEEL
Hey, Of the n. E. church.
Il The services were opened by an appropriate
) | anthem by the choir. Rev. McCalla lead .
! passage Of scripture and invoked the Divine
/ blessing. Rev. Mr., Averill read the lott
! hymn. After this was sung he read further
appropriate extracts from the scriptures.
Rev. DIR. McCabc made an impressive and
: eloquent prayer. Rev. Mr.. Melvin gave out
!. the 1923 hymn. Dr. McCabe preaehed from
o John 1s-xxxvi-"My Kingdom Is not OF
: this world" His sermon was full Of force
{ and eloquence. He dwelt largely upon the
subject of Brotherly love. Thought all de-
nominations should be united in the work Of
: converting sinners, and all should rejoice to
Q see each other prosper. The sermon was ap-
$ propriate to the occasion, and was listened to
d with deep interest. We have not room for