Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-30
ssTHE TABERNACLE,
The First Cumberland Presbyterian
Chm I.Rll.

The First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.
ssThe Tabernacle" is the name suggested
for the new Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, which is now nearing completion.
According to holy writ Moses received spe-
cial command as to the erection OF the Ia
bernacle on the Mount, and hence then
which the new edifice will likely bear.
The first step taken towards the erection
of this church was in 1867, by the organi-
cation of s.Ladies' Society,"" for the pur-
pose of soliciting subscriptions to fund
which was used in the purchase of addi-
tional ground, the lot upon which the old
building stood not being sufficiently large
for an edifice of such capacity as the growth
of the congregation demanded. In the
summer of 1871, it was determined to re-
build, and to this end subscriptions were
solicited. 1t was not until September,
1872, however, that the work of rebuilding
commenced.
The last service was held in the old
church on the evening of September 8,
1872, and on the following day preparations
were made to take down the old building.
The work of demolition was commenced
Sept. 10, 1872, and the clearing away of
rubbish occupied two or three weeks. Ex-
cayations were then made for the founda-
ton walls of. ths new building, and the
stone-work commenced during the month
following. In the spring of the present
year the work of building the superstruc-
ture was commenced, and pushed forward
as rapidly as circumstances would permit.
Like many other enterprises it had to con-
tend with difficulties, which delayed its
progress 1t will be remembered that the
window frames intended for the building
were destroyed by fire the night before
they were to have been set in the wall,
which delayed the work two or three weeks.
Then followed the cholera, which had its
influence also.
STYLE OF THE BUILDING.
The general style of the building is goth
ic, although the architect did not contine
himself strictly to the gothic samples de-
signed in past age, full Of pillars and OBJ
structions, with uncomfortable seats, but
kept IN view the wants of the present age
and the comfort of both the speaker and
audience.
GENERAL DIMENSIONS.
The building occupies an area of 7SX11S
| feet; including tower and porch, the au-
dience room is 72xSS feet in the clear, with
a ceiling 40 feet high from the floor line
around the speakers platform, and 80 feet
| high at the opposite ends of the room, thus
giving an inclination of five feet to the
| floor.
The room is Semi-circle at one end and is
considered the best form for acoustic eff
| feet.
The vestibules in the towers and porch
| ,yNlin nd lorca
| doors from the street. Each vestibule has
also two entrances to the audience room,
which gives ample facility for ingress and
egress.
| The tower on the northeast corner is Is
feet square and so feet high to the top OF
the pinnacles. The tower on the southeast
corner is Is feet square and surmounted
with a spire, the top of which is 1872 feet
from the pavement. The four corners OF
this tower, at the base of the spire, are or
namented with pinnacles which are feet
high.
THE INTERIOR.
The audience room, as before stated, is
sem-circular in form at one end, and will
seat about 900 persons comfortably. The
pewS are arranged in true concentric circles,
and the aisles radiate from the speakers
platform to the vestibule. By this arrange
ment each person in the audience will face
directly towards the speaker, whose posi-
ton ON the platform is the common centre
from which the circles of the pews are de-
scribed, and each pew being three inches
higher than the one in its immediate
front, gives an unObstructed view.
The walls near the top vault towards the
ceiling, along the surface Of which are
heavy projecting ribs intersecting each 9th
er, and dividing the ceiling into panels.
The ends of these ribs are to be apparently
supported by ornamental columns, resting
on brackets which are placed at regular in.
tervals along the wall. There will be also
an ornamental betting course extending
around the entire audience room. This
betting course also forms the base of the
windows and the circular wall. The cell
ing will be blue and the side walls a tint
that will harmonic with the white Orna
mental plaster work. The ornamental
work of the columns and brackets will be
white and gold. The pews, speakers plat
form, choir gallery, aud wainscoting are Il
be of walnut.
HOW LIGHTED.
The audience room is to be lighted by
| an S4-inch reflector in the centre Of the
ceiling and a small reflector over the choil
gallery and speakers platform.
HOW VENTILATED.
The building will be ventilated by means
of fire draught, for which purpose a large
cylindrical shaft has been constructed al
the southwest corner of the building.
WHO EXECUTED THE WORK.
Foundation walls, by Calaghan & Walsh
cut stone stone work, by Swami & Brown
brick work, by Geo. W. Harrison, under
the supervision of w. j. Taylor; carpenter
work, by Hughes & Morrison; galvanized
iron work, tin work and Stating, by Phil
lips, Buttorff IL Co.; plaStering, by the
Tanksley Brothers; painting, by Beasley &
Ruth; gas-fitting, by Park.
THE ARCHITECT.
This building which is one Of the chic
ornaments of the city, was planned and de
signed by our well known architect, VIM
C. Smith, and to whose skill and good taste
the congregation are indebted for the hand
soonest church edifice in the city, and prob
ably in the State.
THE BUILDING COMMITTEE
is composed Of John VI. Cant, L. II. La
nier, jr., and j L. Rhea, all young men
and whose zeal and untiring work in the
enterprise is deserving of the highest praise
The money panic throughout the coun
try has had its effect upon this enterprise
but it is hoped that the friends of the churcl
will come to the relief of the building
committee, and enable them to 90 forward
and complete it. With the proper effort
the new church can be finished and ready
for Occupancy in January. So mote il be