Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-07-05
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

on Sunday last, at ; o'clockp. NJ. The
invocation was made by Rev. Dr. Free
man, of the Baptist church. The
Scripture lesson, consisting Of King
Solomons PRAYER at the dedication of
the temple, was read in a mastery
manner, by Rev. W. McPheters, of the
Methodist church. The words of ded-
ication were pronounced with great
solemnity and prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. Lindsey, of Portland. There
after that gentleman proceeded to de-
liver an appropriate and eloquent SER
mon, for an outline of which we have
not space. After singing by the choir,
whose excellent music added not lit
tie to the enjoyment of the audience,
Rev. G. F. Whitworth gave q short
history of the church and Rev. j. r.
Thompson financial statement of the
collections and expenses in connection
with the present enterprise, from which
it appeared that the whole sum expend-
ed, including an old debt of 5000,
amounted to about $4,000, of which
one-half had been already contributed.
A collection was then taken up which
reached the respectable sum of 1919,
subsequently increased by $50 from
liberal friend of the good cause. Ev-
erything passed off smoothly. There
was no force-pump operations connected
with the collection, such as too often
disgusts tight-fsted sinners upon such
occasions and every body departed
seemingly we'll pleased with what they
had seen and heared and done. We
clip the following paragraph, descrip-
tive of the improvements in, around
and upon the church, from the columns
of the Courier:
"The First Presbyterian Church of
this city is now the finest and most
valuable church building in Washing.
ton Territory. In exterior appearance
it is an ornament to our town, and we
have heard the statement made that it
is the most marked improvement that
has been made for several years. The
architecture is gothic. The proportions
of the tower and spire lover 80 feet
high) to the main body of the building
are almost perfect, and the painting has
been executed in Crins' best style. The
grounds around the church have been
graded at considerable expense, and a
small neat Parsonage erected. But it
is inside that the chief improvements
are found. The first thing which
strikes the eye is beautifully frescoed
elliptic ceiling with splendid stucco
center piece upon soft grey ground.
A heavy cornice runs all around the
ceiling and two others spring from the
ends and sides, meeting in the circular
cornice surrounding the center piece.
At each of the functions rosette sets
off the work and breaks the monotony
with beautiful effect. A rope cast in
stucco runs around the panels, and be-
tween this and the mouldings the
groundwork is colored the same soft
grey which forms the groundwork of the
center. Vhe ceiling is the work of our
fellow townsmen, Mr.. George Pethrick,
who has shown his interest in the church
in which he worships, by donating
portion of this evidence of his skill and
taste. A recess about seven feet wide
running back four feet forms portion
of the platform. This is surrounded
by a circular arch and faced with a
heavy stucco moulding and cornice,
resting on upright columns of white
marble. At the opposite end of the
church is another recess surrounded by
an elliptic arch corresponding with the
ceiling of the main building. The
wainscotting has been grained dark oak
and the seats will be finished in SIM
liar manner. Mr.. Crins declares that
his black walnut mouldings and grained
panelling upon the seats, when finished
and all vanished over, will outshine
the stucco work overhead and the pure
white hard finished walls of his friend
Pethrick. Underneath all is beauti-
full three-ply ingram carpet, valued at
$3.50, furnished by the ladies of the
Church and congregation. The old
building has completely disappeared
covered with rustic finish outside and
and with plaster inside, besides having
q new vestry at one end and tower,
which has cost about $500 on the other.
The seating capacity of the house has
been largely increased. Two hundred
persons cdn now be accommodated with
the greatest ease, and on IN emergency
there can be added one hundred more.
The whole building has been firmly
underpinned with brick, and large
excavation has been made underneath
with the design of putting in q hot air
furnace. The Presbyterian congrega-
ton are justly we'll pleased with their
truly beautiful little church, and Olym-
pia may well be proud of possessing
the handsomest and most costly church
edifce in all Washington Territory.