National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-29
FOUNDRY NJ. X. CHURCH.
Its Renovation and Rcpair-Returu Of tn
CONGREGATION to u.

"
It's Renovation and Repair-Reiuru OF the
Congregation TO Il.
Last Sabbath the Foundry NJ. Z. conyrc-
cation rc.cntcrcd the lccturc-room OF Its
church, corner Of Fourteenth and |
G streets, after an absence Of four months, |
which timc has been devoted to rcnoyatlng |
and rcmodcling the cdiNcc. At present the |
only has been completed. The
work upon II has been 40 general as to make
Il an entirely new room with no trace OF Its
former self left.
Among the changes We observed that the
church parlors, bible and infant class-rooms,
which were formerly located ut the north Of
the building and In rear OF the pulpit, have
been fitted up In elegant aud homc-like style,
at the south Of the edincc upon the right and
left Of the entrance.
These rooms have been provided with sets
OF sliding doors, by which they arc thrown
open so as to constitute an extension aud
part Of the main locturc-room, aitording their
occupants nn opportunity Of seeing and
learning the proceedings conducted from the
pulpit.
In addition TO this modcrnizcd arrangement
of these rooms the ceiling has been made of
a uniform height throughout by the removal
Of the immense wooden glrders which sup
port the floor of the audience room above.
OF tuCsc u ntW SGT VI hhNS btth tub-
stitutcd, Get up under tue ceiling. The large
octagonal iron columns which disfgurcd the
room have been replaced by few neat small
iron columns Of tasteful design.
The four mammoth furnaces have likewise
been removed, which cut off the view TO and
from the pulpit. For these others have been
substituted and placed In the cellar. These
arc provided with cold. air draughts, by which
thorough system of ventilation Is introduced
| TO the entire building.
A massive ultar-rail OF solid walnut has
been placed in front Of the white marble
pulpit, and is especially attractive from Its
exquisite workmanship. The upholstery Of
the altar, also the carpet OF the lecture and
adjoining rooms, Is green.
These rooms have all been newly frcseoed
In a chaste manner, indicative Of elegance
of taste rather than for gaudincss. The
groundwork Is delicate light lavender, skirt
ing which Is bordering OF beautiful design.
The walls are ornamented by Scripture quo
tations In German text and the richest colors.
Among these we noted the following: THE
House OF the Lord" ~ have hallowcd this
house." Blessed arc they that dwell In thy
house, they will be still praising thee, and
| In the infant class, Jesus said, suffer little
children to come unto inc, and forbid them
not, for OF such Is the Kingdom OF God"
"Fced My Lambs"
THE ISFAST CLASSROOM
Is the especial DTllC VI buNiu n WALNUT,
affectionately called Father" Gardner, from
sixty years constant service in this church
The seats In this room are arranged In
| amphitheatrc style, one above the other and
are built expressly for little children.
A Sabbath school and Congregational
library. embracing several thousand volumes
| of the latest and most choice religious read
ing, Is connected with the school In O COM
municating room, especially provided for i.
| II Is under the management OF Edward +.
| Simpson, esq, the courteous aud Intelligent
librarian, than whom no church can boast
one more efficient.
The lecture and adjoining rooms have been
| fitted up with an especial adaptation to Sab
bath-school convenience, and are, Indeed. the
most modern in all their arrangements. The
woodwork Is finished In imitation OF oak,
trimmed with walnut mouldings, fastened
with ornamental silver lacks.
During the protractcd absence OF the con
grcgation 1t has been presided with church
| Accommodations at Wizards hall, through
the Christian courtesy OF Mr.. J. y. Cake, the
popular proprietor OF Wizards hotel, whose
| action In this matter merits, as II has re-
ceived, the highest degree OF appreciation.
The work upon the church has been per-
formed In crcditablc manner by Mr.. j. W.
Gore, under the general supervision aud d.
rcction of Adolph Cluss and Solomon j..
Eaguc, esq.
The fresco work was designed and exc
cutcd by Gibson Brothers, OF Philadelphia.
Artists arc at present employed In making
extensive Improvements In the main audience
room Of the church, including much modern
and costly decorative work, which VIII make
| IL one OF the most elegant and attractive
places Of public worship In the city.
On the occasion of tho rc-cntiy OF the
| church last Sabbath the esteemed pastor, Rev.
Ii. A. Cleveland, under whose appreciative
and cultivated caste the church renovation
was originated and by whom the work has
been anxiously aud vigorously superintendent,
addressed a large audience from I'd Corinth.
ians yiil6: "ic arc the temple OF the living
God"
| In the Old Testament, the phrase temple
of God" names that stately edlhcc built by
King Solomon. In the New Testament the
phrase Is used by our Lord IN reference 70
himself, ale spakc Of the temple OF his body.
| In the epistles, especially the Pauline, fall
bic and mortal men arc declared to be "the
temple of the living God" These three
meanings of the word 'tcmple" mark three
stages In the history Of Divine revelation and
of the religious consciousness.
God made man for the knowledge and fel'
lowshp of himself. We shard In the process
the contamination Of which is Gods dwelling
In us, and our having the spirit OF heavenly
adoption. 1t was the purpose of the Infinite al
| the beginning that humanity should be his
temple. In executing this purpose the form
less and illlmltable lnhaDtant OF eternity
first provided tabernacle and then temple
IN Zion. lie who had no location and no
name served our weakness and needs by
giving himself name and symbolizlng his
presence between the outstretched wings OF
The golden cherubim. For a thousand years
/ this witness of Gods existence and unity pro-
claimed him sitting above the water floods,
yearning over the souls OF men, In love and
patience awaiting their development aud
| recognition, their faith and affection.
In the incarnation the tent OF the eternal
spirit was made like ours and Of the same
material. Christ was not only the link con
meeting the human and the divine, but the
declaration that God and man were actually
related. In Him humanity sits to-day OF
| the throne of tho universe. Godhood ant
manhood arc forever united. Through al
our darkness human face Is seen, ant
through all the thunder OF events humal
voice Is heard. The Goldman rs eternal II
| the heayens," ''the same forever"
You remember that II was not only aitc
| Christ's return whence he came that IN
glory OF tho Spirits presence filled all thu
/ waiting place OF his disciples and the brow
/ of the apostles were inferred with lame
| Then the Lord entered Into the new ana Nv
ing temple OF our humanity-for he had de
| sired lt-and has now become forever the 10
dweller. Now before all temples the spirl
OF God loves the upright heart and pure Now
God is not here or there but within us. Now
the acceptable worship OF Him Is not In this
form nor In that, In this place nor IN that,