The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-23
The Nsw Rapti.t Church

This new church ediice on the corner N
Orleans and Buffalo streets was, on Sun.
day, formally opened to public worsbip nv
appropriate dedicatory services conducted
by Rev DIR. Evorts, of Chicago. assisted
by Rev. ketcham a former and Rev
Mabie the present pastor of the society
Inc building is substantial brick 45xS5
feet, with large, airy lecture rooms below.
connected with which are two other rooms
Tor sociables and pastors study, and above
an exceedingly pleasant and ell-furpisbed
audience room, well lighted from stained
windows and three refectors in the ceiling
which is twenty-eight feet high. The walls
are beautifully frescoed, and the entire
fioor and pulpit platform neatly carpeted
The seats are Of ash with black walnut
trimmings, painted in oil, and make very
comfortable sittings for about 600 persons
In addition to the pews proper there is a
line OF seats extending along either side of
the outer aisles, which, when not in use.
are folded into the wall, and form a part
OF the neat wainScotting. In the rear of
the pulpit platform is recess for the use
OF the choir, and beneath the desk and
platform baptistry which is discovered
and made ready for use by sliding the plat
form floor under that of the recess Just de,
sfrlbed. In the present incompleted state
OF the tower it must be confessed that the
exterior appearance Of the building is not
as attractive as we could hope to see it. I
yet we think we risk nothing in saying
there is not, in the city, a more convenient
and comfortable church edifice.
The building was commenced in the /
spring or summer of 1870, upon a beau
tiful lot purchased from Hon. Bailey Day
EXPORT which he sold cheap and made
liberal subscription besides, and has been
brought to its present state of completion
by the earnest untiring and faithful efforts
ot the membership Of the society whose
place Of worship it is to be, without anv
assistance from other religious societies or
he General public. As their pastor said
yesterday, they have lifted and tugged at
he burden until, at times, they could
almost see stars. There now remains, as
We understand Of the Indebtedness con
racted in the erection Of the building. af
er the subscription Of $1,000 Yesterday
morning, about $1,000 which the society
expect to call on our public spirited citi-
ems to assist them in raising. The build
ng has already cost $4,000, something
yer ; $4,000 Of which has been raised by ;
he society before the services of yesterday. (
nd, adding the $4,000 then subscribed. +
here has been subscribed and paid To-
Yards the work the sum Of $4,000. The ,
property, in its present state of
ompletlon, Is estimated to be worth {
25.0O0. The membership Of the :
hurch, with very few exceptions, are
len Of very limited means, and they have J
aXed themselves to the utmost, and in
his extremity feel that they may. with Q
onhdence, make this, their frst.appeal to Y
generous community for assistance. and q
re hope the appeal will not be made in f
am. 4 great part, if not the whole of =
ms balance, it was proposed to have been +
nsed at the evening service Of Sunday, i
u the storm which prevailed prevented /
ne public from attending and no effort
as made to add to the exceedingly liberal =
description made in the morning. Our !
laritable and public spirited citi- b
IN we hope will respond literally to this Y
Ill upon them We are assured it is :
Lade only because the society making IT >
ave exhausted their own resources. t
We are told that one Of the most liberal
'ntrlhut0rs 70 the fund which has already i
zen expended on the building. Mrs !,
oyer, the wife of John A Bower, i
81, has promised that if the building is i,
ee from debt, she will, at her own ex- I
'nse entirely, erect q parsonage. which is -
.rtalnly munifcent offer. ,