, 1873-01-18
THE DESTROYED CHURCH.
Tho Scono of Thursday Nights Conflagra-
lion Visited by Thousands
Yesterday.
ARRANGEMENTS Mado for tho Bnrat.Ont Congroaa-
lion 10 Worship In tho American
Reformed Church.

lilo most popular place In tho city, yesterday,
vaa tho southwest oorner Of Washington and
Ann atroets, wlloroon Htnnd tho ruinB Of tho
First Congregational Church. Thoyworo vialtol
by citizonu from all parta Of tho city as vol Ms
ty strangers from tho various hotels. 1tiH noci-
lose perhaps, to atato TINT each visitor carried
nwny an original theory as to how tho f1ro might
have boon prevented, aud w]lat 1lso may bo mado
Of tho walls loft standing. Tho ruins woro yot
smoking, mud In somo placos 1ittlo tongues Of
flame ,yoro talting thoir last lick upon splinter
or a board loft oyor from tho hot meal Of tho
night bofora. Tho wallis woro lristling with d
t1rapcry Of Ice, and long, irregular
iclcloB hung pendant from tho arohos
of tho doora aud windows and cap
stones OF tho walls. If tho day had boen ono
Of sunshine, doubtless lilo effect produced by
tho raya falling upon tho frosted walls, would
havo boon brilliant In tho extreme But tho
slilos being dark and gloomy, with now md then
full Of snow, tho nakc1 walls presented no
cheerful aBpcot, ana the thoughts thoy suggest~
cd partook Of tho character Of tho day. OF
courao, oyory Visitor moralized. Moralzing
over nro.rt,ins is quito rs common as onting md
drinking at dinnor-tablo. but hero was q
lsnotty subject. Twas very oasy to SEQ why n
aaloan or Legislative hall ahou1d bo destroyed,
but It was difficult thug to discover
why tho destruction Of church
should DO permitted. Dar1t wnyB, md
waya past lluding out, wore suggested, md nntu-
ral aud unnatural laws, but, aftcr hohring it,-
uumerablo tEtooriea, tho reporter concluded that
tho most plausible theory regarding tie nattor
wna given III THE TRIBUNE yoBterday morning.
/ Tho cause there stated was reasonable and true,
and no additional factB regarding tho origin OF
tho flre woro developed yostoriay.
a meeting Of tho Truhteos OF tho Church was
! ]lo1d yesterday morning at tho house OF Alr. IL.
q. Culver. A Committee, consulting Of n1r. c..
H. Moore md " II. oyington, was appointed to
confor with tho insurance agents. Mcsars. La11-
rance and Hinchclif, who wero tho builders Of
| tho church, wero made q Committee to OK
amino the walls and report as to their con-
ditton. They we're n}ao empowered to
protect tlaom from falling. It was decided to
call meeting Of tho congregation next Tues.
once, ono but fosr provision in Tic bylaws Of tho
| Society, which roqNiros that before church
meeting can bo held. four dayB must olarno
bot,Ycen the cnli and tho timo appointed for thu
| from tic pulpit. Tho Trustees then adjourned
to moot at the houBo Of Mr. g. II. Morse in the
vening.
Yostorday afternoon meeting Of tho asents
office Of s. II: Moore 4 Co., on Lasalle atroot
g. @. Dana, ct tho Hartford Company; r. ]
Smith, Of tho New Orleans Mutual Association
mud Mr. Deyoridge, of the Underwriters Of Non
York, were appointed Committee to EXAMINE
tho walls, md do whatever seemed necessary to
| prcgerve them.
In conversation with Dfr. ]. II. Moore, yostor
day, tho following facts wero doyolopod: Ths
actual amount Of insurance npon tho huildint
was 100000, mud upon tho organ 59 900. TIL.
$4,000, which WAS taken out on Wednesday
was not to be applied until the 2ath inst, wher
m equal amount was to expire. The insurance
iB good, and Mr. Moore is confident that it vii
oil be recovered. The walls will probably b
takon down to tho base of tho second story
This will be dono, not SO much bocause thoy ar'
worry seriouB1y injured. as to build tho basenaon
higher above ground. Mr. Moore saya TINT th
only defect in tho church was the low height Q
tio basement, and now that m opportunity il
ofrerod to corroot this, lo thinks it ought to b.
done. Tho magnificent sidewalk and atono stap
lending to the various entranceB nre we'll pre-
soryed, which is 91a 600 in tho roehote ur the III
surauco companies. Tho American Reformed
Church, immediately opposite tho burnt oaif1ce
has boon secured, and the sorviceB of tl'
Church will be held tllere every Sabbath morn
Ing. Tho Sundny School, ono OF the largest an
best conducted III tile city, will moot at llalfpas
| IL in the loatura-room of tho Third Presbyterian
Church, on tho corner Of Washington and Gar
penter streets.