The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-07
EAST REFORMED CHURCH.

Dedicatory Services OF New Church In
Bedford Avenue-An Ornate and Florid
EccIcs ia stical Structure-serm0n by
DIR. Ormist0n and Address by the Pastor.
The East Reformed church, Bedford avenue,
corner OF Madison street, BROOKLYN, was dedicated
yesterday. At the morning service the attendance
was SO large that hundreds were unable to get
nearer the building than the sidewalk, and ulti-
mate.y left for other churches in the neghborh0ed
The style OF architecture adopted by those who
have been instrumental in the erection Of this
house OF worship Is, strange to say, after the style
known as that OF Louis rhe Fourteenth. 1t is
q brick church, with stone dressings,
highly ornate. Il is slightly elevated
from the ground, with basement, and has nave.
transepts and chance, with o tower on one
side in the angle made by the transept and nave
Behind the chancel arch Is an elaborate screen,
behind which are vestries and 0fflces r0bing
rooms, parlOrs, &C., with gallery above for
organ and choir. The nave fronts on Bedford ave-
nue. Entering the vestibule. two doors are found
to open into the body Of the church, to the right
and to the left through a black walnut partition,
paneled six feet from the floor, thence to the CELL
ing glazed in stained glass OF many colors Two
aislcs run from these entrances through the princ
pal part OF the auditorium to the side OF the raised
pulpit platform opposite. Black walnut pews,
with arm sides extended, range both sides OF tho
aiSes, those at the cross sections facing, at q
slight angle. the speaker Directly over the doors
a gallery from side to side stretches. over
head the ultra-marine ceiling Is traversed by
arching supports OF black walnut, joining in a
Keystone support at the highest point, descending
to g0ld-touched black walnut brackets, extended
from the walls, deliberately carved and orna-
mented In niche behind the platform, above
tho head OF the speaker when standing, Is
THE CHOIR GALLERY;
further back, against the wall, the organ Is built.
Two immense chandeliers, respondent In gold and
blue (sad to be the only ones OF their kind In this
country are pendent from the ceiling. Although
by using camp stools an increased number can be
accommodated, 1000 con comfortably worship in
the church. Yesterday morning far more than
that number tsok part In the service. A quartet
choir sang the opening anthem, which was fol-
lowed by the reading OF the Commandments, the
singing OF the "Giora" and the reading Of Scrip
ture lessons. The first hymn sung was the one
commencing
Glorious things of thee spoken.
Dr. Ferris offered prayer, and then notices con-
nected with the church were announced by DR..
OaIroii, tne pastor, VINO, III Tue course oi which,
said that ground was broken for the church edthce
March 20, 1872
The Rev. DR.. Ormiston preached the opening SER
mon and selected his text from Zecharlah vi, p
"And speak unto MIN saying, thus speaketh the
Lord OF Hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name
Is the Branch; and he shall grow up out Of his
place and he shall build the temple OF the Lord"
DR.. Omission SAID that the members OF the church
would remember that about twelve months ago he
addressed them, and tried to speak words OF COM
fort and cheer, although his pulpit was the curb
stone. AID that now 1t was with great pleasure
that he looked round on this beautiful edidce and
saw 1t so near its completion and privileged to
take part In that interesting service In the course
OF the sermon, in which the words OF the prophet
were adapted to modern instances Or. Ormiston
strongly urged upon the congregation and the
members OF the church the duty OF thoroughly
dedicating this church TO the Lord, so that not q
brick or stone in its construction should belong to
any one but the Lord OF Heaven, who had done
such wondr0uS things for them. After the sermon
the church was formally dedicated to God by the
pastor, ell the congregation rising The address
was OF = very solemn character, and enloined the
Church to the rendering OF personal service to God
and the dedication OF their powers to extending
His kingdom here on earth.
The doXol0gy was sung and the benedictiOn pro-
nOunced, after winch the large assembiage dis
persed. In the afternoon and evening the services
were continued