National Republican., 1874-06-03
THE MEMORIAL CHURCH.
FUIL DESCRIPTION or TEE HAND.
.rr-T SOME EDIFICE.

BY WHOM AND WHY IT WAS PROJECTED
THE ARCHITECTS, ARTISTS AND ARTI-
SANS ENGAGED IN IT'S CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAMME OF DEDIcAToRY EXER-
CIsEs.
This large and attractive church, to be dedicated
next Sabbath memorial of Gods goodness IN
delivering the land from bondage and war-was
projected in 1859. The corner-stone was laid the
slst Of October 1870 the anniversary Of the great
reformation that gave birth to our Protestant
Christianity, and In which Luther was the great
central figure.
The Memorial Is located upon the triangular
lot formed by the intersection Of Fourteenth and
N streets with Vermont avenue. It is the most
commanding church sito in the city, lying iInme-
diately adjacent TO the Memorial circle, 30 taste
fully Improved pnder Gen. Babcock. While in
the Memorial, built Of brown stone, quarry face
and dressed lines, the Gothic architecture largely
predominates, the capaoious structure Is SO mixed
and broken as to be probably the most unique
church building in the United States. The
greatest length IS about $50 feet and width about
100 feet. In the chapel fronting on the three
streets are lecture and school rooms, parlor and
study, while the basement is provided with
kitchen arrangements to provide for the "inner
the people OF the Memorial church. The church
proper has depth of upwards Of 100 feet, with a
width OF 10 feet.
THE AUDIENCE CHAMBER
is in the shape Of an open fan, adapted to the
triangular shape OF the lot. It has five wide en-
fine spires to complete them. In the rear of the
pulpit is the choir gallery. while across the rear
Of the church stretches spacious gallery, pewsd,
ries are furnished with Gothic panels and heavy
holdings, presenting themselves very gracefully.
A 1ups fHe GifS of the bess 1sdana Walnut
fine taste and skill In the design and workman
ship. There are 1856 pews, Of the average length
chairs. The whole is caTpeted and cushioned in
green Of best qualities, each pew being furnished
with book-racks and books Of worship.
The windows are memorial. The three large
ones in the main tower are inscribed respectively
to Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Wesley,
designed to express the scriptural catholicity OF
great types Of religious thought under which our
land has grown to Its greatness and power. The
rear tower windows are inscribed to Rev. b.
Kurtz, ID. D., LII. D., and Rev John George But
Ter, the grandfather of the pastor Of the Memo
rial. The twelve windows in the main audience
chamber bear the names OF Pohimsn, , StTrk,
Loehman, Roedel, Pearson and Emmett, most OF
whom were ministers Of distinction In the Re-
formation church The Lighting o. the S church ds Is
States Reflector Company of New York, and are
superior to anything Of the kind in the city.
tary " contributions. Not Q iarthing has been
spent in any paid agency. for collecting funds.
Contributions have come from all parts Of the
tUs % KcnntI, tx esq. Of New York, has the honor Of
contributing $1,000 for the Luther window, and
the hope is entertained that some disciple OF CAL
vim and Wesley will make like contributions to
their memory. The pews are also memorial, and
bear o heavily-plated shield engraved with the
family name or church name of any individual or
fund. There are yet q number Of pews not thus
appropriated. The entire cost Of the building
and grounds thus far has been probably 800, 900:
about $4,000 remaining to be provided for; 8
largo part OF which, It is hoped, will be contrib
uted at the feast Of dedication. The people of
Washington will show their appreciation OF the
church, so coZy and elegant, will In lew days be
thrown open TO the public.
FREE PEws.
Its pews are all to be free, and It's support Is to
be wholly derived from the voluntary offerings of
the worshiper. 1t is q church built by the peo-
and literally support it. 1t invites and Welcomes
to Its fellowship all who desire TO hnd ne better
St. Paul's church for we'll nigh quarter of acen-
tury, resigned that church about year since,
new enterprise, which has more than doubled its
membership since its organization, and has
ay-school of more than two hundred mem
youthful helpers. Drs. Conrad and Morris, who
are to occupy the pulpit next Sabbath, are repre-
sentative men in the General Synod Of the Evan
mcrial is connected. Sunday afternoon there will
be q childrens mass meeting, with On interesting
programme. The Monday night meeting will
represent the different leading denominations of
the country, Of which our own beautiful city is the
capital. Judson York was the architect Of this
group OF buildings, but his plans were found SO
costly that the building committee nodded them
under the advice Of Mr.. John G. Harkness, Of this
city, and Mr.. H. S. Davis, OF Baltimore, both of
whom have rendered valuable service.
Tho stone work was done by Jacob Viehmeyer;
carpenter work by Bright & Humphries; plaster
ing by John Ksiler; plumb bing and gas-titting by
E. 2. Steever, J. A. Conner and A. R. Shepherd
& Co.; the pevs, galleries, pulpit, book-racks
chairs and cushions are from the large establish
ment of X. H. Butler, OF Cumberland, Md; the
stained glasses furnished by Carter Brothers.
Pittsburg; the galvanized iron work by W. F.
Gebhart & Co., of this city; the painting by Col
Inns & Kroning, E. S. Smith, and the outside
painting by F. Zemer; W. s. Mitchell & Co.
furnished the very neat pattern Of carpet-the
ladies Of the church made 1t and ]. g. Weaver
put It IN place. f5' . <AF"
George Ryneal, IT,, A. 8. Pratt, James P. Pear
son, General ]. A. Ekin, United States army;
Joseph Mcclellan and J. g. Butler are the built
ing Committee.
The dedicatory services will embrace period
of three days, with the following programme:
June 9, s D. m, praise, thanksgiving and prayer
June 7, II a. m, dedicntory service, sermon by F.
W. Conrad, d. D.; June I, $50 p. m, children's
service; June 7, 8 p. m, sermon by ]. q. Norris
ID. D.; June g. p. m, addresses by pastors of diff
ferent denominations; June 9, p. m, COnsresa-
tiOnal sGcisels. s.EEEG3 ~e,