The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-13
ALL SOULS uNIvBRsAIIsT CHURCH.

Description OF tho Edidce-Intcresting
DIR. Chaplin.
Yesterday afternoon spacious and elegant edi-
nee, erected by the UniversalIst Society OF the
Eastern district, was dedicated to divine worship
in the presence OF an immense assemblage. AL
Souls" church Is located on South Ninth street
between Third and Fourth streets, Is constructed
OF Philadelphia brick, trimmed with Nova Scotia
stone and nanked by two towers, one being sew
enty-eght leet in 'height and the other sixty-one
feet nigh The style OF architecture Is Romanesque,
and the exterior OF tnts new temple Is so imposing
and It's interior so cnaste ana neat as
to make it an additional ornament to the
Eastern District OF the "City Of Churches
1t will seat 1000 persons and It's
cost, including the price oil lots upon which a
chapel is 10 be erected, was about $50, 0O0 nearly
all Of which has been already subscribed. The
auditorium is sixty ght ieet long and sixty wide !;
the slightly arched ceiling is frescoed in imitation
OF ribbed roof, In which are two circles Of gas
jets with ventilating renectors. The walls are
tinted with light gray; the furniture and wood
work Is OF black walnut. The carpets are OF GRIM
son ana garnet, the pew cushions OF drab. tufted
with CRIMSON and the furniture OF the platform
upholstered with crimson satin. beautiful rose
window, surmouHting an arched window twenty
leet in height, ornaments the front VI the eGlice.
In the rear OF the church are rooms Tor the church
committees singers and PASTORS study,
The organ, which is one OF the finest in BROOKLYN,
is III the rear OF the pulpit: and the front Of it is
handsomely decorated with forty -one speaking
pOiychIUme pipes Ofnanented with figures IN
various colors. 1ne choir has been engaged.
the leading members Of which will be Mrs. snep-
Meganler ttenor), from the Bedford avenue Re-
formed church.
The dedicatory services were under the dfrec-
ton OF Rev. A. Gunnison. the pastor, VINO was
assisted by the lea ding lights OF the denomination
vice the building was 80 crowded that AL the ave.
nues to II were packed. and hundreds were COM
the organ gallery and platform were taste
fully les.ooned with choice MOWERS. After
voluntary on the organ the choir per-.
Rev. s. Il. Camp delivered the invocation,
which was followed with the reading Of the Scrip
lures py the Rev. Joseph II. Amies. Mr.. o. +.
hawey read the report OF the executive COM
nlttee, the main facts Of which nave already been
noating dent upon the church property tine audi
ence gave vent 10 their enthusiasm in applause.
then rected by the aulb0rcss, Mrs. G. A. Soule,
with more than ordinary elocutionary ability.
CHAPIN'S SERMON.
Rev. +. II. Chapn, OF New York, proceeded to
deliver an eloquent discourse, based upon the
jonn :-.God is spirit. and they tnat worship hun
must worship nun IN spirit and in truth" He con-
graduated them IN having erected a house OF wor-
ship where they could express their own faith
according to the light Of their cOnsciences and wor
ship the Father III spirit and IN truth, and
which also was expressive OF their iaith christ
and c0mprehenslveness OF Gods love, and the
result OF HIS worship bore the name IAN souls"
He hoped they might find shelter for their de-
youIest afiectlon; tnat they might grow daily in
knowledge and grace, and come nearer to that
perfection which christ had set forth as the high
esS standard and expression OF all souls. In the
discourse he was ABOUT to deliver he proposed to
say something concerning the ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN
ditions was rcigious being. and ideas concern
ing religion lay at the foundation OF human LIE.
| nTIn nuIt
and tendency Of our age could not be regarded as
subject OF secondary Importance They might
US more closely than anything else. The speaker
maintained that although spirit OF wOrdinesS
prevailed tnis was not an rreiigious age: This
and religious faith being most in accord with each
other the converse OF that was true, for all genuine
culture and all positive advancement III know
ledge quicken and render more imperative re-
lglous thought. II man were only material pro-
duct, like wayside weed lie was OF very little
significance indeed. But there was a tribunal
above nature to which the human soul appealed,
ANA the greatest fact that science uniolded ia our
day was not the greatness OF nature, but the
greatness of mind The deepest movement OF
thought in the present age was not toward the
rejection OF all iaith but towards the realiZat ton
Of the genuine substance OF faith. Men III our
day were soilcltous to grasp realities and facts In
Uhapin) was Of the opinion that this was a time OF
earnest movement, and that men were never
more interested than now IN religious questions.
The intellectual endeavOr Of the age was
TO CONSTRUCT, NOT TO PULL DOWN,
and he was free TO say that there were men in the
Church CT England, denounced by the majority,
who. Tor Christianity and vital religion, were ac-
complaining conservative work. In considering
the religious tendencies Of the age the spe aker said
that the irrepressible soul OF man sought to find
the from which all those things concerning
the future sprang. The conclusion was that spirit
not matter, was the ultimate lact, the governing
power OF the universe. Christ declared that God
Is spirit. and the moral and religious conclusion
was that God should be wOrshpped in spirit and in
truth. In our day religion was conceived IN the
spirit rather than In the letter: in substance
rather than in form. The religious tendency OF
the age Is toward a comprehensive liberalism and
to be inferred rom the expression OF his life.
True worship was true service, the imitation OF
HIM who went about doing good. Brief addresses
were delivered by Rev. J. NJ. Pullman, Professor
Tomlinson, Of Ohio, and Rev. S. II. Camp Rev.
Mr. Gunnlson conducted the dedication services
E. q. Sweetser made the prayer oil dedication.
Rev. j. M. Pullman, or New York. preached an
eloquent sermon III the evening.