Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-11-17
II. X. BEECHER.s CHURCH.

shows L. *. Beechers church. The
water cure and the Elmira Female Sem
mary are thrown in the backgrounds.
The church is the local center of inter
est The building is of stone with brick
ornamen.ation-a style Of architecture
not yet written up in any orthodox chau-
nels of intelligence. The arts forbid that
this should ever become popular style
of architecture The building is striking
aud handsome, but not artistic. We are
first ushered into the parlors-elegant
rooms, capable of accommodating all
the social element of the church. They
are furnished in the Eastlake style. The
floors are laid in black walnut and oak,
carpeted only with rich rugs. The man
ties are ornamented with vases, clock,
and portraits of the pastor and his wife.
In these parlors, once a week, the ladies
hold neutrality-suspicious. invited 10
tea. Church "housekeepers" are regu-
larly appointed, who have the supervis-
ion of This ''tea" Refreshments are sent
in by members.
The Church pantry is well stocked
with china, and the admirable arrange
ments for dish washing would serve as
a modle to any dwelling. The coffee
and tea are made in the kitchen on the
II, per floor, and sent down oy an excel
lent arrangement of draw cupboards.
Just out of the parlors is reading
room, open at all times, and heated by
great fire. (Here are found all the
magazines and prominent journals OF
the day. The room is not large, max
ing it all the more homelike and attrac-
tive.) Here, also, every Monday eve
ming, is held Shakespeare club.
Directly over the parlors and reading
room are the guest ch amber and pastors
study. The former is spacious bed
room, furnished in black walnut, and is
intended for the pastor and his friends.
The study is the only plainly furnish
ed part OF the building; in fact, it can
boast of little furniture at all. An old
sofa, several easy chairs, and book cases.
1t is literary sanctum beyond question;
books are strewn about in that disorder
which is system itself to the owner.
Just around the pastors chair are sever
al sets of book shelves, elevated at an
angle of As degrees or thereabouts, so
that the eye can readily perceive their
titles, and the hand can easily reach the
volumes. Still above this story are the
janitors rooms, kitchen, &c.
In front of the parlors on the lower
story is the chapel-a room in the sim
plest possible style, without even an APP
proach at ornamentation not picture.
or text, or device of any kind adorn the
walls. Above is large room called
the romp room. At one end is stage,
with scenery, foot lights, prop curtain,
etc. Here once in two weeks the chill
dren are assembled for general play;
it may be an 'entertainemnt for which
stage effect is necessary, or it may be
for simple games aud genuine enjoy
ment.
Billiards were attempted as at Prince
ton but the problem of how to run the
church and the world in parallel grooves
has not yet been satisfactorily settled.
The billiards proved successful, but
some other things which the church
processes to have an eye to did not, and
so the billiards were abandoned.
Out of the romp room is the infant
Sunday School department Here are
over one hundred low baby chairs.
These are arranged in circular form
around a large, rather an ordinary chair,
which the teacher occupies. The whole
is extremely suggestive of hen and
chickens. The Sunday School boast of
being the largest in the Union. The
auditorium proper is constructed on
nearly the same plan as Henry Ward
Beecher's, but is very much richer and
handsomer All the wood work of the
entire building is Of black walnut and
oak, giving it very rich appearance.
The janitor AYERS that the church is the
best lighted of any in the United States;
it certainly is most brilliantly lighted, as
there are over three hundred aud fifty
burners, each reflected by the numerous
prisms of the gigandoles.
The pulpit is arranged with footlights
that are controlled by the pastor, who
has only to press on spring with his
foot to extinguish them. Appropos of
this the janitor assured us that he could
regulate the dampers of the six furnaces
in the cellar without leaving the Main
floor.
/ asked, "Who was the architect Of
all this 2
"Oh, DR.. Beecher, of course. "-Ro-
chester (N ~ Erpress;