The daily gazette., 1878-10-31
MT. SALEM CHURCH,

oiioh'y anu TuDDeu MS nanOS with evl-
dent satisfaction, yesterday afternoon, as
he showed GAZETTE reporter around
the handsome Mt. Salem M. E. Church
which his congregation is erecting on the
site of the old church in Christiana Hd.,
near the city limits. The church is near
ly finished and nearly paid for as we'll
and will be dedicated to the service of God,
with appropriate ceremonies, on Sunday
next.
THE GENERAL APPEARANCE
of the church is pleasing to the eye, and
displays rare degree of artistic architec-
tural design and beauty of workmanship.
Erected on an elevated location, 1t stands
out in bold relief above the surrounding
hills, and towers up in its height, symme-
try and beauty, the centre of attraction
for miles around.
The building is constructed of Brandy
wine blue rock, cut with exceeding care,
and laid with the most artistic finish.
The stone work was done under the per-
sonal supervision of Mr.. John Macklem,
one of the pillars of the church, who at
the present follows butchering, but was
once an excellent stone mason,
"And in his time was reckoned good"
Under his close guidance the stone work
was carefully conducted, and is pro-
nounced by experts to be fully equal to
any job of the kind in the whole State of
Delaware.
The building is nearly square on the
ground plan, with the church proper on
the west, the Sunday School room on the
east (with class rooms annexed on the
north side) and sixteen feet square
tower on the southeast corner. The first
floor of this tower forms vestibule, with
doors leading into the church and Sun
day School, the second comfortable
class or committee room, and the third a
store room. The roof is surrounded by
ancient looking, substantial battlements,
which impart to the building some of the
romantic features of the architecture of
the Middle Ages, and make the enclosure
secure as a point of observation. The
| top of this tower is
sIxTY-Two FEET
from the ground, and from it most mag
nificient view of the surrounding country
Delaware river and goodly portion of
jerseys soil to the north, the towering
hills of Brandywine hundred. To the
west and southwest the hills that line the
Susquehanna, in Cecil county, Nd, are
clearly visible. To the south and south
east, the broad bosom of the Delaware
stretches out like a magnificent pano-
rama, with New Castle, Delaware City,
Fort Delaware, Pennsville and Salem in
full range of vision. Even Delaware
Bay is plainly visible, with its sparkling
waters dotted by the white-winged YES
sells, that look like mere specks upon the
top of the waves. In every direction
panorama of rare beauty presents ilselfto
the eye, and from no other point in this
neighborhood can such splendid view
be obtained as from the tower of Mt.
Salem Church.
NO sPIRE
The tower was originally designed with
the intention of surmounting it bv
tapering spire at some future day. But
as it looks very handsome in its present
condition, and as recent events have
proved that church spires are very uncer-
tam affairs during heavy storms, 1t is
probable that the spire will never be
erected.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERIOR.
The church Is entered through the ves-
tibule in the base of the tower, which is
approached by flight of stone steps
more massive than any steps in this To-
cality, the lower one being composed of
single stone, seventeen feet four inches
Ia length. . yer the main door is trl-
angular tablet of brown stone, bearing
the folio wing inscription: "To the me
mory of James Riddle. 'He being dead
InHGETVXTII This
tablet is a recognition of the late James
Riddle, by whose will the sum of $3.50
was devised for the purpose of erecting
| a tower to the old church, which sum was
| Increased, by contrl buttons from the
Riddle family, to about S25O0, and ap-
piled to the erection ofthe new editice.
From the vesti bule, the door on the
left hand opens into the church, which
at once strikes the eye by its handsome
and unique appearance. The ceiling Is
twelve feet high in the clear and forty
| two feet to the pitch. 1t is not plastered,
but is composed of Virginia pine, hand
somely finished in varnish and shellac.-
| The roof is supported by heavy girders
| which run down on the inside of thewallS
and are stained a dark mahogany color.
These girders extend belo W the floor and
rest upon cast iron plates, supported by
Substantial brick pillars. The .wainscot..
Ing 1S Oh f1TBluid pluo, WAN hs'o "ooN,
flush. The pulpit is on raised oval
platform on the west side of the room,
Surrounded by walnut chancel rail, of
neat design and finish. The pulpit furni-
tire consists of one walnut reception
chair and three wall chairs, upholstered
In wine-colored velvet plush: The pulpit
desk from the old church will be used in
the new building. Connected with the
nulpit recess is a hallway and door lead
ing outside. The seats, which were FUR,
nlshed by Messrs. Springer, Morley and
Cause. are of white oak and walnut, and
are arranged in semi-circle form. They
will accommodate four hundred persons
and there is room for chairs enough to
accommodate one hundred more. Inc
church is lighted by stained glass WIN WIN
ldows, two of which Zone in each endlare
of large size and magnificent design
Near the top of the front window Is
Latin Inscription, which reads one way,
eThe Father is not the Son, the Son Is
not the Spirit, and the Spirit Is not the
Father" and another way, "Ihe Fatneg sp
ia God. the Son is God, the Spirit is God"
Tins conveying the ldea of the Trinity,
nh windows hang on centre hinges, ana
| In connection with ventilators near the
eating will provide ample ventiiation.
The room will be carpeted along tAs aisIeS
and around the seats, with tbree-piy LII
grain carpet of neat pattern.
rup suNnAY SCHOOL ROOM