The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-25
RICH It
Halls Fifth Avenue Temple

Ia . CAiIh SA AcilipiC.
AS Rev. DR.. John Hall passed
through the State last week, making
the acquaintance of a number of u
citizens, the following from the \. y.
Sun may be of interest to
Attracted by the sound of silver
bells, nearly two thousand persons
filled the Fifth Avenue PRESBYTERIAN
Church yesterday morning.
The magnificence of tins P~rcsbvte-
rian church mo be easily eNagerat-
ed. Costing not far from q million of
golden dollars, it stands on the fash
ionable side of Fifth avenue, a monu-
ment to the potency of wealth, a luxu-
rious symposium for the representa-
tives of not less than $500, 600. 900.
Large as its dimensions are, its seat
ing capacity Is in the neighborhood of
eighteen hundred only, for men who
can afford to pay for the hard wood
seats polished to the verge of satin.
cushioned in crimson and bountifullv
supplied with stuffed pillows for the
weary back, do not like TO be crowded
while at their sunday exercises.
Fronting the congregation is the
pulpit, on the fdcdde of which. carved
III vi 20 = Az -hhztl. AItF IlpiA.
the Bull and the Eagle. types of the
Four Eyangels, but often taken by I'M
informed observers as types of the
Bulls and Bears of Wall street. who 50
literally contributed to pay for the
costly pile.
The pulpit itself is like a ~iowcry
bed Of ease. Carpeted it is with the
choicest fabric known to the weavers
loom. thick and soft, and yielding to
the fleets. Three elegantly carved
arm chairs afford accommodation for
the clergy, aud a table Of the same
suite stands at the right Of the o~ficia-
tor.
Above the speaker head q bevelled
sounding board imparts to
the voice, and over this is the gorgeous
organ front, with carvings and curl
ings. designed by artists and executed
by experts. All about the auditorium
are magnificent stalned glass, diamond
cut windows, through which the rays
of the sun shine, mellowed and tinted.
Precisely at II the clergyman enter
ed. Although a PRESBYTERIAN preacher
of the older school, DR.. Hall presents
the cut and ensemble of a caponIined
Abbot of three centuries back. Moses
in his meekeSt mood was a raging lion
to him. and St. John was rough in
comparison.
clad in SNOWY, gauzy bands and a
supurb vestment Of black grOs grain
silk. fitting like a glove, he enters at
the appropriate door. while a mediocre
organIst PLACED a dreary dierge upon
the instrument with the snowy front.
Having %sprinkled III the ceremony
of baptism half a dozen iltle million
ares one of whom exUIezSel his dl-ap-
probation Of the sacrament In stento-
rian tones, and was carried out IN dis
grace by a nurse, DR.. Hall opened the
regular service with prayer.
1t Is the custom Of the people to sit
and bend the body during prayer. and
nearly al did so-all but perhaps thirty
men, who rose, like garden pillars Of
the sanctuary, and aggregated in their
representations the tremendous sum III
800. 00O, 600, if not more.
The scene was a strange one.
1t suggested a glance at the monet.
AIRY position Of the congregation. am
ii revealed the presence Of men who's.
names are known in the marts OF com
merce the world around, and who
combined. can WELD q power create
than that OF any equal number of meI
IN any church III the United States.
\ feW OF the most prominent are a
follows.
Robert l.. Stuart. Robert Bonner
William I.ibbev. II. B. HYDE. Jacob ID
Ncrmily-, Henry g. De Forest. jaime,
Frazer. John \. Mortimer; William
Sloan. Harvey Fisk. John A. Stew
art, and-but already We have exceed
ei the aggregate u two hundred mil