Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-02

CAurehs and Installation Of the Faster.
The building and dedication of a church
is an enterprise and service in which every
true and manly citizen should fee: deep
interest. Last evening, the Unitarian society
Of this city dedicated to the worship Of God,
their new church ediNce which they have
been engaged in building the past sea.
son.
The old church, which stood upon the site
of the present edifice, corner of State and
Oak streets, was built in 1898, at . cost Of
about $500, including $500 paid for the
land. 1t was dedicated Oct. II, 1888, and in
its ministrations the best eforts of the late
Mr.. Judd were spent. In the fall Of 1878,
the Rev. Chas. A. Curtis, the late lamented
pastor of the church, with untiring energy
and Christian pluck, felt confident that with
proper exertiOn sufficient funds could be
raised to erect = new building, which was
greatly needed by the society. He entered
upon the work, assuming himself the most OF
the responsibility of the enterprise. He
consulted several architects, and obtained
plans for the church. After being submitted
to the society, the plan of T. w. Silloway Of
Boston, was accepted, and he was employed
as the architect. The pews were taken from
the old church, and the edifice was sold by
auction for $50. A contract was made with
A. A. & ID. S. Young, for making the stone
cellar and UNDERMINING, and brick piers to
support the floor. for the sum Of 1896; also
\ contract with John b. Shaw of Augusta,
to erect the church according to the speci6-
rs Nha fT,p inn
the amount Of the two contracts 852O6, being
rather less than the architects estimate
The contract Of Mr.. Shaw included the
painting, but excepted the glass for the win
dows, the pews, and the steps At the entrances.
The windows and pews have cost about
$1,000. The two furnaces, gas piping and
fixtures, frescoing, carpeting, upholstery,
and other items, will bring the total cost up
to about 5000. The original title to the 10,
and house was in the pew owners but it has
been SO arranged that the Society now own
the largest part Of the property, it having
been conveyed to it by majority of the pew
holders. There is now lacking about $500
to complete the payment of all bills. The
building committee, who have so faithfully
performed their important part, were Hon.
Joseph w. Patterson. Hon. Samuel TitcOmb,
and Joseph Piper, Esq,
The exterior appearance and shape of the
church is unique, and beautiful in the ex-
IRENE. 1t is one of the most tasteful and at
tractive buildings in the city. 1t is of the
Queen Anne style, cruciform in shape, with
comparatively low frame, and sharp, steep
roof, surmounted by iron cresting. There
are three entrances. two on State street and
one on the west side, from Oak street. Over
the porch of the principal side entrance,
some thirty feet from the south end of the
building, rises the tower. which is 80 feet in
height, and contains the bell which called
the people together in the old church.
There are pOrches over both State street en-
frances. The church is painted and sanded
in imitation of light freestone. The steep
roof is painted dark red color. AS We en-
ter the auditorium, or church proper, we are
charmed with the beauty and attractiveness
of the place. There is nothing sombre or
sad about the place. The size of the audi
ence room is 40 by so feet; it has crushed
roof, finished almost to point. The room
is of excellent proportions, and its acoustic
principles were yesterday proven to be first
class. There are Sc pcws in the auditorium,
in which about 800 can be comfortably seated.
a parlor in the rear, 35 by rs feet, separated
from the audience room by ground glass
windows, to be thrown open when necessary,
and which will add about 100 to the seating
capacity. There is recess in rear OF the
pulpit; on the right the organ and the sing
ing seats, and on the left the minister's study,
a neat, cosey little room, which IS entered
from outside without passing into the audi
ence room. The pulpit itself is perfect
gem, and behind it are three upholstered
chairs. These with the pews were purchased
in Boston: The pews are OF ash. with the
dado finishing around the c"urc"' "hic" Is y.
the same matersal. The upholstery work Is OF
scarlet. The carpet is shades OF brown,
with light figures. The frescoing is elabo-
rate, but not gaudy. 1t is the work OF Mr..
Sheppard OF Boston. The groundwork OF
the fresco is Ct drab or greenish color with
panels. Four chandeliers depending from
the ceiling, and burners on each side
of the altar, light the church bril-
liantly. There are three stained glass
windows on each side of the room, the
glass in each being OF dinerent coIors, WIN
borderings Of green, blue and scarlet There
are various appropriate and suggestive EN-
blems represented in the glass at the tops OF
the windows, representing the cross ana
crown, the lamb, &C. A motto on the wall
reads "Gio,Ta in Erceisis Deo." West Of the
parlor there is q kitchen and dining room
that can be connected with the parlor by
raising the ground glass windows which sep
arate the two: also a library room on the