The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-01-17
ESPON NOE.
Dedication in Danville.
DANvILLE, january 18th, 1883.

M6SSrS EditorS,-The dedication of
the new church in Danville, of which
Rev Alexander Martin, D. D is pastor,
took place on Sabbath evening, January
14th
Fifty-six years ago this church was or
ganised by Rev DIR. Plumer with but two
members. 1t grew rapidly, until when
DR. .Plumer left it eighteen months after,
it had membership of thirty. The first
edifce, frame structure, still standing,
was built about 1884 The second was
Completed about 1857, the ground on
which it was built having been conveyed
to the trustees to be perpetually used for
church purposes. Hence the new edifce
stands where the second did. 1t was be-
gun nearly two years ago, and its compile
tion has been delayed by the commenda-
BILE determination to dedicate not mort
gage but church. The good feeling
pervading the congregation during the
services of Sabbath had no spectre of
debt to rise as damper upon it. The
building had been paid for.
The lecture-room was first completed
and during the building of the church
was used for the regular services. 1t is
a spacious, well-arranged room, sixty five
feet long and thirty-six feet wide, imme-
diately in the rear Of the church and un-
der the same roof.
The church is a solid, substantial struc-
ture, seventy-fve feet long and fifty feet
wide, with a spire one hundred and TWEEN
ty-fve feet high. The walls are of near
ly double thickness, and so strong that
in writing the insurance it was thought
unnecessary to cover the whole building
as in almost any fire the walls would
stand. A ventilator, running the length
Of the building in the corner of the roof,
makes valuable addition to ihe comfort
of the audience The floor has pitch
Of fourteen inches in forty feet, so that
the pews in the rear have full view of
che pulpit. The pews on the side aisles
from about half way down the church,
are turned in constantly increasing
angle towards the pulpit. The organ is
placed, on slight elevation, at the side
Of the pulpit.
The interior decorations are very
pleasing to the eye. The frescoing of
the walls is, with excellent taste, in quiet
colors; the windows are of rolled glass,
which is superior to ordinary stained
glass in that it makes complete obscu-
ration the chandeliers are of a light and
graceful modern pattern and the car
pets match well the walnut Of the pews
aad the steel-gray Of the walls. Two
lifelong friends Of the late DR.. Plumer,
Mr.. and Mrs j NJ Johnston, have given
expression to their loving regard for him
by placing in the front memorial win
dow Of rich cathedral glass, in beautiful
design, the centre piece Of which is a
portrait of Dr. Piumer.
The pleasant relations existing among
the churches in Danville were happily
exhibited in the services of dedication.
All the other churches Of the city were
closed, and their pastors, Rev Dr. Good
win OF the Baptist church, Rev. Dr. Brown
of the Methodist church, and Rev. DR..
Dame of the Episcopal church, occupied
seats in the pulpit. A sermon was
preached by the Rev w S. P. Bryan, Of
Beverly, W. Va, who was invited to take
part in the services as a representative
Of Dr. Plumer, by whom the sermon
would have been preached had he been