Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-27
OUR CHURCHES.
a Very Severe bui AeIitea Criticism OF
Styles Of Architeeiura taat save
Long Been Chased
With the Absurd-is this sort OF Thing
to be Perpeiuated2-Is Memphis to
be sing ular and Alone!
10 the EdIton Of the Appeal:

TO the Editors Of the Appeal:
Az your journal is ever interested IN ail
that pertains 10 the advancement, the orna-
mentatiop, the beauty ard pride Of Mem
phis. will YOU allow me q word through your
columns in regard TO the aew churches now
bsing erected Ia the city-oDe On the corner
OF fernando and Linden, Methodist, and
one on the corner Of Third and Poplar Pee
byterizn? 1t has always been Jet OF
criticism on the part Of Strangers "a well a.
Of our own people, that the churches q Mem
ppi.. architec;urally considered, are the most
detective and unattraotivs Of auy city IN the
United States OF lie population; that bat
little or no taste or dilletauteign is displayed
in their external. construction, and that mos.
If them have rather
THE APPEARANCE OF BARNS TRAN OF RE-
LIGIoUs EDIFICEs.
Nov. in the building OF the two churches
mentioned, there is tue opportunity IL
erect structures that will not only be pisces
of Worship but ornaments TO the city and q
monument TO The names and memories oil
tbose who build them. Il will perhaps he
said that the CHIEF object Of a religious TEN,
pie is not display, beauty or ornament, and
| that if the church Il only large enough for
the purpose Of worship, the main object b a
| been accom- DllSneN. ATEAlllft lL1L LAC IL lSi
| purpose is facility Tor worsbip, yet, BY tR'
expenditure of a few hundred or a few thou
| sand dollars more, the worship might be IN
creased by making the church 50 beautiful
| and attractive that it would be j Perpetus
| and an acceptable invitation TO all behOIder
TO comet IL 90 natural TO be attracted b,
| besu;y and grace, so natural TO suppose tina
| BEAUTIFUL CHURCH
| L T., 4hav haav1
tiful church ia Memphis?St. Peters is NOR
Xix a church than any other. The Cour
street church would be prssentable If COM
pleted, but it lie said the foundation Is de
fectiye and will not permit the completion
of the spire. The church on Union stree
/ has had its contemplated spire truncated
and now in tie permanent appearance look
like an unfinished nondescript Their
stands an architectural monstrosity on Sec
ond street, near Beale-a constant eye-sor
to all beholders. What sinner or strange
will 90 into that Architectural abortion ex
pecting to hear anything pleasing or hal
nonious? The sight ofsnds the mind an
units it for happy impressions before enter
ing il. As before remarked, bsautifU
church is a constant invitation 70 beholder
to come, and an ugly one an invitation
stay away. At all eyents, this il the nsturi
effect on the average and still more on
THE EsTHETIC MIND.
We beg to suggest then 10 the good peopl
who are building the new churches, 10 CIV
them a graceful, beautiful and pleasing ez
terror as we'll as interior. II will pay G
that is the question: even from religion
standpoint, to expeud few thousand dollal
J ! more 10 make temples OF worship attractIy
to the soul through the medium OF tue ey
The rebuilding of the First Presbgteria
church is not yet bfgun, and it is not too la
10 start right. Then, will not the -nierpri
ing ami worthy gentlemen who have Ia,
coHtem lated structure ia charge, send to Il
older aud larger cities for desigus, snd the
make a selection that will combine aTchiteC
ursl grace and beauty with capacity az
convenience? Cannot Memphis have oil
beautiful church? Every body says yes.
| 4 SINNER