Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
THE FIRST SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
A Notable Structure In Boston.
New York Trihuna


Correspondence New York Tribune.
BoSToN, December 16-In the very heart OF
the fashionable portion OF the Hub, In close con-
tiguity to the Hotel Vendome, Trinity church
and Copley square, q nearly completed new
building is attracting the attention Of observers.
Its whole appearance is extremely odd as 1t
bears no resemblance whatever to q church,
museum. school house or place of business. It is
simply unique. although the architecture is said
to be Of the Romanesque order 1t is square.
40 feet In height from the sidewalk to the top
Of the cup0la, and has dormers and gables in
the roof The windows are irregularly disposed
and of different sizes as though they were
arranged hap-haZard to light apartments at
convenience, without regard to outward sym
metry. The locality of the building is at the
corner of Exeter and Newbury streets. Over
the arched entrance on Exeter street is writ
ten First Spiritual Temple" in carved letters.
lntertwined with delicate traceries of foliage.
1t is, in fact the first place the spirituasts
have ever owned where they could publicly
practise the forms and tenets of their peculiar
belief Unlike other religious sects of the
United States. they have been poorly provided
for in this respect: they have convened in hired
halls. or private parlors. or wherever it has
CHANGED to be in keeping with their pecuniary
ability. Very shortly this state of affairs will
be changed for the spritualists of the New
England metropolis. at least, through the gen.
crosby of Mr.. Marcellus s. Aver. wealthy
bachelor and wcll-knowr wholesale grocer on
State street in this city. He has been be-
lever in spiritualism for many years. but only
four or five an active exponent Of its doctrines.
A few months ago he determined to erect a
suitable building for the use of his fellow be-
lievers and the magni1lcence of his Gift can be
estimated when it is stated that it will cost
when finished S115, 600.
The chief material of the exterior of the Tenn
pie is light gray stone. with trimmings of dark
red granite. belt of exquisite carving runs
around the building at the top of the first
story. an extended vine of flowers and leaves.
more than a foot broad. and in two oval spaces
OF the red stone. one on either side of the en-
trance, are carved symbols of the spiritualstiC
faith The basement is devoted to free read
lng-rOOm and library of books written by the
most noted writer's on Spirituasm; Sunday.
school room capable of seating 800 persons.
offices and toilet rooms. The main story is
one grand auditorium. a cheerful. bright room
with frescoed walls. painted windows. an organ
platform for speakers and opera chairs of the
most comfortable description. Above this is a
story divided into eight lecture halls. janitors'
quarters. kitchen. etc. Still above this is an
air chamber rooted and fioored with zinc
where the rain and wind can sweep through
lattices in the roof and ventilate the whole
house by air ducts that lead into it, Every sani-
tary arrangement of the building is as near
perfect as can be. The furnishings of the great
auditorium, etc, will be paid for through the
subscriptions of the spirituaists of Boston and
its vicinity. amounting to $4,000. When the
temple is entirely completed MIR. Aver will give
it to the Working Union Of Progressive Spiritu-
alists Of Boston. He will retain, however, Ger.
tain proprietary rights as to the uses that may
be made of it. He intends to have Sunday
morning lectures given by the more celebrated
and talented speakers on spiritualism; Sunday
school on Sunday afternoons and lectures on
Sunday evenings. Every week day evening
there will be lectures and meetings in the
smaller halls Mr.. Aver affirms that there are
millions of spirtualists in this country who have
openly professed themselves to be SO or have
made partial confession to that effect, and
with the example he has set for them. he thinks
other temples will be inaugurated wherein they
may worship according to their faith.
A Gun.BOat Running the Gauntlet.
From an illustrated article by Rear Admira
Wake in the Operations of the Western Flo
tila' in the January Century, We quote the fol
lowing:
"Having received written orders from the
flag officer, under date OF March Both. at once
began to prepare the CdrondeJet for the ordeal
ALI the loose material at hand was collected. AND
on the fourth of April the decks were covered
with it, to protect them against plunging shot
the pilot-house and other vulnerable parts of tn,
vessel, and every precaution was adopted Il
prevent disaster. A cOal-barge laden with ha,
and coal was dashed to the part of the port sid,
on which there was no iron plating. to prOtec
the magazine. And it was truly said that the
old Cdrondela at that time resembed a farmer:
wagon prepared for market. The engineers lee
the escape steam, through the pipes aft int
81 II
made when blown through the smOkestacks.
"All the necessary preparations having been
made, informed the flag-officer of my inten
ton to run the gauntlet that night, and received
his approval. Colonel BufOrd, who commanded
the land forces temporarily with the fiotilla, as
night of the 4th brought on board Captain Hol
lenstein. of the Forty-second Illinois, ant
twenty-three sharp-shOoters of his command
who volunteered their services, which were
gratefully accepted. Colonel ButOrd remained
on board until the last moment to encourage US
Informed the officers and crew of the character
OF the undertaking, and all expressed readi
ness to make the venture. In order to resist
boarding parties in case we should be disabled
the sailors were well armed, and pistols, cut
lasses. muskets. boarding-pikes, and hand
grenades were within reach. Hose was attached
to the boilers for throwing scalding water oveI
any who might attempt to board. If i,
should be found impossible to save the vessel
it was designed to sink rather than burn her az
the loss OF life would probably be greater in the
latter case by the explosion Of her magazine
During the afternoon there was promise Of 9
clear, moonlight night, and it was determined to
walt until the moon was down, and to make the
attempt, whatever the chances. Having gone
SO tar. we could not abandon the project with.
out bad effect on tho men, equal almost to
failure
''At 10 o'clock the moon had gone down, and
the sky. the earth and the river were alike hid
den in the black shadow Of q thunder-stO rm
which had now spread itself over all the heav,
ems. AS the time seemed favorable. | ordered
the first master to cast off. Dark clouds now
rose rapidly over us, and envelOped us in almost
total darkness. except when the sky was lighted
up by the welcome flashes Of vivid lightning to
show us the perilous way we were to take. Now
and then the dim outline of the landscape could
De seen. and the forest bending under the roar
ing storm that came rushing up the river
with our bow pointing to the island we
passed the lowest point of land without being
observed, it appears, by the enemy. All speed
was given to the vessel to drive her through the
tempest. The flashes of lightning continued
with frightful brilliancy, and almost every
second wrote correspondent, every brace,
post and outline could be seen with startling
distinctness, enshrOuded by a blush white glare
of light, and then her form for the next minute
would become merged in the intense darkness
When opposite battery No. 2, on the mainland.
the smOke-stack blazed up, but the fire was
soon subdued. It was caused by the SCOT be-
coming dry. as the escape-steam, which usually
kept the stacks wet. had been sent to the wheel
house, as already mentioned, to prevent noise
With such vivid lightning as prevailed during
the whole passage, there was no prospect of es-
Gaping the vigilance of the enemy, but there
was good reason to hope that he would be I'M
able to point his guns accurately Again the
smOke-stackS took fire. and were soon put out: