Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-03-27
The First Spiritual Temple.

IN the very heart of the fashionable
portion OF the Hub, in close contiguity
to the Hotel Vendome, Trinity church
and Copley square, writes a Boston
correspondent OF The Nesc York Trio.
une, nearly completed new build
ing is attracting she attention Of OBJ
servers. It's whole appearance is
extremely odd, as it bears no resemb-
lance whatever to u church, museum,
school-house, or place Of business. 1t
is simply unique, although the archi-
lecture is said to be Of the Roman
esque order. It is square, 1920 feet in
height from the sidewalk to the top Of
the cupola. and has dormers and ga
blcs in the roof. The windows are ir-
regularly disposed and of different
sizes, as though they were arranged
hap-hazard to light apartments AT con-
venience, without regard to outward
symmetry. The location Of the build
ing is ut the corner of Exeter and New
bury streets. Over the archcd en-
trance on Exeter street is written
First Spiritual temple in carved let
ters, intertwjned with delicate traces
of foliage. 1t is, in fact, the first place
the Spiritualsts have ever owned
where they could publicly practice the
forms and tenets of their peculiar be-
lief. Unlike other religious sects of
the United States, they have been poor
ly provided for in this respect; they
have convened in hired halls. OF pri-
vate parlors, or wherever it has
CHANGED to be in Keeping with their
pccuniary ability. Very shortly this
state of affairs will be changed for the
Spirit,alists Of the New England me-
tropolis, at least, through the gener-
osity of Mr.. Marcellus S. Aver, s.
wealthy bachelor and wel-known
wholesale grocer on State street in this
city. He has been a Deliver in Spirit
ualism for many years, but on four
or five an active exponent of It's doc.
trincs. A few months ago he deter
mined to erect q suitable building for
the use of his fellow believers, and tho
nagniiicence OF his gift can be esti-
mated when it is stated that it will
cost when finished SIZE, 900.
The chief material of the exterior Of
the temple is ,ight-gray stone, with
trimmin gs of dark red granite. A 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 entrance, are carved
symbols of the spiritualistic faith. The
basement is devoted to a free reading
room and library of books written by
the most noted writer's on Spiritualism;
l., hi nf
ing five hundred persons, Offices and
toilet-rooms. The main story is one
grand auditorium, a cheerful bright
room, with frescocd walls, painted
windows, an organ, platform for
speakers, and opera chairs of the most
comfortable description. Above this
is story divided into eight lecture
halls, iauitors' quarters, kitchen, etc.
Still above this is an air-cbamber,
rooted and tloorcd with zinc, where
the rain and wind can sweep through
lattices in the roof and ventilatc tho
whole house by ajr-ducts that lead into
it, Every sanitary arrangement OF
the building is "a near perfect as can
be-. The furnishings of the great au-
ditoriu,n, etc, win be paid for through
the subscriptions of the Spir;tuaiista Of
Boston and its vicinity, amounting to
$4,000. When the temple is complc-
ted Mr.. Aver will give it to the Work
ing Union OF Progressive SpjrituaIists
of Boston. He viii retain, how yer,
certain proprietary rights as to- the
uses that may be made Of it. II" in
tends to have Sunday morning lectures
given by the more celebrated and tai
ented lectures on Sspjritualism, sun
day school OH Sunday afternoons aud
lectures on Sunday evenings Every
week day evening there will be lee
lures and meetings in the smaller
halls. Mr.. Aver af1rms that there
are millions Of Spiritualists 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 tenn
Piles will be inaugursted wherein they
may worship according to their faith.