Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-02

Handsome improvements Made In IN
Old House Of Worship.

Handsome improvements Made in m
Old House Of Worship.
THE AUDIENCE ROOM COMPLETELY RENOVATED
AND FITTED UP IN MODERN sTYLE-soME-
THING OF THE PAST HISTORY OF THE cHuRcH
"A PRosFERoUs coNGREGATroN.
During the past summer extensive repairs
| and improvements have been made in the
New York avenue Presbyterian church build
ing, and tomorrow the church will be open for
services for the first time since the repairs were
begun. The Improvements made have been OF
such general character that as far as the main
auditorium room Is concerned almost a CON-
plete Transformation has been effected The
changes In the audience room include the re-
frescoing of the walls, q new carpet new win
dows. new pews and cushions. The work was
begun under the direction OF the board of trus-
| tees about July LIST, and 1t was soon found, upon
examination, that radical measures were neces-
sary to begin with. The cellar was In very bad
condition. Under the larger part OF the basement
| floor the wet clay was up TO within few inches
of the joisi and The floor itself largely decayed
The whole floor was taken up, the cellar ex-
praas we're or eight feet and
all surplus water; the gas and water service
all renewed; new furnaces put in, and win
dows for light and ventilation were cut through
the side walls; so that now, instead OF a
| mud hole the cellar is dry and wholesome
place.
WHAT WAS DONE IN THE LECTURE ROOM.
Next in order Of treatment came the base.
| ment, which contains the lecture and Sunday
! school rooms and the pastors study. This has
been entirely remodeled and tastefully fin-
ished. All of the rooms are so arranged that
when required they can be thrown practically
into one, by the use OF large folding doors and
handsome stained window partitions. The
lecture room platform has been enlarged by an
oval recess in the rear, the whole han dsomeiy
carved In part and all finished in hard oil.
Besides, good sized Kitchen has been pro-
vided at the west end OF this floor Tor use on
social occasions.
HANDSOME AUDITORIUM.
The main floor, or the church auditorium,
is where the most striking and impressive ef-
fects are found. The old dark pews are sup.
planted by beautiui new ash pews, hard I'm
ished, aud furnished with new cushions
throughout. W ainscOatng of ash. like the
pews, runs entirely around the room up to the
window siils. The pulpit platform has been en-
iarged, and a tasteful chancel rail OF ASA graces
its outer edge. And TO this will be added a
beautiful new pulpit OF the same wood. On
the ls, ioor OF this room handsome brussels
shades. which are the prevailing shades
OF the frescoing, with appropriate lras.s.
artistic work and TASTE in the city. The artist,
MIR. Joseph Rakeman, in adoption OF the prefer
ehce OF those in charge. nlade the entire ornn.
meniation in subdued but rich tints of terra
Gotta and harmOniZing shades of Old gold, &c.
The ceiling is of the most delicate ceruean
piue, with golden stars spriDkleu about Back
OF the pulpit, surrounded by some exquisite
Raised irescong, are three large panels oI rich
ofucaoeu SILK, ia the prevailing shades while
on the pulpit floor Is Very handsome brussels
Carpet, deeper and richer in its red shades OF
, the same. the irescoiHs about the pulpit is OF
| course much more elaborate than elsewhere,
put the wnuie room Is Il charm In this reg..rd,
being cna>te, soft, ana agreeable i'll It's
general effect, aud very perfect in detail.
III all the wlnuows handsome stained glass has
been put, which will relieve the clare SO much
complained Of from the old windows VI while
s',.,s. In ADDITION to the change tnsiie the
,SralIlH tlg
over anu the wood work painted. The cost OF
these improvements has Osen over $1U,OUO.
REPAIRS TO THE PARSONAGE.
While the repairs have been going on at the
church advantage was taken of the absence In
Europe OF the pastor, Rev. DIR. Bartlett, and the
parsonage al the corner OF 18TH anu streets
Was thoroughly overnauied aud reirescueu re-
paiered ana TeIainteu. the amount of money
spent On me pa sonase was about s2.Ouu
MeoaTs. Wni. Gait, NOBLE l.. Laruef, Louis
Ciepuane ahd john ". Douglass, were the
worhlns coIiillttee III charge OF tue ciiufcfi and
paraOIiase improvements. While Inc ladies'
clnnililee. VINO assisted Ia the matter of Select
lag carpets, consulting ABOUT The lrescoing, &C.,
we.e airs Charles Brauiey, Mrs. Bailey,
SLtslef, Ailso hcnHeuy anu ms. Ciepuane.
THE PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH.
The Improvements which have been made
were the natural result ol the continued growth
and prosperity OF the congregation unuer the
successful labor Iii the pastor, Rev. Dr. Bartlett.
Notwithstanding IA large colony went Out to
have Deeh more ;iuui.lons to The membership
during the past year than al any previous
lerlou In tile uistory of the cburc.I, and at the
c.ose "a the year the membership WAS larger
Than ever beiure. 4 lie niuuciai couuition is
equally as prosperous, the contributions 10Th
! tor The Regular thGicn EXPENSES aud ior bp-
neVolent OBJECTS Having been greater than Ia
ANY prior Year. the New York avenue
Church las always been noteu tor It's pull
with great acceptance during 1. long term OF
years, and he Was succeeded by Rev. Drs.
.altcueii ;:nd John X. faX.on, Two OF tne most
eloquent diviies III tue Presbyterian cburcn.
iue crowded cong esatons which listen " ttev.
ID. b"rtetL every Sab.atn, morning and eve
Ming, attest i.ls pulpit popularity. He will Ill
his accustomed pl..ce iU-lnurrUw for tue II. st
Tame s.iice Ills SUMMER vacation in Europe.
Iue boaru y, tfustees, way have charge OF the
niaterlai lnterests Oi the Church, Is luluSed
as ioiiows: President, v Ill. Mckee Dunn; vice
Pies.uen,, VIM d. Gait; treasurer, jvnn W.
1oUih f',ofi; Noble ~. Larucr, Lewis Ciephaue.
Jonh r. Cnapinan and J. VI. Dougass.
A GLANCE AT THE PAST
The present church building was erected in
1858, at which time the congregation vi what
| was known Us the Second Presby ieran church
united with the + street congregation, which
hau Tor y , numoer q years w.isn'ped III wnat
church was Organized in 1sZo, and saortiy
Afterwards purchased The ground where the
church ruiiding Tow stands lrom Nicho-
Bank vi tue Unileu States. Jonn Quincy
ADAMS a.. was was peW-no,der and a resa-
III.
whiie President, also atieuaed church there
number Oh the memuers lett the Second
chuicn anu oryaHIzeu the Fourth cAurcn, on
y, n street, OF which Rev. Dr. Smith was pastor
ior 80 MANY years. HI 1858, as stated above
the congregation Ut the street church, which
was la ge ;,iu prosperous uauer the ministry vi
Rev. Dr. GuIiey, solu their church prOperty
ana. uniting with the Second euurcil the d. e,-
ent church building was erected. Rev Dr.
Guriey was ciio,en pastor vi the uuiteu coiiyrc-
gallons, uiid ms pastorate cOhtihted uni, Ills
ueatiI, Ill lSOS. Among the members vi the T.
street churcn when the uniuu effected was
s,dent Bacuanan, who Was u reg liar attend.
ant The church thus formed has enjoy ed q
time. During his administration Pres-
dent Lincoln was attendant, Rnd
President Johnson had a pew there
during this period, while maintaining q fiuur-
lshing organization OF lis own, the cuurcn has
by welluiiecteu efforts and the iat,Or ol earnest
aud faithful men aud women, been able to do
great deal OF missionary work. In TACT this
IL one vi the features Vi the work Of the church
to-uay, amt thOse are found among its large
membership VINO are abe auQ willing TO ri q
their time ~ the duurisning mission stations
tue Gurey Chapel aud tins Bethany mission
which were organized and maintained by the
bers that at no distant day independent church
organizations win be iormed rs tie Result of
the missionary efforts carried on with SO much
faith ana perseverance,. In other directions
The Christian activities oil the members dnd
fields tor work, aud Ivy generous outrluutiUns
aud personal effort the cause OF religion La adj
vanced.
The Earthuunke Reco.d