St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-20
Impressive Dedication Of the Magnificent
First Baptist Church in
Minneapolis.
One Of the Most Elegant Houses OF
Worship in the Entire
Northwest.
Rev. Dir. Henson Delivers An Able
Sermon--The Floral Decor
ations superb.
Mayor Ames Returns Home--Ihe
Realty Acknowledgement Social
istic Meeting.

Raptist church was thrown open for the
first time to the general public yesterday, the
occasion being the formal dedication OF the
edifice. The congregation has been wor-
shining in the chapel, in the rear part OF
the building, for several months past. DuI
they wisely concluded to wait until their
church was complete before it should be
dedicated to holy uses. And yesterday.
with carpeted floor, cushioned seats anu
great organ all in place. it looked flnished
religious home. a fit dwelling place for the
Most High. 1t had been limited that TINS
was to surpass all the other churches or the
Northwest in the beauty of its decorations
but few were prepared for the chaSte ele-
gance which is apparent in every delall OIL
the structure. The auditorium IS the
largest of any completed church IN
the CITY. 1t is almost square,
the organ niche occupying the southwest
corner. with the baptistry and rostrum I'M
mediatelv in front. In three sides are
MAGNIFICENT gothic windows, in which
magenta. olive. dull yellow and blue are
the prevailing cOlorS. On the remaining
wall, next to the chapel, is inscribed. III
large ornamental letters, the Scripture text,
Good so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten son, that whOsOver belleVeth
On Him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life.-John iii. 49," The ground
tint of wall and ceiling IS the samoa rlch,
light tint of terra-cOtta the Ornamentatlon
of the ceiling and the dado and frieze being
in Moorish arabesque.
A PRETTY EFFECT.
The ceiling is divided into four large and
n1 tEyhIn
verge toward a shallow dome in the center.
This contains an ornamental skylight and
is frescoed in conventional design Of feur
de lis on blue ground. From the center
of the dome is suspended a great chande-
lier resplendent in silver, gilt. polished
brass and prismatic glass. The organ
front is made up almost entirely of pipes;
only two cherry standards. terminating
in excellent specimens of carved gothic
foliation. and united by a broad carved
band. appearing in the upper work. The
olive and dark crimson of the central panel
thus made contrast pleaSingly with the
terra Gotta color of the other pipes, and the
effect is heightened by choice designs in
oxydized gold on the olive ground. The
arch of the organ loft is brilliant in gold
and red bronze, on banded ground OF
MANY coIors. resting at either side on triple
copper-brOnZe columns, with OXydlzed
bases and capitals. The baptistry and
pulpit are on the same level, the speakers
desk occupying a curved extension OF the
baptistry floor. The chairs are upholstered.
seats and backs in very dark green velvet.
The Brussels carpet, of small figure and
quiet tone, is the same on the rOstrum as
the main floor. The seats are models of
comfort. with their soft cushions Of olive
Onn nf tho macmillan features Df
the church is the great diameter of the gal
lery. 1t does not reach far toward the
center of the room, making the floor be-
meath. dark and gloomy; indeed, the excel
lent light in every portion is great i'm
movement on many of our city churches.
The gallery rail is of polished brass; and,
near the organ, where the floor breaks into
four long balconies, the bright brass railing
is highly ornamental.
A WILDERNESS OF FLOWERS
Yesterday loving hands had brought
flowers to deck the new church home, so
beautiful in itself The members of the
Fourth church, child of this older con-
gregation. had placed great bank OF bios
SONS on the organ front. which bore the
words. ''OUr Mother in Israel" in purple
immortelleS on a white ground. a tall
basket of pink and white rOsebuds stood
on tie cOlllUluiltOIl ldUlC OO1OlC pulpit
The small rostrum stand was covered with
n great lar of chrysanthemumS and hidden
with festoons of smilaX. On the pulpit.
beside the Holy Bible. rested single spray
of rare Mexican orchid blossoms. Long
before the opening voluntary the seats of
the church were filled, and, after all the
snaces had been filled with chairs, many
friends were compelled to go away. unable
TO gain admittance. The music was in
keeping with the beautiful new building.
The organ is a magnificent instrument.
and Prof. Ballard, while not attempt
ing any display of its power, yet
brought forth much of its merit.
The choir consisted of chorus Of twenty
voices, which ably seconded the excellent
work of a quartette composed of A. J.
Sanburn, tenor; Miss Della Morgan. So
prano; Mrs. Lyman Brown, alto, and E. ?.
Love, basso. The anthems and the re-
Spouse had been written especially for the
occasion by Prof. Ballard. and proved that
gentleman to be composer of no mean
ability. as well as q master of the organ.
The congregation joined heartily in the dUX-
ologv, which opened the services, after
which Gods blessing on the church and
people was invoked by Rev. Lyman Palmer.
After the hyms spirit Divine Attend
Our PRAYER" and a responsive reading, in
which the congregation fervently Joined,
Rev. j. r. MantOn read various passages of
Scripture to show that God had ordered that
all buildings and places used for His wOr-
shin should be especially set apart and ded-
icated in His name. DR.. Ii. c. Woods
then delivered the prayer, expressing ear
nest thankfulness for all past meTcies, and
asking all especial blessing on the new
church and the continued usefulness of its
members.
DIR. HENSON'S ABLE SERMON.
The sermon was preached by Rev. P. S.
Henson, ID. D., of Chicago. The reverend
gentleman prefaced his address with few
words of hearty congratulaton to the build
ers of this new church, who, he said. are
proving the first half of a Scriptural saying;
They Scattereth and yet increaseth." He
characterized the Baptist denomination in
this city as doing what was being done in
but few cities in America-they are keeping
pace with the rapid increase of their city's
population. The brief synopsis which fol-
lows but imperfectly indicates the power of
the maSterful discourse. 1t is doubtful! if
there has ever been heard in Minneapolis
a sermon so replete with wonderful i'm
agery, striking metaphor, suggestions OF
beauty and devOut faith as that which COM
manded the attention of every person in
the First Baptist church yesterday. DIR.
Henson announced as his text the 9Th, 10th
and 18th verses of st. Paurs epistle to the
Ephesians:
ITO make all men see what is the fellow
ship of the mystery, which from the begin
ming hath been hid in God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ to the intent that now
INTO the Irincipalites and powers in heav-
enly places might be known through the
rhnrch the manifold wisdom of God
We are comprised about by mysteries the
most profound, and many Of them the most
niuSffripS of craat inIn-nIInsfiOnS