Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-28
AUGUSTA.
A LETTER FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A Model sunday-schooa and Library Build
ing-Kemorial services-some
Personal Notes.
correspondence OF the Dispatch. !:

| Especial Correspondence OF the Dispatch:
AUGUSTA, GA, May 3. 1885.
The church IN which the Assembly IL
! holding lis sessions stands In the middle
| Of a squsre surrounded by an attractive
| grove OF large sbade-trees. The whole
| square is the church's ground; and there
1 Il no other building on II save the church
| and the large and handsome Sabbath-school
| building. The church Ia large, and its
architecture IL very attractive, both ex-
ternal and internal, whilst the acoustic
properties are unexceptionable. The
speaker Is readily. heard in the extreme
corner OF the large audience-room.
Near by the church, and occupying
ground held a few years ago by some large
sbade-irees Of the square, stands a build
ing with this inscription upon its front:
"First Presbyterian Church Sunday
School and Library Building; and ON
tablet within: "Held In grateful remcm-
brance Of Mary Teliair, Of savannah, Gi.,
through whose munibcent bequest ha, this
edifice been erected and furnished" " this
building the Augusta Chronicle OF the 23i
instant says: "Augus;a has the distinction
OF possessing the finest, the most beautiful
and convenient sunday-school building In
the Unlted states"
The same paper gives cut representing
this handsome building; has plan OF both
the first and second stories, and also an in
terror view Of the main Sabbath-school
room.
] will attempt description OF this adj
mirable building, because some reader OF
the Dispatch may wish to initiate its conye-
nient and pleasant arrangements: The main
Sabbath.school room occupies The centre OF
the building; IS large, well lighted aud
ventilated, and in elevation includes both
stories OF the building. Its dimensions are
SO feet 10y As, and in height Is. In shape
it is nearly semi-circle. The floor OF
this room Is filed with handsome
walnut chairs, with a small table
for each class, around which teacher
and scholars gather, facing each other.
In the rear OF this room, facing the
superintendent's desk, are four cliss.
rooms, the two largest for the infant de-
partments, all opening into the main room
and in full view Of the superintendent.
Above these, occupying like space in the
second story, are six class-rooms, designed
for special Bible-classes, opening into the
gallery, and like those below in full view
OF the superintendent stand, even II the
gallery seats in front are occupied, az they
rise above Them.
In the gallery, that runs around three
sides OF the room, are seats designated for
visitors. The main room is entered through
two vestibules from the front, and the in-
FAINT rooms through vestiDules at the sides
as well rs from the main room. From all
four OF these vestibules are stairways COM
municating with the second floor. A pas
tors study opens into one OF the front YES
tibules; library into the other. Between
these vestibules-and occupying the front
part Of the buIldiIg-is the prayer-room or
lecture-room, 80 feet by 80, having the ele-
walton OF only one story. IL Is used for the
pastors Bible-class when the Sabbath
school is in session. After :he opening
exercises OF the school visitors from the
galleries are invited 10 this class. On last
Sabbath afternoon the room was over
crowded, and few members OF the Assem-
bly,, when they came from the galleries,
could find an entrance. The opening OF
large doors at both sides OF the pupit-stand
throws this room open TO the man room.
On the second floor, over the prayer
room, and OF the same size, 30 by SO feet,
is the church parlor or ladies' society room.
Its two sewing-machines look somewhat
out OF place IN the midst OF parlor furnl-
ture, but they indicate that the ladies
gather for work, not for the luxurious
ease 10 which this delightful apartment in
yites. Several smaller rooms for various
uses open into the halls upon the second
floor.
Every apartment OF this elaborate build
ing is carpeted and furnished IN every re-
spect in handsome style. Its cost is $685.
600 the bequest above mentioned.
On last Sabbath many members OF the
Assembly attended the exercises OF the
Sabbath school, which are held here IN the
afternoon-the custom in most OF the Au-
eusta schools-and what more need be said
1t was led bya band composed OF two cor
nets, two viOlins, u base violin, and piano.
After.the usual exercises addresses were
made by several elders, who are supern-
tendents OF sabbath schools at home, now
attending the Assembly, among them Ma
Jor Il. j. kirkpatrick, OF Lynchburg, Va.
These addresses, which it was not the
writer's privilege TO hear, were spoken OF in
terms of high commentator.
In the yard between the church and
Sunday school building, somewhat to the
frort, is q tinely-eXecuted marble statue OF
Rev. DR.. William Irvine, late pastor OF this
church, mounted upon handsome pedes-
tai.
The pulpit OF this church on Sabbath
morning was occupied by the moderator,
Rev. DIR. Bryson. and at night by the Rev.
DIR. SmOot, Of Texas. The congregations
were large, and the sermons were meption-
ed as of high order. The pulpits OF the
city generally were filled by members Of
the Assembly.
Your correspondent in the morning
heard at the Second Presbyterian church,
| from the venerable Dir. Armstrong, OF Nor
| folk. sermon that was a very pattern Of
| good Gospel preaching. In the afternoon
he heard Rev. j. W. Primrose at Read:
burb OF Augusta. This is a most attrac-
tive suburban village, having popul ation
| of about 800. 1t is more completely em-
| powered in trees than any town have be-
fore seen. The houses are usually large
! and attractive, and the grounds around
| every one are spacious and shaded with
native forest trees. Standing on 'the sand
| hills il has an elevation very much above
the city. Four horses drag the street-car
slowly up the ascent Of about half mile.
| A visit TO this fairy lands pleasant recrea-
| ton, and gives relief from the summer heat
! OF the city. But was speaking OF preach
| ing. At night heard Rev. DR.. Holliheld,
| Of st. Louis. In the First Baptist church,
| of which DR.. Burrows, so long identified
| with Richmond, Is pastor. lt was crafty
ing 10 see the Doctor looking so well. His
love still abides in its strength.
Everything needed has been done by the
pastor, officers. and members OF the church
| where the Assembly meets for the comfort
| OF ITS members and the convenient dispatch
| OF business. The various apartments OF the
| Sunday-school rooms were appropriated on
| this occasion to the use OF the committees.
| each one having on it a card with the name
OF a committee printed In large letters.
Much interest was taken to-day by the
Assembly and the people OF Augusta in
the memorial services, OF which q brief ac'
count has been telegraphed to you. The
addresses are spoken OF with universal
praise. Sundays edition OF the Augusta
Chronicle has likenesses OF the three speak
ers Of the day-Dr. Il. NJ. Palmer, DR.
Joseph II. Wilson, and DIR. j. N. Waddel
and also OF the venerable DIR. j. Leighton
Wilson, DIR. Adams, the pastor OF tbs
church, and MIR. j. w. Wallace, super
intendcnt OF the Sabbath school. Promi
nent mention Is also made Of Rev. DIR
Richardson, editor OF the Central PreSby
terrain, and Rev. T. f. Converse, Of tn
Christian Observer.
Tonight the members OF the Assem5l,
and visiting ministers were most hand
somely entertained at 'Sociable" give
10y the ladies OF the church. The Sunday
school building was used for the entertain
ment, and had II been built for the purpos
IL could not have been made more suitable
The two large rooms were thrown togethe
by opening the double doors at bot