Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-14
1T is DEDICATED.
TIE NEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN
LYNcHBURG.
A Beautiful House Of worship-It Seats
Eight Hundred-Fine Organ and
Excellent Appointments.

GkCtlltnt hPpvhahhoAses
Correspondence ofthe Richmond Dispatch. J
LyNcHBURG, Sept. IL, 1886.
Yesterday, q beautiful Sabbath, was .
red letter day with the Baptists oil
this city. The growth of the member
ship Of the First church has been so
rapid that new church edifice has long
been necessity. To the enterprise
and liberality Of her people, Lyuchburg
is now indebted for perhaps the finest
church ediiice in Virginia.
THE NEW CHURCH.
was begun in 1883, and was yesterday
dedicated under the most imposing
auspices. 1t is OF Gothic and Roman
esque architecture. its extreme length
being las feet and % feet broad, IN the
shape ola Greek cross. 1t is Of single
story, and contains but two rooms.
The dimensions Of the room for public
worship are S0x75 feet, with seating
capacity for 500. 1t is finished in ma
tive pine work oiled, with stained
glass, with three gables furnished
with one large rose window each
and seven lancet windows. The
platform is semi.circular, eighteen
inches high, furnished with reading
desk, four chairs, and two flower
stands. The height Of the room is
forty feet; the floor is bowl-shaped, iu-
clining from every point to the pulpit ;
the pews are of ash and cherry-trim-
mings, in patchwork, arranged in semi
circular form. There are two main
aisles, each four feet wide, and two
other aisles three feet in width, with a
three-foot aisle all around the wall.
| The entrances are two in number, with
two doors from each vestibule. The
baptistery is of marble front and
coping, furnished with plush velvet cur
tain in rear of the speakers stand
above it is the organ gallery. The
room, as awhole, is extremely beauti-
| ful.
The Sunday-schoel room is 65 by As
feet in it's dimensions, divided into a
main and two side rooms, separated by
glass sliding partitions, with two gale
ries above these latter rooms for Bible
classes. The galleries and orgau-loft
are reached by staircases there is a
twelve-foot hall separating the two
rooms each of the rooms furnished
with stained-glass windows. The rear
end is semi.circular in form, furnished
with three groups Of three each stained
glass windows. The central group
constitutes q beautiful ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Of the late Colonel James A. Hammer,
formerly and for eighteen years the su'
perintendent of the school, supplied by
| the school at a cost Of 5000. In the
wall in rear Of the superintendent
stand is q simple but tasteful tablet ir
memory Of the late w. Il. Cabaniss
superintendent for twenty-five years.
The platform is semi-circular, raised
about eight inches. The seating ca
pscity of the main room and anneXes j:
coo. The cost Of the entire building
vas about $4,000. Messrs. A. ",
Talley, F. D. Johnson, William Hurt
James A. Ford, and N. r. Bowman
constituted the Building Committee
under whose directions it was built
and was superintended by W. b. Snead
Alr. Maurice Moore, venerable and
wealthy citizen, gave it his undivided
personal attention, and the substantial
and complete character Of the work ii
very largely due to his interest in 1t
j. r. Thomas, of New York, was thu
architect.
THE ORGAN
is a grand instrument, built by Mr.. E
L. IIolbrook, Mills, Mass. 1t is
two-manual instrument Of twonty-foul
stops, beside the pedal organ OF three
stops. 1t contains 1850 pipes, ranging
in size from the double open diapasol
&C sixteen feet long; up to tn
smallest metal pipe, no larger thar
an ordinary lead-pcncil. 1t /
worked by Watermelon OF tn
most approved pattern, which, unde
the fine pressure afforded by our citl
mains, does its work like an intellIgen
being, keeping the bellows at uniform
pressure without the least attention
from any one. The case is Of blacl
walnut, and the front pipes are hand
somely decorated with silver and gold
leaf. Dimensions Height, twenty-si'
feet; front, eighteen feet; depth, te
feet. Total cost, $4,000.
The organ is presided over by Pro
lessor Loewy, late of Baltimore, VIII
rendered the music yesterday with ex
quisite taste.
THE DEDICATION SERVICES
were conducted according to publishe
programme, beginning at 10 O'Clock 4:
lst. Reading Of Psalm lxxxiv., an
prayer by Rev. MIR. Massey, forme
pastor Of the church.
I'd. Sketch of the first passionate, b
DR.. Ryland-himself the first pastor
from 1927 to 1882. This sketch wa
very interesting, particularly to the re
naming members of that period.
was interspersed with passages bot
numerous and pathetic.
Sd. Sermon by DR.. j. A. Broadu
from Psalm cxxii., l: ~ was gla
when they said unto me, Let US 6
up to the house Of the Lord"
The sermon was one Of rare powe
and beauty Of diction, and explaine
the need of places or houses of worsh'
and the uses they served.
In the afternoon an address WI
made by DR.. A. E. Dickinson, OF Rict
mond; at night addresses by DR..
Z. Goodwin and DR.. W. E. Hatcher.
All the services were attended B
immense crowds. hEX.
The Seizure OF Canadian Vessels.
/ ka fNh 4