The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-27
Re dedication of the Congregational

Rehabilitation of the Congregational
Church.
The Congregational church was re dedicst
ed on Sunday morning and the evening
exercises were given over to what, in a
social sense, would be called "house warm
ing" Every pew was full in the morning
and in the evening the pews and the sides Of
the main auditorium we're jsmmed-indeed
from gallery to gallery so scant was the
standing room that several hundred were
turned away.
The church choir, led by Mr.. Harrison,
never was so large, nor sang so we'll The
half dome and circular sounding board
threw the entire volume Of music from both
choir and organ out into the church, and the
effect was more clearly marked than ever
before. The choir has shown great improve.
mont in the past, and the improvement in
the future, now that all have reached a tar
standing point, cannot fell to be noticeable.
The service opened with prayer by Mr..
Whittlessy who read appropriate scripture
selections. The dsdiostorial prayer va. a
fine effort. Following MIR. Whittlessy, Mr..
Day delivered the dedication sermon with
even moro than his usual force and clio.
qusnds. His thsms, 1.-THE real Glory Of the
House Of God,' was very ably handled. and
abounded in logical truths and beautiful
sentiments. The principal, or leading
thoughts Of his discourse were There
may DO, in the house Of worship, glory Of
architecture and of sdornment." There
may be glory Of adaptation. There may
be glory in its expression Of an Offering to
God" "But the highest glory Of the House
Of God, is in the faith which it expresses in
Christ, the power which it affords for
Christ, ana the place which II proffers for
the presence Of Christ"
The regular Sunday school exercises gave
way to special service. Short addresses
we're made by the pastor, Mr.. Whittlesey
and others. A quartette, composed of Mrs.
8. r. Blanchard, the Misses McNsir, Miss
DeLeagneau and Mr.. Harrison, sang an ap-
p. opriate number, which was very well
received. A solo, by Ralph Sapp, was ex
cellently rendered.
DR.. Fredericks, Mr. Holmes, Mr.. Mckay
And Mr.. Whittlesey, were on the rostrum
with Mr.. Day in the evening. Mr.. Day
made the opening address, and acted as
master of ceremonies during the remainder
of the evening, which was taken up with
addresses by Mr.. Holmes and Dr. Freder
icks, and prayer by Mr.. Mckay; the
service closing with the pronunciation of the
benedction by Mr.. Whittlesey, The music
as in the morning service. was grand.
There are churches in the State whose in
teriors have cost great deal more than that
OF che Congregational church, but it is
doubted whether there is church even in
Chicago whose decorations, painting, up
holstery and carpeting, equals in beauty o.
harmony, the interior Of this edifice. The
paint and fresco work has already beer
discussed in these columns, but little if any
Of the effect then produced is present new
The carpet, a fine ingram, perfectly blending
with the general tone Of the upholstering
splendid new shade Of lowered damssk,
imported especially for the purpose, changes
the entire appearance of the ontirs interior
Each tint, whether of carpet, woodwork, up
holstery or fresco, is in perfect harmon!
with the other. The rail Of the east, o
chair gallery, the rostrum chairs, and tn
pulpit are upholstered in elegant plush.
The heating apparatus, placed in by ssa
Gage, the famous furnace manufacturer, il
as nearly perfect as could be desired. l
stands upon brick piers, and instead OF re
csiving its draft from the outside, as is usua
with most furnaces, receives the cold air o
the rooms underneath, heats il and sends |
up through the huge registers placed side b.
side at the extreme west end Of the audito
rum. This rarifed air, pushing upwsr'
and outward, sends the cold air Of the room
down into the rooms below through tel
large registers, and the circulating drsf
thus produced heats both lower and uppe
floor quickly and evenly,
Some few improvements are yet to
made, but there is little room for them
10 haat m aarth frt,Iu no aAld o