The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-15
THE KIRKLAND HORIZONS.
THE TEMPLE AFTER HALF A GEN.
TURY HAS PASSED.

colony of the MOrmon drifted into Kirkland.
They were guided thither by Sidney Rigdon,
who was the most wonderful preacher Of
their early days. The arrival OF several hun
dred MormOns in this little village was an
event Of no mean Importance, even in the
days when immigration was so rapidly seek
ing the favored spot of the west-the north
ern part of Ohio. And yet, in those days Of
rapid development. the building OF such n
temple as that Of the M0rmons was n Won
der. Even at this day n building of such
size would le a severe tax upon villages that
are tenfold the size of Kirkland But the
MO-mons who built it gave checffully each
one his tenth TO the labor, materials, or
money FOR the four years from 1872 to 1896,
TIE entire cost being estimated at $4,000.
The size upon the ground is - feet by CO,
and the eastern gable runs up into n quare
tower surmOunted 10y a domed bolfry TO the
height OF l2j feet. Two lofty stories above
n low basement are covered by Il shingled
roof pierced Will dormer windows. Large
Gothic windows of the Henry VIII shape
are filed with Z by . glass and afford relief
TO the solid walls Of stone and stucco that
have so well survived the ravages of quite
half a century, though the iron rust streaking
An' AAA' ~ iFVNf 6iV'A AAiNN -,
waspS' nests under the caves. and the woim-
mcnse chimneys, already lettering to their
fall, give evidence of approaching ruin. At
least this was the case until a very few years
ago, when the building was partially reno
waited and put into "A much more habitable
shape.
Directly under the pediment is this inscrip-
ton in golden letters upon a block Of white
marble: House Of the Lord. Built by the
| Church of Christ, 1884 The original in
| scription had the words ''of the Latter Day
| Saints" in place of the words "of Christ"
| \ small plot is rallied of by a light fence,
| passing through which we stand upon the
| broad stone steps that lead to the solid green
| doors, paneled i'm old fashioned shapes, and
| opening into a yostibule which extends across
| the entire front. At either end of the vesti-
| bulo Is a semi-circular stairway, and the floor
| above is cut away from the wall far enough
10 allow the light TO enter from above, thus
| giving the effect Of the cabin Of a steamer.
The temple register room is at the right I'M
der the stairway. Here is u very interesting
record OF visitors 90 the place. On the
blank wall parallel with the front is the La
dies Entrance at the right, and the Gen
L AlA' = az Wv ~ UNIV
ing inscriptions decorate the wall between
the doors: "Iaus Deo,n "Crux Mini Ancho-
"a Magma Neritas ct Prevalent
As we enter the main auditorium W e notice
that il does not extend TO the two stories, as
is usual with New England meeting houses.
On the contrary, the ceiling IS high, aud So
only one story has been used. This allows
the story above to be used for other purposes,
10 be described hereafter. And yet, rs one
enters the room the columns Of carved wood
give the effect Of a gallery. The columns,
however, are simply contriyances 10 give
effect 90 the arch in the center of tie ceiling.
The columns were also Of considerable U.S. for
the working OF windlas,es. etc. At the time
when large curtains were let down tusepGrato
The men from the women, and again to sep
arate the larger from thcsmailer q each sex,
not only could the audience be halved and
chartered In this way, but even the pews
were supplied with benches that could be
moved from one side to the other. so that the
whole audience might face directly about at
very short notice. The object OF this was
that they might change their mode of wor-
ship, and turn from one cluster of pulpits ut
one end of the room to another cluster OF
pulpits at the other end. The clusters OF
pulpits rise in each instance three tiers, with
three in a tier. Therefore, The room Is well
supplied with pulpits. there being nine ineach
end.
" the eastern end OF the room the cluster
Of pllpits is devoted to the Aarouic priest
hood. which also included the L%evitical priest
hood and administered the temporal affairs
Of the church. Each of the three pulpits in
the upu4r tier has upon the front the letters
"B. J.. A. meaning Bishop Presiding over
Aaronic Priesthood. The middle tier has
the letters "P. A.. p Presiding Aaronic
Priese. The lower tier has "P. ~ r. Pre-
sidins Aaronic Teacher. 4 smaller pulpit
below is labeled "P. \. D. Presiding
Aargnic DoOrkeeper. The pulpits against
the storm end are built up against an outer
window. with alternate panes OF ret and
white glass in the arched ransom. These
pul,its were occupied by the spiritual leaders,
or the Melchi-cdec priesthood, jos Smiths
} sat being in the highest tier. This tier OF
uulrits IS marked M. i. c. MClchisedec
President Of CounseloTs; the middle tier n
marked M. +. H. P.,n Melchrcdec Presiding
High Priest: the lower tier Is marked m. H.
+ % Mclchiseiec High Priest. Asimple desk
below seryod for the Mclchisodec Presiding
Elder. The letters are in red curtain cord.
Tho desk itself like all the pullits above rs
covered with green calico.
In tie earlier days IL was arranged that
curtains from above could be dropped be
tween the different tiers Of the priesthood,
but also 50 arranged that while those OF ono
decree might shut themselves away from the
audience "for consultation they could not
hide themselves from their superioIs IN &c
clesiastical rank. In the earlier days also
rich velvet upholstery set off hecarved work
of the pulpits, and golden letters shone from
suots which are now simply n.'rked BY black
paint. The gilt holdings winch formerly
Ornamental the plain white finn n OF the
, woodwork were first taken away by the van
, dals and then entirely removed by the 'aith-
/, full Upon the walls may be read the Lot-
/ toes. 40 Gross, no Crown" The Lore
t Eeicneth: Let His People Rejoice Great
s is our Lord and of Great Power while from
I the window over the MelchIsedec pulpits Is
the text. Holiness to the Lord"