The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-15
DEDICATED BY GARDINER BApTlSTS
The Beautiful Edifice Erected by the
Society In that City.
Description Of the Building, Designed
by Portland Architects.
The Programme Of the Services Of
Dedication Yesterday.


LoPCSiai " thO ACoos
GARDINER, November 14.-The Baptists
of this city are today rejoicing over the COM
pletion of their new church edifce, and they
have reason for it. For eight years no regu-
lar services have been held, the old house Of
worship having been sold. They now have
building well adapted to the work of the
church. The cost has been $4,000, exclu-
sive Of the land. The Maine Baptist Mis-
sionary Convention has furnished S6350 of
this amount. The balance has been raised
on the field and the hous Is free from debt.
The prominent position Of this new church
renders 1t an already familiar feature in the
railroad. Perched as the bnilding Is on the
hillside, and picturesque In outline, 1t has
called forth many admiring comments from
travellers. Aud one who Is attracted by its
external appearance will find his pleasant
impression enhanced on entering its Interior.
The arrangement of the floor plan is similar
tothat of the church at Yarmouthville and
the church at Saccarappa. all three of these
churches being designed by the same archi-
tects, Messrs. Stevens u Cobb of Portland.
The Sunday school room or chapel forms an
apsidal wing at the front end, with entrances
Sunday school room Is the main audience
room, with its pulpit at the rear end, oppo-
site the sliding sash partition between the
main church and the Sunday school chapel.
This partition being slid up, these two apart
ments are thrown into one great audience
room. The choir and organ are at one hand
OF the pulpit platform, and the pastors re-
tiring room at the other. A cloistered porch
at the rear end gives entrance to the pastors
room.
This grouping Of rooms, picturesquely
beautiful in exterior effect-with the tower
at one side of the apsidal chapel-is yet more
pleasing within. The arrangement provides
a church available for either small or large
gatherings; a few people need not feel lone
some In the smaller rooms, while the whole
edifice may be thrown into one Apartment in
case Of large gathering.
The decorating Of the interior is done in
simple, rich colors. The stained glass win
d0ws are a trifie "loud" in design; the inte-
rior effect would have been improved had
the windows been Of more subdued charac
ter. Yet the total effect of the interior with
its tastefully colored walls and its exposed
timber work Is exceedingly pretty.
A notable feature Of the interior Is the
baptistry, arranged behind the pulpit with
screen. By this arrangement the ceremony
OF baptism Is made additionally impressive.
The house was dedicated this evening and
the following was the order of services.
Organ Voluntary.
lnvoeation.... Rev. A. r. Crane, d. d.
Anthem.
Reading OF Scriptures. REV. J: Z. Cochrane
Sermon ................ ....Rey VIM. III. Spencer
Hymn-Tune. st. Martins. :. Rev. J. M. Wyman
Report of Building Commttee. "A. y. Wing, Esq.
Addresses by eX-PaStcrS..
Rev. G. p. Mathews, d. D., Rev. @. NJ. Herring
p.no.,.,,on Anthem;
BenedlctlOn. Rev. j. Kicker. ID. ID.