The morning news., 1889-04-20
TO BE AN EXACT LIKENESS.
The Conditions Under w hich the In
dependent Church is to be Rebuilt.


The Conditions Under w hich the In
dependent Church is to be Rebuilt.
II is matter Of considerable moment to
the building committee Of the independent
Presbyterian church, Chairman Hardee
said yesterday, as to the best way to tear
down the walls of the old structure. 1t is
the desire Of the committee to retain as
much of the material in the burned build
ing as possible, and a means Of doing 50 has
been matter to which the committee has
given good deal of attention.
In the north wall, Mr.. Hardee thinks
that 40 per cent. of the stone can be saved,
and be thinks fully IS per cent.
in the worst damaged walls can be saved
The eastern wall is intact, and If
there is a remote possibility of the tower
being removed without damaging the wall
below it, the committee will strive to have
the contractor who tears down the tower
do so with that end in view.
It is a matter of sentiment as much
anything else that prompts leaving the wall
on which TO build the new church. 1t
will be a source Of some graft
ification to know that some part
of the old structure was not totally de-
stroyed. The stone was purchased from
Quincy, Mass. but Mr.. Hardee said he
thought the committee will be able to get
stono very much like that out of which
the church is con structed, in South Caro-
lima. The South Carolina stone. he said Is
very hard and durable and is very pretty
There is possibility Of getting the stone
from Atlanta, or the North Georgia quar-
ries, but OF course nothing pertaining to
this has been settled upon.
The committee fortunately bad drawings
and pictures of the old church. which are suf-
ticient to give Architect Preston a clear idea
Of what the reproduction must be. The
committee will accept nothing short of
completed structure as the other was, and
Mr. Preston has accepted its terms for
plans and estimates with that understand
ing. He promised the committee that
within three months the plans will be laid
before il, when estimates will be received
and at the earliest possible moment there
after the contract will be awarded. Mr.
Preston said that at the expiration Of
twelve months after the work has begun he
thinks the structure will be ready to be
turned over to the congregation, complete
reproduction OF the old edifice Not only
will the exterior be exactly similar to the
old one, but the interior will be as nearly
perfect likeness to it as it is possible to
make it.
MIR. Hardee was asked If the committee
will replace the old pulpit. "As sure as
the church is rebuilt, just as sure will that
old mahogany pulpit be put back in it, "
The pictures Of it, possessed by almost
everybody, render it an easy matter to
have it reproduced" The old pulpit was
held in too great favor to think of leaving
it out when the church is rebuilt Mr.. Har-
dee said that on one occasion when there
was some talk of a change, or of remodel
ing a part of the Interior it was rumored
that the old pulpit was in danger of being
seized by the carpenters, and devout sister,
believing the report, came to him and in all
earnestness said: 1.-The shadows of our an-
cestors will rise up against you for such
piece Of vandalism"
So intense is the desire Of the congrega-
tion to have the old pulpit replaced, tnat a
Children's Pulpit Aid Society has been or
ganized, and the young people are working
zealously to raise fund for its reproduction.
The floor of the church will be of black
and white marble, as it was some years
ago. After the church is completed, work
will be begun on the Sunday school
building. A change in the mate
rial of this structure will be
made. Instead of rebuilding out of brick
it will be fashioned like the church and will
be constructed of the same kind of stone as
that used in the church.
Between $75, 600 and $50, 900 are available
for the church rebuilding fund now, and it
is pretty safe to say that the amount will be
sweled to 100000 in three months. 1t is
not likely that the edifice can be reproduced
for q smaller gum