Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-24
'BY MANY MINISTER'S.
Reopening Exercises at the Butler Street
nj. E. Church-Wcll.K Known Clergymen-
SrnninI nIuuin nnd prnffx Elnxvars

Reopening Exercises at the Butler Street
nj. Z. Church-WcIl. Known CIergymen-
Special Music and Pretty Flowers.
A group of notable ministers occupied the
pulpit seats at Butler Street NJ E. Church
yesterday morning. The occasion was the
reopening of the main auditorium of the
church. 1t has undergone extensive i'm
provements in addition to the building OF
one of the finest pipe-organs in the city.
Both organ and Improvements have been
described in THE DISPATCH during the
past week.
The sermon of the morning was delivered
by Rev. Lucien Clark, D. D., assistant edi-
tor of the New York Christian Advocate.
DR.. Clark was pastor of the Butler Street
Church before he removed to New York
City. He went first from here to Erie to NIL
pastorate there, but the celebrated DR..
Buckley, editor of the greatest church paper
in the denomination, recognized DIR. Clark's
attainments and made him his assistant. On
DIR. Clark's right yesterday sat Rev. w. B.
Watkins, D. D., of New Brighton. He
was also a former pastor OF But
Ter Street Church. His reputation as
scholarly orator has always given him
high rank in the clergy. His ability
in educational lines induced q great pub
fishing firm recently to issue school text
book written by him. Other literary work
has been produced by his pen. Rev. Rich
ard Jordan, now retired clergyman, sat on
the left of the pulpit. He is venerable in
his bearing, and enjoys the honor OF having
IL ,Iarc in q
Pittsburg conference. He is English, and
preached in England before coming to
Pittsburg. The fourth clergyman on the
platform was Rev. w. II. Pearce, d. D.,
the present pastor of the church. He has
become too well known in Pittsburg to re-
ouire introduction. As Sunday school
organizer, and a thorough, versatile pastor,
his reputation is wide, owing to his connec-
ton with Sabbath school assemblies at
Chautauoua, Lakeside and Bay View,
Mich. There should be added to this group
of min1sters.Mr. David D. Wood, the emil
nent organist of St. Stephens P. E. Church,
of Philadelphia. He operated the new
grand organ here yesterday by special invl-
tatiou. In the audience sat his brother,
Captain John A. Wood, the Pittsburg coal
operator. Mr.. James Jordan, Butler streets
regular organist, accompanied the organ
YESTERDAY on the flute The voluntaries of
the morning service were musical and
mastery feature of the day
Flowering plants of the season, exotics OF
the nursery, and palms of Southern cline,
were arranged in imposing style around the
pulpits and organ. Downstairs in the Sun
day school apartments, the floral display
was chiefly one of cut flowers in hanging
baskets and vases. A part of the lecture
room has also been refrescoed and recarpeted.
A Sunday school platform service COM
menced at 2:30. It was conducted by Mr..
S. Hamilton, the superintendent. This
is the largest Protestant Sunday school
in the city. Rev. j. W. Miles. D. D., pre-
siding elder of the district, and Rev. B. T.
Beazell, of Oakland, attended this service,
They delivered addresses in addition to the
short talks by Rev. W. B. Watkins, w. G.
Moreland, ESQ.,, the City Attorney; Messrs.
john Matthews, William Taylor and
William Thompson, all former superintend-
ents of the school. DR.. Clark also spoke.
The congregational singing of the school
was led by an orchestra of four pieces, Mr..
Granville Wood, of Michigan, the builder
of the new organ, playing the flute and Mr..
Jordan acting as conductor. Mr.. Hamilton
managed the whole affair with marked abil-
ity.
An eventide praise service was held at
7:15 P. M. The church has no regular
choir, the singing being generally led by
the precenter, Prof Murphy, who is one of
the trio of Murphy brothers, well-known at
Chautauqua and at campmeetings. But
for this service Mr.. Murphy had formed a..
volunteer choir of the following persons:
Sopranos, Misses M. E. Johnston and Cam
eron; contraltos, Mrs. DeFite and Mrs.
Feets; tenors, Messrs. Fisher and Evans;
bassos, Messrs. Jones and Johnston, assisted
by others. The accompaniment on
the grand organ, was by James Jor-
dan. MANY sweet religious songs were
chanted by them. At 8o'clock sermon
was delivered by Rev. DIR. Watkins. At
both the morning and evening services i'm
mense audiences were present, neighboring
congregations of all denominations contrib
uting delegations.
There was no begging" yesterday. The
organ cost 81, 600 and the other improve
ments bring the total expenditure up to
over $1,000. Two-thirds OF this sum
has been deposited ready for pay
ment, and the balance of the money is
pledged by reliable people, so money was
not mentioned at the special services yester-
day. For such an excellent record Butler
Street Church owes much credit to its hard
working pastor DR.. Pearce.
A "chalk talk" by A. Y. Lea on Tuesday
night, and popular organ recital on Thurs
day night, will wind up the festivities at
the beautiful temple.