Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-03
DEDICATION OF REFORMED CHURCH.

DEDICATION OF REFORMED CHURCH.
Sunday was happy day for the Re
formed congregation, who worship on the
corner of Topeka avenue and Lewis street.
1t was the contamination OF long and
earnest struggle to complete one of the
finest church edifices in the city, and the
occasion of its dedication to the service OF
the devine God. Its erection WAS begun
in the spring of 1887. 1t was put under
roof, and the first story completed by Oc-
tober of the same year. Since that time
the congregation was satisfied to worship
in the large, airy and pleasant basement.
But few months ago it was decided to
finish and furnish the auditorium. This
neoessftaUed the raising of considerable
funds, but the pastor, Rev. j. ". Love,
aided by his members, went to work with
energy and determination. and succeeded,
even beyond their expectation, in securing
the means to complete and furnish tins
beautiful structure.
The first story is of range cut stone: the
second of Wichita brick, with stone trim
nings The roof Is of the best Pennsyl-
vania slate. On the front there
are two towers, approached by
stone steps. The entrances are
through the towers as YeStIbules.
Between the towers is a large triple WIN
dow On the rear is a spacious pulpit
recess. The window openings are gothic.
and the entire external appearance is ar
tistic and handsome.
Entering the basement from the north
side, we find large light pleasant Sunday
school room ten feet to the ceiling in the
clear. Back OF this are primary and bible
class rooms and furnace room, in which
there is a large Rutan furnace. From the
northeast corner there is stairway to the
chancel, and from the northwest corner
stairway into the tower vestibule. The
auditorium is 39x62 feet in the clear with
pulpit recess, and ceiling 26 feet from the
floor. The windows are of costly stained
glass-the large front window in memory
of the first pastor, Rev. T. G. Brown. put
in by Mrs. e. NJ. Brown, mis- widow, is es-
pecially fine. 1t contains the life-sized
figure of shepherd bearing lamb in his
arms. On the right is a large emblem of
cross and crown with the inscription,
Faith and Victory on the left, the en-
bleln is large anchor, with
the words, Hope and Safety"
There are also other embiems, as
the all seeing eye and the keys 1t is be-
lieved to be one of the finest windows in
any western church. Another beautiful
and costly window contains life size por-
trait of deceased daughter of Elder j.
Henry Brown, of College Hill There
are double windows ON either side of
of chancel, and single ones along the sides
all in high style of art and producing a
very pleasing effect. The ceiling is finish |
ed with heavy wood brackets and fresco |
pannels. The side walls are In gray fresco |
and in the pulpit recess there is a perspec- |
tive Of receding wall with a rising sun over |
it-au emblem of gospel light. Over the |
recess in circular form is the sentence. |
1.-The Lord is in His Holy Temple" The |
pews are Of walnut and Tennessee gum |
with curved seat and back. The pulpit, |
altar, reading desk, chancel and pulpit |
chairs are adj elegrart. The carpet is one 1
Of the best all wool ingram. The cost of |
the lots and church was $22, 900. About |
"a, 5000 of this was contributed by eastern |
friends. From 900 to 5000 persons have |
pecuniary investments in this church |
building, having given twenty-five cents |
up, toward its erection. A large number |
of the leading citizens have generously |
The building itself is a credit to the con-
gregation and heir city of fine structures. |
1t is SO constructed that if necessary to |
enlarge it can be done by taking out the |
back wall and adding trancept, so as to |
accommodate n very large congregation. |
The Reformed people, with their pastor, |
deserve much praise for their enterprise |
and energy in completing the fine church |
edifice.
AT the dedicatory service every available /
space was occupied on Sunday. Rev. J.
r. Skinner, of lola, Kan, preached an able |
and instructive sermon. Rev. j. w. Love,
the pastor. performed the dedicatory act |
proper. Revs. Horner, of the South EN-
poria Methodist Episcopal church; Marsh,
of the South Topeka Congregational
church, and Hamilton, of the Lincoln
Street Presbyterian church, were present
and assisted in the service. with large del
egations of their congregations. The
singing by the choir was very fine The
day was bright and everything passed off |
successfully. In the evening Rev. A.
Casselman, of Lyons, preached an interest
ing sermon to large audience. Revs. d.
b. Shuey, of Emporia, and Kemp Of
Wichita university, were present and took
part in the service. There was quite
delegation of Reformed people present
from Whitewater and Peabody.
The special donations were: Mrs. NJ. E.
Brown. triple window, J. Henry Brown
memorial window; Revs. ID. B. Shuey and
j. w. Love. double window: the Sunday
school. double window and pulpit chairs;
the Missionary society, a window; j. c.
Fallory, of York. Pa. pulpit altar and
reading desk: Missionary society of Re-
formed church. Martinsburg, Va, COM
munion set: Mrs r. l.. Bostic. commun
ion linen; W. III. III. Troupe and his class,
walnut collection plates and stand; the
choir, baptismsl service; Paul and Silas
Brown. reading desk; the ladies of the
congregation the carpet
POULTRY AND PET STOCK.
-i,hx, 6, |, Lii; af