The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1891-12-19
$500 PER YEAR.
BEAUTIFUL BETHEL.
description of Chicago's Magnificent
New A. M. E. Church.
One of the Handsomest Church Structures
Owned by Afro-Americans in the
United States-Also a Sketch of the
Pastor Rev. Geo. w. Gaines.

This beautiful Temple of worship was
dedicated Oct. 18th, 1891. The church is
an imposing structure of buff Bedford
stone and St. Louis pressed brick, with
a massive tower pointing Heavenward.
IL fronts two streets and an alley. The
dimensions are ll0x59 #. and ten inches
two stories above grade with SUBJ base
ment. There are three main doors two
leading through the tower one from
Dearborn street and one from 3Oth street
and one from 3Oth. street at the S. E..
cor. near the alley. Three stairways
lead to the auditorium. The sub. base
ment contains the boiler room fuel room
and gentlemen's toilet rooms. On the
first flor is located the large lecture
room used by the Sunday school. The
weekly meetings. lectures and concerts
Upon an elevated platform there is a
baptlstery consisting of pool with steam
heating apparatus to warm the water.
two dressing rooms, one for ladies and
one for gentlemen. Underneath the
ladies' dressing room is ladies' toilet
room with latest improvements Ada
cent to the lecture room Is the library a
kitchen and large dining hall. The
kitchen is furnished with water, q gas
cooking range and a large disbery,
dishes and table linens. The dining hall
is furnished with four large extension
tables The kitchen and dining hall are
situated above the boiler room, four feet
above grade and being along the alley side
of the building, the light through large
plate glass windows is perfect. The en-
tire east end of the building is cut off
from the auditorium by wall. Above
the XII chen and dining hall on the second
floor are the parlors one for ladies, one
for gentlemen, and the patsor's study
from which door leads to the pulpit.
Above the parlors on the third floor is
the lyceun beautiful hall built for the
Young peoples literary societies, which
;is also rented to secret societies
and it is expected that a considerable
revenue will be derived from this source.
1t has cloak and toilet rooms attached.
The auditorium on the second floor is one
of the most beautiful to be found in the
country being nearly square with a large
balcony extending across each end and
along the south side. The pulpit plat
form is on the north side with the choir
gallery up to the right. It is ceiled over
head and has massive exposed beams
which combine strength and beauty.
The entire wood work is Georgia pine
oiled and vanished. The walls are
artistically decorated and two hundred
and ten gas jets shed a flood of light
which reveals the beauty of the entire
room, with it's beautiful tints and hues.
There are over nine hundred beautiful
opera chairs of the latest improved
design fastened to the floor and space
for hundred more. The building is
heated throughout by steam and is
thoroughly furnished. 1t is carpeted from
the street door sill throughout at cost
of twelve hundred dollars. Beautiful
situation. Bethel church is located in
the midst of the resident portion of
Chicago's best people, the church men,
bership is constantly increasing and the
congregation is growing The church's
work is credit to the race and reflects
honor upon the pastor trustees, and the
good people of Bethel congregation,