Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-01-04
UNllY CHURCH.
The Salem Unitarian Society Take
Possession of Their New Church
Home.

The electric cars were crowded
Sunday morning with the church
going crowds destined for the unique
structure erected by the Unitarian
society the past year at the corner OF
Chemeketa and Cottage streets. II
will be of interest to note that the
society was organized by few per.
SOUS April 25, 1889, and the corner
stone of the building, now formally
occupied by several hundred people,
was laid July IA, 1891.
THE INTERIOR
of the church is finished in oiled
natural woods. The ceiling is
divided into sections by three solid
fir architrave braces girded up in a
most substantial manner. Between
these divisions dormer windows OF
stained glass pour ia the light OF
heaven in subdued streams. On
north and south sides are parterres
of colored corrugated glass. A gal
lery runs across the east end, sep
artted if desired by rolling screen
curtains of wood. The walls are
unpainted, and here appears the
only defect in an almost perfect
architectural ensemble soft brown
or slate tint on the walls would
harmonic all. But this and other
finishing touches will no doubt in
time be put on.
IN THE BASEMENT
are kitchen, store rooms, an unfin-
ished lecture room and perhaps
library and gymnasium. When
these details are completed this will
indeed be- a church home. The en-
trance from Cottage street is a
pleasing one. A square hallway
finished in Oregon pine, California
redwood, native ash and oak rails-a
central stairs leading into the base
mention either side a stairway
rising to the main auditorium and
school room above.
THE DEDICATION.
A large and fashionable audience
filled the new church even to stand
ing room at the morning service,
when the structure was formally
dedicated to the service of God.
The comfortable opera chairs, ar
ranged in semi-circle, held an
audience that thoroughly enjoyed
the pleasantly lighted and nicely
warmed room. Hubert Thompson
and Harvey Jordan ushered and
Miss Mary Steiner presided at the
new pipe organ. The choir, after
an organ prelude, sang an anthem,
"Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
in an easy, expressive and we'll
trained manner. The opening serv-
ices were simple and devoid of all
formality and show. Mr.. Brown,
the minister, then read Scripture,
and the choir and congregation sang
an original dedicatory ode written
for the occasion by Mrs. Olive S.
England, lady who has done as
much as, if not more than, any one
person to call this beautiful structure
into existence within the past year.
DEDICATION ODE.
Father, in thy presence now
We have come with hearts aflame
With the love that emanates
From thy great and holy name.
Let no worldly thoughts intrude,
But with spirits pure and free,
Like the rosebud kissed by dew,
May our souls responsive be.
Now the emanations pure,
BY the christ'ning from above,
Gives thy children power divine.
Fills our souls with peace and love;
As before Thy shrine we bow,
Every heart casts out all fear,
well the tender love
OF our Father now and here.
In no kingdom far away
Seek we for heaven pure,
But within our souls shall be
All Of love that shall endure.
In this house we dedicate
70 Thy service, we shall fluid
That the service of our God
Is the service of mankind.
Rev. w. Z. Copeland of the
Tacoma society offered the dedica-
tory prayer. a solo was rendered
by Mrs. III. b. Holland, when the
dedicatory responses by minister
aud congregation were read in an
impressive manner.
THE SERMON.
After a chant by the choir, Rev.