Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-25

The church season opens after the the
atre season and before the opera and
social season.
This season opened Ia New York yes
terday. Tic was about q week earlier
THAI usual. There was time when
October I marked It's beginning. Now
IL is November 1. This Is because the
people who belong 70 the church re-
main out Of town longer than they did
formerly.
Sometimes the church season opens
without any unusual occurrence 20 marx
&C. Usually there is some distinguish
ing event, like the opening or st. Bar
tholOmeWs Church yesterday.
The services at St. Bartholomew
were not only important because they
marked the opening OF the religious
season. To was the first time the church
has been opened since June /. Dr.
Greer, the rector OF the church, IL Will
be remem bered, asked FOR large sum
of money az one of the services 10 April
for making some improvements IN the
church. More than $50, 900 was sub
scribed at once. All summer these i'm
provements have been making. They
are not yet completed.
When the congregation came into the
church yesterday they saw that the In
terror had been transformed. A new
and larger chancel had been built.
Against the rear wall is reredOS OF
pure white marble, with a reproduction
10 high relief OF the last Supper"
gift from ]. w. Barrow On either side
of the white altar are panels OF onyx
set In marble and decorated In mosaic
with tiny squares Of gold. Above Is a
huge arch panel In frame Of twisted
bronze. relieved with bright gold. In
the future this panel will bear
painting.
The pulpit, memorial to Daniel Con-
verse Blodgett, is OF rich dark oak,
deliberately carved and inlaid In dell
cate patterns with maple. The chairs,
choir benches and other furnishings
follow the same design. The floor OF
the chancel is Of marble, inlaid TO vari-
Gus tints Ia arabesQue mosaic, and the
chancel rail is of massive onyx.
Two new organs occupy spaces on
either side of the the chancel behind
the choir benc Rs. That on the left
contains the keyboard. This will have
an electric conHection with the great
organ over the main entrance, so that
the three organs will be played from
one keyboard having 10 stops.
New capitals, decOEoted ia gold, crown
the columns ia the body OF the church.
Twelve brilliant electric chandeliers are
lighted whenever there is a service.
Everything movable has been renewed
except the black walnut pews.
The fact that those members OF So
ciety who also are members OF this
church Of the millionsires, as it is some
times called, considered the opening
XesAs1si Y an eys6t OF Importance IS
shown by t&ea-sSarge number who were
present. There was no fashionable
church in the city which had so large
ratio OF members at the services.
There were many strangers as well.
They could bs distinguished easily
from the very rich and fashionable New
Workers. They were more gayiy dress
ed.
The observing ones OF these strangers
saw sud experienced many curious and
interesting things, aud they heard mag
nffcent music. Those who came early
We're not seated az once. AS in all fash
ionable churches where the seats are
not free. they were directed TO wait IN
al it could be known what pew
holders would not occupy their sit
tings. When this was determined
an the strangers were seated. Very
modest and unassuming people found
the little pew gates Hospitality opened
for them, and they sat beside some Of
the richest men in the country without
having the slightest idea whose guests
they were unless they caught sight OF
the silver name-plate on the door.
The cushions 10 the pews and the
bassocks upon which they kneel are
very soft and comfortable. Some Of the
very rich people and others who are old
have cushions for their backs.
There Is one time when society can
be derended upon TO wear the sombrest
Rarb. That Is when 10 goes 90 church.
IL is the strangers who wear pretty
frOcks with bright COlors. The gowns
OF the fashionable women are thor
ouqby correct, OF course, but they
never attract attention. They are the
most unobtrusive froCks imaginable.
Coming out OF ST. Bartholomew yes
terday morning was pretty young
woman who wore'a bright and dainty
costume which some people would de-
scribe as stunning
81 never saw such plainly dressed
CONGREGATION, she said audibly to her
eompapion. Women 10 Chicago would
never dream OF going TO church in such
upattractive gowns. One would think
every body was In mourning"
The Young woman added that she
spDposed the lich society people we're
ont of town That shows she didn't
know. for many of the richest and most
Drominent members Of the church at
tended the service The young woman
vas in very fashionable society, but she
didn't know it. And she millions rep
resented would make ones head swim
20 count them.
There was a large representation Of
the Vanderbilt family-Mrs. Wander
hin Mr.. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
George Vanderbilt and Mr.. and Mrs
w X. Vanderbilt. There were also W.
q Whitney aud Miss Whitney the
Pbipelan6ers, the LivingStOns, Austin
Corbin. Alfred White, W. w. sherman,
Ceorge Kent. Mrs w. L. Smith, the
Coelets. DR.. Stephen Main, &. u. VIII
iams w. II. Croker, aud many others
those names take fOrmOst places 10 the
social and financial register.
these people took part IN the services
With well-bred interest. In fashion
sble churches people do not take much
mart in the singing but follow the
bvmps with the movement Of the lips
80 respond audibly to the prayers. At
- Rartholemay's yesterday-and this
q true of an fashionable churches
tbare were few children, not more than
LoTsa dozen in a thousand people.