The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-20
THE GROUND BROKEN.
First Work On the New First
Presbyterian Church.
Or. RAMSEY USED THE SPADE,
ADpsepstaes CsSsnssies Mark The Cen.
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8Ai1ee-lss AreAissesass.

A brsefand interesting ceremony marked
the breaking Of the sod yesterday after
noon on the lots at the northwest corner
Of Fourth and Seneca streets, in p.epa.a-
ton for the new edifice Of the First Pres
oytsrian church. About 100 OF the men,
eers OF the church assembled At O'Clock
on the ground, among them being the pas
tor. DR.. Alison. Rev. George r. Whi:worth.
d. d.. FIRST pastor and founder OF the
church. and DIR. Samuel Ramsey. chair
man Of its building committee. The ser
vices were opened BY the hymn. How
Firm . Foundation, Ys Saints OF the
Lord" Dr.. Alison then stepped forward
ana introduced DR.. Whitworsh. express
Ing - he did 20 his pleasure At the privi-
lego OF having the founder Of the congre-
CATION present DR.. Whitworth followed
With brief prayer and then DR.. Ramsey
removed few shovslfuls Of sod from the
center Of the lot.
Those present we're little disposed to
take humorous view OF the situation.
asking the doctor whether he Vas going
down ~ China" How much a cubic
yard" he vas doing il for. and one by
Islander suggested that. ~ true iaboring
man, be ought now 70 ''join de union."
and strike for more pay. The doctor took
IL in the best Of humor, and the breaking
OF the ground vas soon done. DR.. Alison
then made . few remarks. in which he
drew IN interesting parallel between the
bright sunshine which greeted this begin
ming Of the new church and the famous
Chalmers incident at the foundation Of
the free church Of Scotland fifty years ago.
At the meeting In Edinburgh where the
movement began, DR.. Chalmers wss speak
ing and read the third verse Of the KILL
Psaim:
Ossnd thy light forth and truth
Let them b guides TO me:
And bring me 20 thy Holy HIN
Even whsrs thy dwellings b
The day OF the gathering had been
lowering, but as DIR. Chalmers read these
words the sun burst out and some rays
coming through the window Of the church
fell across his face. This episode vas re-
garded almost - the ancients did good
omens and DR.. Alison, as he told the
episode. said that he hoped that the sun
shine then prevailing WAS also ominous Of
good for this church in its future career.
The hymn. "Ail Hail the Power Of Jesus
Name. and benedlction by DR.. Whitworth
concluded the services.
Work on the edifice will proceed forth
with. The contract requires that il shall Be
completed by November L. The structure
will be sOxll0 feet in size. OF brick with
stone foundations. The general design Of
the interior will be that Of the Paris opera
house. with parquet and parquet circle. The
seats will Do raised in various directions,
every part Of the vast auditorium being in
full view Of the pulpit. The capacity Of
the church Will be between 400 and ], 500.
1t will be seated with pews. not with
chairs. The pews will be of the most ap-
proved and comfortable design. with the
seats elegantly upholstered in hair. The
floors will also be covered with fine car
pet. There will be . gallery or balcony
circle Of graceful proportions around the
sides and rear of the building. The
Smead system Of ventilating and heating.
the system adopted BY the largest school
houses oil over the country. will be used
BY this system II does not matter how
long an audience remains in . room. the
atmosphere does not become vitiated The
First Presbyterian church will be the first
church on the Pacific coast to introduce
this system. 1t will also Be- the first
church on tho Coast to adopt the Paris
opera house style Of interior. The first
story or basement portion Of the building
will be arranged for lecture aud Sunday
school purposes. II will be Of high CELL
ing, large and roomy proportions. The
arrangements for primary and adult
school purposes will be the most modern
and approved. The surface covered for
this department will be that covered by
the church, with the exception of what is
reserved for coal and furnaces.
The pastors study will be one of the
handsomest pieces Of work in the build
irg. Is will be on the level Of the gallery
floor, fronting on Spring street and facing
Puget sound, with an unobstructed view
Of the bay and the Oiymrics. The Spring
street side will have q fine bay window
projecting four feet beyond the main wall.
There viii, be q window on each side Of the
fireplace, both windows facing the water.
On the opposite corner. facing Seneca
street and the bay. will be another room
Of similar dimensions, to he called 1.-The
session room" This room will be for the
meetings Of the session" or "vestry,"
aud will also be utilized by the women OF
the church for afternoon meetings of a
business character. Ii. like the study,
will contain a fireplace and other convent
ences and be furnished appropriately.
after the manner Of home parlor or draw
ms room.
The main entrances of the church will
be on Fourth street. on the Level. There
will be no stairs to climb except 10 the
gallery. There will be an entrance also
on the corner OF Spring street and the
alley. The exits will be numerous. large
and roomy. The aislcs of the church will
be five feet and four and half feet wide.
Three aud halt feet width is used in most
churches. IL viii be possible 10 empty the
church II very few minutes after the
close Of any service. While no action has
yet been taken IN the matter, 1t is not nn-
likely that q new and handsome organ in
keeping with the new surroundings will
be secured The church will he iilu-
minated throughout by electric light.
Altogether. the new Presbyterian church
will be aa important addition To the i'm
posing structures Of this rapidly growing
city. The present church, which ~iIl sea,
ahou, 60 only. Is too small 10 contain even
the mem hership OF the church. which is
now in the ne!shborhood OF 100 The
past six months has witnessed an addition
ef ia