The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-15
THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM
It's Opening Yesterday and Descrip-
ton of the Building.

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The new Sunday school building Of the
/ Independent Presbyterian church was
/ opened yesterday with a rather informal
/ service. The dedication Of the building
| will not take place until some time later
when all the details have been entirely
completed. II still remains to put in the
new chandeliers and - secure the seats
to be used in the school, as those now
being used are the chair 5 Of the old
Sunday school Of the church which were
saved from the fire.
The opening service was one of song,
followed by several addresses applicable
TO the occasion. The addresses were de-
uVered by Rev W. A. Nisbet of the Sec
ond Presbyterian church, MT. +. +.
Cunningham, superintendent Of the Sun
day school of that church. by Rev. Dr.
j. +. Dripps of the Independent Presby-
terrain and by Mr.. J.. T. Turner, superin-
tendent Of that Sunday school. The
school was opened with good attend
ance, and for the day the regular lesson
services were dispensed with. The build
ing will be used regularly for the Sunday
school services from now on. A descrip-
tlon of the new building is given here
with.
The exterior Of the building is of the
classical style Of architecture which is
known as the Roman DOric order. 1t har-
monies, therefore, with the church be-
side which it stands, so closely, indeed
that strangers approaching it from acToss
the square are apt to take it for a wing of
the church itself The effect is height
ened by the granite-gray color of the
Portland cement with which it is covered,
this hard and durable cement having
been mixed with specially selected sand
brought from beds in South Carolina.
Tho new building has no small advantage
by reason Of its prominent position on
the corner of Bull street and Chippewa
square, fronting eighty-fve feet on Bull
street and extending back ffty-nve feet
along the square. Having two stories
above the basement, It's total hight is
entirely in keeping with these dimensions,
and is such as to aid in the impression of
dignity which is made upon the spectator
even at the first glance.
There are two entrances in front, which
are situated at the northeast and at the
southeast corners, respectively. The en-
frances are through deep triangular
porches, which rise to the full hight of
the two stories, with doTic columns three
feet in diameter and twenty-four feet
high. The basement is arranged in rooms
which are available for social purposes,
or for parish work, with easy access from
the front entrances and also from a door
in the rear
On the main floor the central room is
ceiling "a feet high; this ceiling being of
steel with steel cornice, ribs and panels,
decorated in oil colors. Around this
auditorium, on each side, except that
on which the pulpit platform is placed,
are large rooms, which can be shut off
by folding glass DOORS or can be left
as part Of the main audience room.
over these are similar rooms which
form a second story on the same three
sides of the building, having a gallery
in front. This arrangement of the in
terror space is in accordance with what
is known as the Akron Plan" so called
because it originated at Akron, O., in
the same Office from which came the
plans of the present building.
The Sunday school building of the First
Presbyterian church in Augusta was
planned by the same architect, and
is well known as a remarkably success
full and handsome structure. One pecu-
liarity of this plan Is that it adapts it
self so fieXibly to audiences of varying
size. For a Sunday school class or a
small conference, one of the side rooms
can be taken and, indeed, several classes
can be held in any one of these rooms.
by the use of the screens, which are
meant to divide them into smaller sec
lions.
An audience of more than one hundred
and fifty can be easily accommodated in
the central auditorium, while by adding
from the additional rooms On this floor,
and from the gallery and second story,
there is space for an audience of five or
six hundred.
The vestibules and staircases, as wen
as the porches which lead to them, are so
| spacious and handsome as to produce a
most favorable impression The pulpit
platform is farked on each side by a
| lower platform seven inches high, with
! space for the piano and organ, and seats
. MI.
| well for effective music; and the whole
| interior is so bright and cheerful, so ample
| and airy as to make it a singularly at
| tractive as well as a practically useful
| structure. There is wainscoting three
| feet high around the entire extent of the
main story and the second story, includ-
| ing Vesubules and stairways, and this
wainscoting, as well as the doors and gal
| lery railing, with the woodwork in GEN
| eral, is of Quartered oak very beautifully
! finished. The Venetian sliding blinds of
| Norway pine add greatly to the general
effect on the exterior, as well as the in
! terror.
The heating and ventilation have re-
| ceived most careful attention, and with
! great success. There are two large fur
| naces in the bases, besides the hand
! some CRATES which adorn the main room
| above, and which are meant to aid in the
| still more thorough ventilation. The
! large ventilator in the ceiling in the au-
ditorium is but one of many devices
which are used in the interest of pure
! air for the audience. The building GER
! tainly ought to be remarkable for cool
| ness in summer and for being well venti-
| lated at all seasons. Mr.. Charles Henry
| of Akron, o., was the architect and Mr..
! w. S. Scott of Kent, O., acted as super
/ intendent OF construction, while the work
was done by well-known contractors of
/ our own city. The quality of workman
! ship is such as to reflect the highest credit
on those who produced it, and to give as
| surance that the Sunday school building
harmonizes well with the stately church
at its side, not only in style of architect
ure, but in honest solidity of construc-
! ton.