The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12
CHURCH DEDICATION
Presbyterians of NOblesville in
Possession of a New Home.
Miss Collins Under Guard at Lafayette
-Terre Haute Merchant Indicted
for Railing.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind, Feb. 1.-THE new
church to-day formally dedicated by the
Presbyterians of this city is an edifice that
is a credit to the congregation. The at
tendance to-day taxed the seating capacity.
The ~dedtcatory sermon was preached by
Rev. Charles Little, of Wabash.
a remarkable feature of the new church
enterprise consists in the fact that when
the initiatory steps were taken the church
membership was less than 120 and without
a pastor. DR.. George Burroughs, presi-
dent Of Wabash College. was invited to
preach one Sunday. After DR.. Burroughs
arrived he was advised that he would be
expected to make an appeal for subscrip-
lions for the purchase of a new lou and
erection of a new church. He preached a
strong sermon and then called for subscrip-
tons. In less than thirty minutes 5000
had been pledged, to which additional sub
ScrlptonS were added. A new lot was pur-
chased, the old property sold and the pro-
ceedS added TO the fund. The Rev. John
M, Davies, of Grand Rapids, accepted a
call to the pastorate Of the church and at
once entered heartily into the work. The
trustees purchased a splendid property two
doors east of the church for a manse, and
to-day the new house OF worship was dedi-
Gated. The financial affairs of the church
nave been so admirably arranged that
there was no formal appeal for funds as
Is usual on such occasions, and all this
HdS D6Sn accomplished IN less imam q year
by a church that was numerically weak
and which for years had struggled for ex-
istence- Thus 1t would seem that the true
spirit of Presbyterianism is asserting itself
in NOblesville and the church seems TO
nave entered a new era and bids fair to
become one of the strong churches in the
Muncle PreSbytery. During the building of
the new church services were held in the
court room. which is not we'll adapted to
church services.
The building stands in a conspicuous To-
cation at the southeast corner of Conner
and Jack streets, with a frontage of sixty
six feet and a depth of ninety-six feet. The
foundation is of Bedford stone to a height
or four and one-haif feet. The walls are of
pressed brick, with windows of finest quail
ity colored cathedral glass, each window
being a memorial of special design. The
architectural design is unique and pleasing
TO the eye, the corner being rounded to
avoid broad blank gables. The roof is of
black slate and consists of a series of
square and round gables so arranged as TO
rise terrace-like and thus avoid all ugly
shapes. AT the northwest corner rises a
massive square tower, the first floor of
which is laid with beautiful thing and
forms the principal v~eStibule. A similar
but less pretentious tower and vestibule are
at the northeast corner. From each vesti-
bule two doors open; one into the auditor
ium, and one into the lecture room. The
lecture room Is at the rear or the auditor
ium, and is so arranged that by the open
ing OF a large sliding door II at once forms
q part of the auditorium, thereby affordinS
comfortable sitting for $50 people. All in
terror woodwork is of quartered oak, the
ceiling in a measure conforms to the roof.
and together with the walls is beautifully
frescoed. The floor is b~owl-shaped. The
choral gallery and organ loft are in the
rear of the pulpit and elevated six feet
above the level of the rostrum. witt a
handsome!y-carved oak balustrade across
the front. At the left of the pulpit is the
pastors study, and to the right the wom-
er's parlor. The pews are of highly-pol-
ished panneled oak, arranged in Semi-cir-
cular rows. The entire building is lighted
by electricity. The basement is accessible
from the east vestibule and is arranged for
~Sunday-school classes and church enter
tainments. The organ will not be built
for the present, but is designed to be of
the latest and most improved construction.