New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-15

COLONEL ELLIOTT r. SHEPARD.
structed as a memorial for him by his widow 1t
dedicated yesterday with htting ceremony III
the presence of a large audience.
The church stands at the intersection OF the old
Albany post road and the Long Hill road. and faces
toward the west To the ncrth Of IT, few hun
bred feet away is ancient buryng ground. with
its white marble gravestones half hidden In the
rank grass and Towering shrubs. and in the neigh
borhood are the country places of wealthy New
Workers. stretches OF lawn and meadow. groves OF
evergrcens and blossoming orchards. loveiier
spo; could hardly have been chosen for such a
temple Of worship When a visitor climbs the
hill from the Scarborough railway station he first
ornamental copper cross high in the air.
then the imposing bell tower and observatory. with
picturesque flying buttresses. and presently the en-
tire church building is in view.
HOW THE CHANGE WAS BROUGHT ABOUT.
The site Of the church was occupied by two beer
shops several years ago, when Colonel Shepard
purchased large place In the neighborhood. and
II soon came TO his knowledge that young farmers
OF the vicinity spent their nights drinking and
playing cards in the shops. He said they had
been serving the devil there long enough and he
intended to build church there in which they
might serve the Lord When his intentions be-
came known. the owners Of the ground demanded
price for it, but he paid the price
and caused the obnoxious beer shops to be re-
moved, He also purchased third saloon in the
neighborhood and converted ii into a chapel which
was placed in charge OF the Rev. F. F. Blessing
young minister who called TO be the pastor OF
the small Presbyterian Church that Colonel Shepard
had helped TO organize. From small band Of
worshippers. with only half dozen Sunday school
scholars, the congregation has grown TO about
800.
PLAN OF THE CHURCH
The sudden death of Colonel Shepard occurred
when he had engaged architect to draw plans
Az fhn ohm he nil
by his nephew, Augustus ID. Shepard. jr.. and his
partner in the firm OF Kaydel Shepard. the
architects. in East Nneteenth-st. The corner
stone OF the church was laid about two years ago.
and Mrs Shepard desired that no expense should
be spared to make the building in every way
fitting memorial. The main design Of the ground
plan is a cross porte cochere being one of the
short arms OF the cross and the pastors study the
other arm. In the rear Of the church proper Is
large sunday-school The walls Of the
building are constructed Of granite rubbie. with
trimmings OF Indiana limestone. The height Of
the tower Is l2O feet The exterior architecture is
of the French Renaissance order. The main
auditorium is eighty feet long and forty-two feet
wide. The interior is severely classical and Of the
Corinthan order. Carved corbels tie the
tablature to the carved ceiling. which Is con-
structed entirely OF California redwood The side
surfaces OF the ceiling are enriched with twenty
eight panels each six feet square, with carved ro-
settes in their centres. This design incloses in
huge frame large panel. which is subdivided
into many smaller panels with allegorcai carvings.
The six windows. zach nineteen feet high. have
beautiful designs in stained glass. The TWO mid
die windows bear the embems OF Christ. and the
other windows bear the emblems Of the four apos-
ties Matthew. Mark. Luke and John.
The choir dome and pulpit at the east end Of the
church are ornamented with rich carvings. the pull
Dit desk like the pews being made Of Gold cherry.
polished and carved While the keyboard OF the
organ Is in the rear OF the pulpit, the organ loft
Is In the other end OF the church. in the tower.
and there Is electrical connection between the organ
and the keyboard.
THE MEMORIAL TABLET
Elaborate carvings adorn the main entrance OF
the church Above the door Is tympanum OF
marble carved in ful relief representing the An
nuncat ion 1t Is the gift OF Mrs Shepards son-in-
law and eldest daughter. Mr.. and Mrs Wiah2tn J.
SchieffelIn. Above the door which leads from the
vas,!bule 10 the main auditorium Is marble slab
In which IL cut this inscription:
TIE Scarborough Presbyterian Church. ::
Erected 10 the Glory Of God. :;
In loving mtmory Of :
Elliott Fitch Shepard. :
by hts wife. !:
Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard. ::
in the year Of Lord !:
Ono thousand eight hundred and nine,y-,hree.
lie, u. meet together house OF God. within the
mple.-Nehemiah VI. 10.
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