The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-05-29

pie, and with impressive, appropriate SER
vices, Hedding Methodist Episcopal Church
at Barre was dedicated last Thursday after
noon. Inasmuch as all Methodism, and
especially inside the bounds of the Vermont
Conference, Is interested in this beautiful
edifce, full and accurate description OF the
building is desirable. This we are enabled
to give with the assistance of Rev. W. r.
Davenport, the pastor,
The new church is not only the finest
church edifce in Barre, but also the most
elegant and modern structure owned by the
Methodists within the bounds of the Yer
mont conference. 1t is situated on corner
lot fronting Washington street, and the
park on the south, and Church street on
the east and is thus located on one Of the
most eligible sites within the city limits.
The extreme dimensions of the building
are nearly 80 feet on Washington street and
100 feet on Church street, and the general
style of architecture combination of Gothic
and Romanesque. The roof is broken by
various projections and gables so that it has
the appearance of combination of build
ings, and is far from the traditional style OF
the Methodist chapels of the olden time
The foundation is of rock-faced Barre gran
lite laid in a tasteful manner, and the body
of the edifice is of brick with granite trim.
mings. The tower is of an original type,
and greatly adds to the effect veness of the
appearance as a whole. There are two en-
frances on Washington street. and a side
entrance to the PASTORS study from the
Church street front. AS one goes up the
stone steps leading to the entrance through
the tower, he finds himself on an outer
porch which is flanked by polished granite
columns and hoored with variegated mar
BILE tling from the Swauton quarries. En-
tering, either through the tower, or at the
west side entrance, the worshipper comes to
a spacious inner porch from which an en-
trance may be had to the chapel in front.
the main auditorium, or the basement be-
low. These inner porches or vestibules are
well warmed and lighted, and furnish a
good opportunity for the welcoming of
strangers. They can also be thrown d.
rectly into the main audience room, thus in.
creasing the seating capacity. There are
three sets of doors with double. acting
hinges so that noiseless entrance may be
made by those who are detained beyond the
usual hour of assembling.
Both the main auditorium and the chapel
in front are finished into the roof with a
combination Of circular and gothic arches
and pillars, and the effect is very pleasing.
The floor Of the audience room is bowled,
and gradually descends from every point to
the rostrum, thus giving each occupant of
the pews-which are amphitheatrical in
form-an equally good view of the speaker.
In these days of large hats and pulled
sleeves this is no mean advantage. This
room will seat 425 in the pews, the chapel in
tuUil mo In, oh oirp nd nno N
cial occasions, enough rooms can be thrown
together to get 800 persons within easy range
of the speakers voice, thus making it by far
the largest edifce of its kind in the city.
Opening out from the chapel is ladies' par
Tor on one side, and two class rooms on the
other side. These class rooms can be
thrown together by means of sliding doors,
and also into the audience room by means
of raised glass doors, as is the case with the
ladies' parlor On the right of the pulpit in
the audience room is the PASTORS study
with closet, while on the left is cloak room
from which there is an entrance to the or
chestra, which is of ample size for the
choir and large pipe organ.
The whole interior is finished in the finest
quartered oak, and the workmanship and
finish are second to none. No pains were
spared to have this portion of the work as
perfect as possible, and it would be difficult
TO find in this section of the country piece
of workmanship the equal of the panel work
in front of the orchestra The windows are of
a chaste and beautiful design, and are from
the celebrated house of Edison Lewis & Co.
of Boston. The large window on the east
was erected by the church in memory of
Luther Beckley, and the one on the left by
his widow in atfectiOnate remembrance OF
William ID. Hooker, both of whom were for
many years eminent and useful members of
the church. The window on Washington
street has an Epworth League emblem, and
fittingly celebrates the size and worth OF
ha nann1ata tp1
the church. Another window was donated
by the fiOurishing Junior League. The
decorations of the interior are of quiet
kind, and the best judges declare that they
finely blend together, and produce restful
effect. The basement of the church con
tains dining-room thirty feet square, a
large kitchen, a cloak room, and modern
sanitary arrangements. Two large furnaces
which have been put to severe test the pas,
winter, amply heat the entire editce.
The work was done by contract, save the
foundation, which was put in by Messrs
Ward & Douglass, but under the persona
supervision Of the building committee, con
sistng Of George p. Boyce, chairman; L. A
Gale, superintendent of construction; Judge
W. K. Barney, f. d. Beckley, V. e. Ayers
and the pastor, Rev. w. r. Davenport
Much Of the success of the enterprise is du'
to the constant and careful supervision o
Mr.. Gale. Mr.. Boyce, the chairman of thu
committee, has also given tue work larg,
would have cost large amount but for tn,
fact that it was given free of expense to tn,
society. The other members Of the com
mittee have also given material assistanc,
TO the work of oversight and execution
Mr.. Alfred Lane was the efficient foreman
and took personal interest in the worl
from the outset.
Some articles of furniture are gifts to tn,
society, the pulpit Bible being from DIR. j
Henry Jackson, hymnbook for the pulpi
and set of nine others for the choir from
w. f. Morse; the pulpit itself was donate,
by Messrs. John W. and Henry W. Roberts
The table for the chapel was contributed b.
Mrs. +. R. Northrop's Sunday-school class
A large and elegant sign for the exterio
of the building was furnished by generou
friend of the society who has lately becom
member. The stone for two of the out
side porches were given by the Acme Gran
tie Company.
The work of turning and polishing thes
columns was done by Mcdonald & BuchaI
Barclay Bros, and w. A. Lane. A larg
West Shore range was given by DIR, q.
Scrbner for the kitchen. The society
under great obligations to these and othe
frian1a fauOra ranIp red