Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-28
IN A NEW CHURCH
How the Swedenborgians Celebrated
Thanksgiving.
THEIR EDIFICE COMPLETED AND OPENED
Formal Dedication to Take Place
Next May.
SERVICES HELD TODAY

Very nearly one year ago today ground
was broken for the splendid rev edfice of
the local congregation of the New Sweden
borgian Church ON 10th street. This morn
ing pastor and people gave thanks both for
the practical completion of their church
and for other blessings received during the
year. The opening was rot dedication in
the strict sense of the word for that cere-
mony will not occur until the general cor
vention of Swederborgians in the United
States, which meets in Washington next
May, but for all that the members OF the
church felt just happy this morning in
viewing the results of their efforts as if
the celebration had really taken place. The
large and handsome pipe organ ordered
from Boston has not yet arrived, and in
stead the choir rendered the music, assist
ed by a small organ, the principal feature
of the music being a solo by Mrs. Ralph
Barnard from the oratorio of st. Paul. en-
titled Il Will Sing of Thy Mercies. on!
Lord" There was also the regular morn
ing service and the liturgy, interspersed
with hymns and anthems.
The Sermon.
The Rev Frank Sewall, pastor, preached
from the text, Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving; enter into His courts with
praise" DIR. Sewalrs text was a peculiarly
occasion, and in the course of his sermon
he set forth at some length the[history OF
the New Church in Washington The pres
emit edifice is regarded as the national me-
mortal of the Swedenborgian Church in
America both from the fact that the gen
eral convention has helped it financially
and morally, but also because large dona-
tons have been received of money from
eminent members of the church through
out the United States, and several me-
mortal windows are Low in place to the
honor of departed members OF the lalty ana
clergy from other sections than the states
bordering around the District of Columbia.
The first disciples of Emanuel Swedenporg
around here We're former communicating or
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and they
founded churches in Westmoreland county,
Va; in Baltimore and fifty years ago in
Washington. In 1889 the church in this
city was destroyed by fire, and the general
convention, meeting that year in Washing
ton Immediately took steps looking to the
rebuilding of the edifice On far finer scale.
Acting according to this idea, 1t was de-
cided to abandon the original site on North
Capitol street. just below the Capitol, and
select better one in the northwest.
In the half century Of its existence the
church has enjoyed the services OF four
pastors be sides the present one, VIZ: Revs.
Rufus Dawes, Jabez Fox, e. d. Daniels
and William B. Hayden. Rev. Mr.. Sewali
is native of Maine and received his coiieg-
late and theological training at BoWdoin
College and in several German universities.
He has filled a number of distinguished
places in the gift of his church, among them
being the presidency of the New Church Col
lege at Urbana, Ohio. pastor of the Glas-
gov. Scotland, Church, and general pastor
Of the district in which Washington and
Baltimore are loCated.Y
The New Structure.
The ground on which the church stands
is valuable piece CT property, fronting fifty
feet and more on 10th street and over a
hundred feet on Core Gran street. The de-
sign of the architect, H. Langford Warren
of Boston. as carried out, provides ground
plan on the cruciform style. and having
an area which covers nearly the entire lot.
From the ridge pole, however, this cross
plan is not so distinct, owing to the north
and south transepts having hardly any pro-
lection from the rave. The base is of Po-
tomac bluestone and the rest of the edifce
of Indiana limestone, with a slight gray
ish tint. At the northwest corner workmen
are raising the massive blocks of stone
with which to form large square tower
now completed as far as the belfry. A prom
inent feature of the exterior is the amount
of carving displayed in various forms,
chiefly noticeable being elaborate tracery
in a rose design around The north tow er door
and gargoyles and other grotesque figures
scattered over other portions Of the work
Corresponding to the splendid exterior is
an interior which, when completed in two or
three months, will equal, if not surpass, that
of any church in this city. Today nearly
everything was in place, including the oak
pews and chancel furniture. with the eX-
ception of the organ, some memorial win
dows contracted for and the chandeliers
On entering one is impressed with the gen.
eral harmony of the design The effective
ness of the interior is heightened on closer
view by the chancel, the floor of which is of
Roman mosaic, the pulpit and baptistry
being made of massive blocks of stone. The
pulpit is unique in design. At the west
end there is a large gallery. and the east
end is divided into the spaces occupied in
the center by the chancel. which has dome
overhead, and at the right the place for the
organ, while on the left is a room for the
use of the church officers. Overhead there
is an openwork ceiling of Georgia heart
and underneath a long cellar. The pews
In the main body Of the church provide ac-
commodat tons for about five hundred. and
these, together with those in the transept
and galleries, bring the total seating capac-
ity up to about eight hundred.X Though
there are some details yet to Orange to
provide for the better comfort fof the con-
gregation, yet everything necessary is In
place, and hereafter services will be held
every Sunday morning at the church and in
the evening as soon as the electric lighting
g