Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16
Opening Services at Calvary Baptist
Church Tqhe%ow Morning.
INTERIOR mPR 4 Fl AND ENLARGED
Fine Facilities for Carrying For
ward a ~GRat Work..
ne re
a "a E N E ROU US CIV E r

When, on January 1, 1898, Calvary Baptist
Church and congregation made their mag
nificent subscription of $4,000 for the pur-
pose of charging their work, both at the
home church and in their missions, 1T was
not known just when the plans might be
completed. Though the times have been ex-
ceedingly dull, fortunate circumstances nave
enabled the church to accomplish much
more in the three years than seemed pos
sible at the time of making the subscription.
Acting wisely, as has been demonstrated,
the first step was the construction of the
Sunday school house, at a cost, in round
numbers, of 100000, and which house is said
to be the finest of its kind in this country. A
little later opportunity was offered the
church to purchase a fine house of worship,
known as the Tabernacle Church, 9th and B
streets southwest, on very moderate terms
for the use of the Kendall branch in South
west Washington. While something of This
Kind was included in the plans, yet the Cor
tunate circumstance which secured the edi-
nee on such reasonable terms in SO short
a time was not anticipated.
The next step in the prosecution of the
work which had been laid out to be done
was practically rebuilding the interior Of
the main church edifice. The audience room
has always been regarded by the congreya-
tlon as having an attractive appearance and
IL mas been question whether arrange
ments could be made for more seating ca
pacity without marring it's beauty. 1t was
necessary, however, that something should
pc done, and the church extension aSSocia-
ton, an organization outside the church it
self. though constituted of church members
proceeded to perfect plans for charging the
auditorium and doing other work necessary
to be done. To this end public worship was
discontinued in the church last June and the
building turned over to the contractors with
the expectation that it would be rebuilt and
ready Tor occupancy some time the latter
part of October or the first of November
The congregation have been fortunate in
having the Sunday school house as place
of worship, and there has been no break in
the regular services The splendid improve
mentS which were undertaken have ROW
been completed, and the church. with its
great congregation. will occupy it in reli-
gious service for the first time tomorrow
morning
An organ recital and concert, however, will
be given this evening, which will be the
formal opening of the house.
Changes in the Interior.
The improvements in the church have cost
more than $4,000, and give to Washington
one of the most beautiful audience rooms to
be seen in any cty.s The plans included the
selling and removaiGof the old organ; the
purchase of new one and the placing of it
in the opposite end of the church from
where the old one Stood; that is, back and
over the pulpit platform. This organ is
pronounced by experts to he very fine, and
is in position and ready for the opening con-
cert this evening" and opening religious ser
vices tomorrow morning, for which extern
Sive preparation are being made.
Galleries have been built commencing
with the west end and swinging around on
the north and south sides, coming down to
the pulpit end of the church. This will in
crease the seating capacity about fifty per
cent, making 1t ossibe to seat 300 in the