Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-20

about to convene is not a small part of
the religious life and influence of our
city.
The congregation was organized in 1871
by the Rev. ]. c. Stephens. Under his
ministry the first frame building oceu-
pied by the congregation was erected,
it being located in the rear of the lot
owned at present
There followed in the course of sue
ceeding years a number of ministers,
who have left the influence of their good
ly lives and conSecrated laborS on the life
of the congregation. Revs. G. w. Bash
am, j. C. Armstrong, w. c. benson, G..
A. Blair, f. j. Tyler, G. T. Stainbach,
ID. D., and r. d. Wear composed this
honored roll.
Under the ministry of Rev. F. ]. Tyler
in 1890 the first building erected was
completely rebuilt, and very comfortably
quartered the membership till the de-
mands of later years has produced the
handsome new building that now stands
on the old site.
In the short period of one year the
present pastor has scored a monument
to his incessant labors and the generos-
ity of his people in the magnificent
structure that now adorns the old church
lot. The new edifice has cost the de-
voted congregation $4,000, a sum that
was raised in times that were not the
most prosperous. Dirt was broken the
lst day of last October and the corner
stone was laid December 2S last The
church was finished this week, just In
time for the meeting of the assembly.
The structure is brick veneer in the Ro-
manique style.
The exterior presents a square, with
two square turrets. one at the northwest
and the other at the southwest, and,
while the architecture is unpretentious, it
is singularly attractive, because the lines
are harmonious and the proportions of
tod INT ta,-i1a aff
ofrthe main entrances on the west, one
finds himself in the auditorium, in the
southeast corner of which Is the rostrum,
curving outwardly to the auditorium.
On a platform in the same shape just
above the rostrum is the organ niche and
stand for the choir The seats radiate
in three rows from the rostrum, the rows
widening towards the door. To the right
separated by large sliding doors, Is the
Sunday school room, and this room is so
situated with reference to the auditorium
that it can either be separated from he
latter or become part of it at will. Sim
ultaneous services can be held in the aud
itorium and Sunday school department
without interfering one with the other, or
both can be enlisted in the same meeting
The auditorium seats 450 persons and the
Sunday school department 175 persons,
making the total seating capacity Of the
church when desired over 600 persons
The pastors study and a toilet room are
people into the church. Two open into
the auditorium only, one into the audito-
rum and Sunday school, both or either,
and fourth opens into the choir loft and
the pastors room without the observa-
tion of the congregation.
The pews are oaken, finished in natural
colors, with backward dip and a curved
rest, which. add much to comfort. The
wanscoting Is also finished in natural
colors.
A particularly striking feature of in
terest is the stained glass, which one sees
on four sides. The main piece of glass is
the representation of the ascension, which
is in the middle of the main wall to the
west This handsome piece of art glass,
than which there is nothing finer in the
south, is 1S by 28 feet, and weighs 500
pounds. A life-size painting of the Saw
ior is seen, half gliding, half ascending a.
paved way of gold. The colors are deep
purple and gold and all the shades of
brown. The prevailing tint of the glass
is brown, with brighter colors gracefully
blended. A mass of light and flood of
air can enter the church at WILL One
must see to well appreciate the structure
The beauty of the interior is not sur
passed in the SOUTH while the exterior
is as graceful as Is often seen. The con-
gregation and pastor, Rev. DR.. r. d.
Wear, have every reason to feel proud Of
their achievement