The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-19
The Presbyterian Church
Was Dedicated Yesterday
to Service Of God.
Services, Both in the Morning
and Evening, Were Grand
and Impressive.
STRONG SERMON OF DIR. M'CRORY
Easter Music In the Various Churches-Cycle
Run ssd Accident-Resorted to Festicuffs
Investigation OF Officer Hanrahan.

Yesterday saw the crowning effort in
the short but energetic history of the
United Presbyterian Church Of this city.
The day was all that could be wished for,
and everything tended to make the dedi-
catory services pleasing success. Had
the church been twice as large 1t could
not have accommodated the number of
people who wished to participate in the
exescises incident to the dedication OF the
edifice to the worship Of God. 1t Is esti-
mated that there were fully 700 people
present when the meeting was opened.
1t was necessary to place chairs in the
aisles and In front of the chansel, and .
large number stood up in the rear of the
church, while fully as many people as
were inside were unable to gain admission.
The decorations were simple, yet pref
tily and tastefully arranged, causing q
quiet, but pleasant effect. The decorations
were confined principally to the pulpit
lilies, palms and yellow jacquemot roses.
The services both In the morning and
evening were very impressive and inspir-
Ing. The sermon Of DR.. J. T. McCrory
was particularly applicable to the occa-
sion and was listened to with deep atten-
tion. During the services Hon. E. l..
Freeman gave some sound advice from q
business mans standpoint.
History OF the Church.
The first steps toward organizing the
First United Presbyterian Church were
taken early in the fall of 1893 and in No
vember Of that year the first regular SER
vice was held in Foresters' Hall on Lons-
dale avenue, where for period the con-
gregation worshipped. Later the quarters
were thought to be insufficient for grow
ing congregation and the society moved
to Y. N. c. A. Hall at Pawtucket, where
services were held until the beginning of
this year.
The church was organized by the Boston
Presbytery, of which 1t IL a member, and
at the time of organization had member
ship of %. Since that time the congrega-
tion has greatly increased and now its
members come from all Of the surround.
ing sections, with Manville, Pleasant
View, Woodlawn and Saylesville as the
extreme points.
The First Pastor.
Rev. William Barr was called to the pas
torate in December, 1894, that being about
a year after the organization OF the church.
He was duly installed in the work which
he has since pushed forward in q most
vigorous and successful manner. Today
the congregation numbers considerable
more than 100 and Is rapidly growing.
There are q large number OF people in
the city and vicinity who were brought up
in the Presbyterian Church, and because
of finding no church of their faith here
had gradually drifted into churches of va
|rious denominations. These are slowly
looming back into the fold and society of
|goodly proportions Is assured.
Rev. William M. Barr, the pastor Of the
church, is a graduate of Princeton College
and of the Allegheny Theological Semi
nary, and previous to accepting the pas
|torate here was assistant pastor at the
Eighth Presbyterian Church at Philadel-
|phia, Pa. This Is really his first pastorate.
The Interior and Exterior Arrangements.
The church edifice is from a design by
IL. b, Walk q Sons of Brooklyn, N. Y, the
6rst plan as accepted last April having
been abandoned because OF its expensive
character. The building Is of the rustic
Type of architecture.
The building measures on the ground
sSx61 feet and all of the necessary church
work will be possible to be done on the
main floor. The rooms on this floor are
The largo audience room, the Sunday
school and prayer meeting room, parlor
and infant class room, the pastors room
md the room for tho choir and The
kitchen.
The main auditorium measures blxl0
feet and provides for the seating Of 328
persons. Il has three main aisles and the
,ews are raised and arranged In Q semi
circle. In front Of the centre row 10 the
ample platform for the preacher and in
he rear for the choir and organ. To one
ide Of the platform II the pastors room
md ct the other tho room for the choir.
The audience room II entered either
through the vestibule In the tower
v BY the vestibule at the opposite end Of
he building.
Adjoining the audience room is the Sun
lay school and prayer room, measuring
0x25 feet. This Is connected with the
main auditorium BY means Of sliding
loors. At the end OF this room, opposite
he audience room, 10 large platform.
In front OF the Sunday school room 10
he parlor and infant class room, 24x11
pet, which by means of folding doors can
made part Of the Sunday school room.
he three large rooms, in fact, can be
,ade into one large room simply by open
hg several of these doors.
The exterior Of the building presents an
xcellent appearance. The base of the
elfry tower forms wide vestibule which
entered through porch supported on
|olums. The roof is . steep gable. Under
cath the peak, In the middle of the facade
4 the building is q handsomely designed
omanesqne window, with loaded scroll
lass In the arches, A similar window is
y the rear elevation of0the building. The
ructure is OF wood, on q foundation of
,ck- face stone.
That the society was enabled to enter