Evening star., 1898-02-26
Description Of the Improvements
Just Completed.
SKETCH OF ORGANIZATION

The dedicatory services of the new Dunn
barton Avenue NJ. E. Church will be held
tomorrow, and invitations to be present
have been issued to all of the leading di-
vines of the city. AS 1t will appear to-
morrow the church Is one of the prettiest
in the city, and the members of the large
congregation feel proud of their hand
some new home. 1t las been four or live
months pending the improvements since
divine worship has been held in the struc-
ture, and the present church Is more like
an entirely new building than the old one
remodeled. Indeed. as it now stands the
building Is new, only the walls, or a part
of the walls, Of the old edifice remaining.
The order of exercises for tomorrow is as
follows: Sunday school rally, 8 o'clock
M. John T. Mitchell presiding: preach
ing at IL am by Rev. George Elliott, DID,,
a former pastor; preaching at 3 pm also
by Rev. Elliott; preaching at 7:30 I'm. by
Rev. Luther B. Wilson, presiding elder
Good music by the choir will be furnished
at all of the services. the musical pro-
gram being under the charge of ]. Henry
Wilson. The committee on iLvitati tions con-
s,sts Of Rev. Joseph B. Stitt. D. D., pastor;
Joseph W. Kirkley, Edgar Frisby, W. Tay-
lor Birch, Jesse H. Wilson and John Heis-
ton. The invitation bears good haIf-ton
Illustration Of the new church end gives the
names of the members of the building
committee, as follows: Rev. ]. B. Stitt
John T. Mitchell, W. Taylor Birch, Jesse
H. Wilson, Isaac Birch and Columbus
Thomas.
The Committee Named.
For a number Of years past the necessity
for some improvement in the church build
ing had been apparent to the officers and
people of the charge. In the summer of
1897 interest in the matter manifested It
self in the appointment by the quarterly
of
to inquire into the numbe. and character
of the improvements needed and the prob
able cost. That committee reported to the
quarterly conference the result of it's in
Quiries and recommended such changes as
have substantially been made. The quar-
terly conference then directed the pastor
to call meeting Of the congregation for
the morning of July 25 and to submit to
its consideration the question of improve
ments and ask for subscriptions for the
work 1t was agreed that If three-fourths
OF the requisite amount were subscribed
the enterprise should be undertaken. Such
was the response to the appeal for sub
scriptioEs that the quarterly conference
resolved to begin the work at once. W.
J. Palmer Of Washington was chosen arch
itect; Victor F. Montgomery of Washing
ton, contractor. and Columbus Thomas a
member of the building committee. was
appointed superintendent Of the work.
improvements Begun.
The improvements were started August
Is, 1897, and it was expected that at least
part Of the church would be ready for
occupancy by Christmas day. but there
was more work to be performed than was
anticipated. The congregation rented Lin
thicum Hall. on o street, in which serv-
Ices were held. but four or five weeks ago,
through courtesy the congregation wor-
SHIPPED in the chapel Of the West Street
Presbyterian Church.
AS soon as the pews and furniture were
yod frnO fHn n.,vv 0t>ork N,,SI1
work Of demolition began. and nothing
was left standing but the walls. The en-
tire font was taken out, while in the rear
an addition was built, two stories in height
giving more room for the chancel in the
church proper. The side walls were built
higher, raising the floor of the audience
room over three feet
The front Of the church received consid-
cradle improvement. The plain front has
been superseded by one of buff-colored
brick, with towers at either end, presenting