Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-14

SIDE CHURCH PROPERTY.
SOMETHING OF THE CONvEN-
FENCES OF THE BUILDING
WHICH is BEING REMODELED
AND REFITTED - PREPARA-
TIONS FOR DEDICATION AND
JUBILEE.
The remodelin5 of the Third Presby-
terrain Church, corner Thirty eighth
and Jacob streets, which has been in
progress since last August, will soon
be completed, and the congregation is
enjoying in anticipation the additional
comforts and advantages it will afford
them. The improvements have cost
between seven and eight thousand dol
lars, and considering the fact that the
membership is made up mainly of that
sturdy class of citizens who depend up
on their own brain and Drawn for the
good and pleasing things of this world,
the credit due them is deserving of
more than casual emphasis. The prop
erty as it stands to-day, or will starA
within a few more weeks, when the
final touches have been given it by the
frescoer, the grainer and the furn-
Usher, will represent a capital of not
less than $4,000.
The congregation, and especially the
Sunday school, which has a member
ship of 504, one of the largest in the
State, has long been cramped for room
and the spacious accommodations and
many conveniences of the new house
of worship will be all the more appre-
ciated. FOrecasting the completion Of
the down stairs apartments by Sunday,
Janury 22d, a grand rally of the Sun
day school has been set for that date
This will be the first time in two years
that all departments of the school have
met together, and the occasion will be
an epoch making one to teachers,
pupils and patrons.
The church may now be said to be
up to date in every particular, and
while not swagger with useless en-
bellishments, it is admirably planned
for convenience and substantial com
fort. An eye has, however, been kept
to the artistic and beautiful, and the
main auditorium will present an ap-
pearance pleasingly tasteful and ap-
propriate.
There are three entrances to the
front of the building, the main one,
with tiled floor, looking north upon
Jacob street. Another entrance leads
into the intermediate department of the
Sunday school and a third into the in
FAINT department. The floor of the lat
ter is elevated, and when the entire
downstairs is thrown together by an
admirable system of expansion, it con-
stitutes platform from which enter
tainments or lectures may be given.
The intermediate department will be
used for Christian Endeavor purposes,
committee meetings and prayer meet
ings. To the south of this room, and
separated from it by sliding glass parti-
lions, is the parlor, which will be re-
ception room also utilized for the
pastors Bible class and meeting of
trustees and officers. The other com
partments on the first floor is a neat
library room, in the cases of which are
stored 700 well selected volumes, and a
kitchen equipped with range, tables,
sideboards and other culinary appli-
ances sufficient to satisfy the most fas-
tidious housewife.
Between the stage and the kitchen is
a hall, from which a stairway leads to
the organ loft on the second floor, on
choir and minister. Between the main
auditorium and vestibule upstairs is a
sliding glass partition which telescopes
into the wall, and in the case of an
overflow meeting the two compart
ments may be thrown together, giving
a seating capacity of over six hun
dred. A similar system of expansion
is adopted down stairs, making the ca
pacity of the first floor almost as great
as that of the audience room.
1t transpires that this year will mark
the fiftieth anniversary of the church,
and after the dedication, which will
likely take place on Easter Sunday, a
grand jubilee will be arranged for
later in the season. In fact, the pastor,
Rev. R. R. Bigger, is specializing upon
a date for this event, which is antici-
pated with unalloyed satisfaction. 1t
may be stated here that Mr.. Bigger,
wlwhas added 236 members to the con-
gregation since casting his fortunes
with them four years ago, is deserving
of much praise for his interchangeable
and well directed efforts in connection
with the present work, so near realiza-