Middletown transcript., 1899-09-30

/ SN~NSs
. Upon entering the door the visitor is
struck by the pretty decorations Of the spa
; cious vestibule and stairways. One is al
most led to the lecture room of the church
where great changes greet the eye. The
old lead-colored walls, the black columns
and old fashioned pews have given place to
walls of salmon pink, handsome new and
: comfortable chairs with book rack and hat
rest and deep crimson carpeting that add
an attraction which is hardly describable.
The old system of lighting has been re-
placed with ceiling lights with shades of
light green, and the library and class rooms
also have been treated to this general re-
juvenation.
The principal change and the most strik-
ing is in the audience room of the church.
To say it is handsome, hardly expresses
the thought It is a sense of something
so changed, of the softeuing influence of
the painters art, of the superb contrast of
colors and the beautiful effect of the light
through the magnificent stained glass win
dows, that appeals to ones senses. The
/ OCCOLdt1Ous dIO IuS IOSulb Va AoA0
study as to the appropriateness of the design
a number being submitted before one was
| finally selected. The scheme is of the Chap
man Decorative Company, of Philadelphia,
and is in the Byzantine -Romanesque style. |
The walls are panels of terra Gotta in con- |
the tops of the windows are series of |
handsome medallions containing ancient |
symbols the theme of which is Christ /
and the Church. This scheme was sub
mitted by the Improvement Committee Of
Forest Church to the critical judgment of
DR. Henry G. Cook, of Philadelphia, who is
considered one of the highest authorities on
Christian symbolism.
The order begins at the right of the pulpit
with one of the ancient monogranns of our
Saviour in gold and carmine, following
which is mirror rejecting the, sinless life
Of Christ. In the centre of the mirror is q
star which represents his incarnation. The
third medallion, crown of thorns and
nails, is the emblem of the death of Christ
on the cross. After Christ's death on the
cross and His ascension the church was in
sore need of some visible sign as a symbol {
of his death. The fourth medallion per-
petuates the memory of the Lords Supper I
by the chalice, while the fifth gives an {
equally important remembrance Of His bap-
tism in the sign of the Holy Fishes. After 1
the death Of Christ His disciples still bore i
in mind His teachings and His earnest de- t
sire to have them spread the news of the t
Gospel. The medalIions would not be COM t
plete without the symbols Of the publication q
of the Gospel by the eyangelists Matthew, +
Mark, Luke and John and the next four
are dedicated to them respectively, Mat
thew by human figure; Mark by the lion: t
Luke by the OK; and John by the eagle. {
Under the influence of these men the d
church increases and the particular view of &
the church is taken from the Presbyterian /
and is represented by the seal of D
the Presbyterian Church. The Church uni c
versal on Earth and in Glory is represented, q
first by crescent moon surrounded by a
stars which is accompanied by the words i
"Fair as the moon; second by symbol of b
q sun burst in the centre of which is the
monogram of our Saviour, symbolic of
Christ's presence in the midst of His church
and this is accompanied by the words
Bright as the sum"
The decorations on the ceiling are of the l I
same symbolical effect The most promi- 1
nent panel is decorated with a grape vine d
bringing to memory the words of Christ to | +
His disciples, Il am the vine; ye are the I
branches On the inner part and sur :
rounding the immense chandelier are a | ]
Series of circular panels which were sug- g
gested from similar designs existing in some I
of the most noted Cathedrals of Europe. IL
Soft ivory white and gold form the deco
rations of the pulpit and on the entablature (
which surmounts the gilded columns are
the words "The Lord is in His Holy Tenn
ple." On the space back of the pulpit is q
design of tapestry effect, the original of i
which is in noted cathedral at Ravenna !
and is copy of design of the sixth CEN ]
tury. The colorings are dull gold and ma 2
room and show the work of master hand.
1t is without doubt the most artistic work
Of the church. Il
After speak ting so much as to the decora- 4
tions of the ceiling and side walls of the E
audience room, it would be pertinent to n
add that the organ has undergone the same /
treatment andis resplendant in q new Goa q
of terra Gotta and gold. f
Of the new windows of the church, of Fl
which many are memorials, the first to at s.
tract attention is of DIR. John Patton, SO 8
long the pastor of the church. This win n
dow is of the finest opalescent glass and the I
tablet panel at the base is surrounded by :
rich ruby jewels and this again by border
OF deep contrasting colors, which serves as
a foundation for the general design. On :
each side of the window rises a massive
twisted column representing the Doctors
strength and influence in the church, and :
these support handsome Roman arch of
varied colors the design of which was taken q
from famous church of Ravenna. Faith, !
Hope and Charity are three steps which :
rise from the base panel and is continued il | $
q magnificent cross Of most elegant design
This cross, in which the Doctor gloried, d
crowned at the top by crown blazing +
with jewels of ruby and sapphire which
was the reward for his ceaseless toll. Tbe
fruits Of the Doctors labor are symboIlizsd j
BY a large vase and a grape vine bearing : :
clusters of grapes at the foot Of the cross |
At the intersection of the arms Of the cfoss !,
Is small monogram Of the Saviour whom 2
Il was always DR.. Patton's pleasure to serve.
This can only give the TRAnscR1Ta rsadr