The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-05-11
ABERDEEN'S NEW CHURCH
A Fine Structure Rejecting Great
Credit on the Good People Oflhat
Enterprising Town.

Credit on the Good People of that
Enterprising Town.
Grace Church, Aberdeen which has heen
lstely dedicated, is beautiful structure 81 u
| ated ON the Main street of The TOW near the
| the Baltimore and OHIO Railroad sta ion. We
expect In the near future to publish wood
cut of the building, which will give an idea Of
| its beauty and architectural design.
| The members of the graduating class of
the Bel Air Academy and Graded School will
go an excursion to Washington, ID. c., on to-
| morrow, SATURDAY. There are about eighteen
| of them, and an interesting time is expected
| The idea is coed one, and It's practical b; ne
| fits will be great. Much more can be learned
by observation than by any other system Of
education.
The present church was erected on the site
| of tue old church which was built in 1866. 1t
was torn down April, 1899, the cornerstone
| laying of the present church taking place in
July with Masonic ceremonies, at which 1t
WAS estimated i've hundred persons we're
present. Many members OF the old church
who took an active interest in is erection
have been laid to rest. Among them, perhaps
the best beloved, was George Harris, for
many years Sunday School superintendent
and lifelong member. Other prominent
members were j. Thomas Bradford, Benjamin
F. Miller, William j. Richardson, Benjamin
+, Cronio, Benjamin II. Miller, Charles W.
Wells.
The present but ding is of frame and Gothic
4
Sunday School room 25 BY 40 feet. The
two rooms are connected BY Wilson's rolling
partitions, and when thrown into one auditor
ium has a eeatfng capacity CT $50 persons The
main entrance is under q 20 foot tower, In
which has been placed seven hundred pound
hsl, the gift OF MIR. james Smith. The in.
terror OF The church is flushed In oak and the
decorations are particularly beautiful. The
ceilings are OF ornamental steel, and the side
walls are frescoed In terra Gotta aud hand
somely decorated. The recess pulpit is Of
modern style, the furniture of which, with the
circular pews, came from Grand Rapids
Michigan. The entire floor Is covered with q
handsome carpet OF green and old gold. The
most beautiful feature Of the church is the
large art stained glass windows. The large
central window represents Christ the Good
Shepherd, and is in memory OF George Harris.
Three other memorial windows bear the In
scrip;ion: 81. Thomas Bradford, !" 'Berji
mia F. Croniu," civilian j. and VI. Clara
Richardson" Two other windows were given
by the Senior Epwoith Lengue and the Junior
Epworth League, and bear the name Of each.
Much credit is given the ladies of the Mite
Society, who by their indefatigsble labor fur
nished the entire church. This includes the
pulpit and pulpit furniture, aia- railing, COM
munion table, choir chairs, Sunday School
chairs, chandeliers, gas jets. carpets aud b ,oks
for the entire church and school. The carpets
were purchased through Mr.. G. II WINS at q
low figure, who also very kindly donated his
commission.
DIR. John Larahan, Of Baltimore presented
the Sunday School with beautiful silk ban
ner.
The entire cost Of the new church is S.. 800,
and the ground upon which it stands Is valued
at $500, which makes the total Sc OO0 The
members Of the church are gratlfied and much
pleased over the substantial aid and kindly IN
terest manifested by members of other
churches as well as large number not con-
nected with any church. The collections on
the Sunday it was dedicated were highly graft
fyirg. In the morning over six hundred dol
lars was given in very short time; In the
evening the amount sweled TO about 81, 900.
This left balance of 500 debt, which the
trustees OF the church assumed,
The church was then dedicated to the wor-
ship of Almighty Cos.
The trustees are: Calvin Cole, James L.
Cole, Cyrus e. Cronin, Harry G. Hopkins,
Robert w. Wells, Daniel b. Arthur, Orion c.
Michael, William A. Smith.
The building committee is composed Of the
following gentleman Rev. j. F. Bsggs,
Chairman; K. w. Wells, Secretary; H. 6.
Hopkins, Treasure; James l.. Cole, C. A.
Courtney, o. c. Michael, William A. Smith.
The popular pastor Of the church, Rev. j.
Fred. Baggs, has been returned for the third
year, and Is much beloved by bis psople ard
held In high Cs eem by the public