The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-06
MOODYS IDEA OF ROOF-GgRDEN CHAPELS.
Doctor Dixon of Brooklyn Plans the Adoption of the Suggestion
With Extensive Elaboration.

St Louis ministers are not the only ons who are considering the advisabHty
of roofgardGn religious services. In Brooklyn the same thing is belg considered.
but on more permanent plan 1t is expected to require the sxpendtur If at
least &5h0b and inyoves the Eirmcr Of an entH new church, building
The site of the Hanson Place Baptist Church is at their Disposal and the mem
bTs Of that hurci promise t. subscribe o"N for the work. Influential mem-
tes If two her BAPTIST tgaionS are understood 10 be ready to also axe an
active part in the work
Doctor A G DIXON pastor Of the Hanson Place Baptist church. planned the
new church building nut it was the late Dwight L. Moody III first suggested 1.-The
idea Of corgardeH chapel M Moody thought that churches in large chs
shoni b. built with fiat roofs, and gave heAe reasons:
1T is idle to say that the people cave New York in NINE Because a few
townNoneh houses in the vicinity of IGh avenue close their doors it must not
he assumed that New York is empty, The masses Of the people remains and they
will worship God more thankfuIy under the cool air IF heaven thsni in the
sitting atmospheric which prevails In most Churches.
lone objection may be made that We shall hae to remodel or churches Nell
let us emodel hem. The theatersw We're rmodeled 10 sur the popular taus why
should not the churches be altered. also? Because churches have archei roofs
Christianity an fresh ara are found tosetf.r people will take advantage Of the
fact"
1t Was through te opinions or Mt Moody that Doctor Dixon became q convrr
to The roofsarden idea. But Doctor DtOEs plan coutempItss more than An,
ordinary place Of meeting liz" realizes that for some ume to come his hur,b will
have monopoly of ter oofsarden idea. He Expects that Hanson place will be- =
ONE a Mecca for religious ORGANIZATIONS which mold their conventions in sum-
ner.s and that The roof Of hsc hurch.s swept by the brezes or the upper bay wilt
nave an irresistible affection FOR them A NtraoriimIy part of the plans is
Inst 10 charge Viii he made for the use Of the ROOF garden. 1t will he free to all
Nangehcl Hrminauon md! ~ bodies from all parts Of the country. rari-
more, New Orleans. Buffalo, St Louis. Chicago. San Francisco ma all other
places great and small, Will be asked to consider it theirs They will also he
asked to contribute something toward the building and its support The structure
Itself VIII cost. s2s"1 the organ and furnishings S5cS mort. and 5000 Is re-
quIed fer an endowment In addition to the SSeo which is to be raised in Ham
son Place Church. it is expected that S@W1 will be raised in other city churches
and snocNi looked for from cities outside New York. If the " other Baptist
churches mentioned come in theyH i'll bring about 5000 and $1,000 respectively.
When once the roof garden has been constructed # is believed h a success
sion of efectier eyivas will he held In addition to the many conventions which
are expected 1t is arsuedu ato N the hot nights Of summer young people will
swarm III nut o the supareatd street Ia a place where they will receive cool
air., sweet music and spiritual consohUon-al for nothing