The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-30
Dedication OF a new Church.

The new edifce which has just been COM
pleted for the use Of the congregation OF
Union Chapel Methodist Protestant Church,
was solemuIy dedicated on Sunday morning
with appropriate services. All Of the other
to furnish an opportunity for their members
| to attend the services.
The church has a seating capacity Of about
| five hundred, a. d va, unable to accommo-
date the crowd Which was in attendance.
The handsome new ctlurch edifice is model
| of architectural grace AMI beauty, aud is
looked upon with great deal u p'fd,. ny the
members and friends OF the congregation,
who have abored so industriously for its
erection. The design was furnished by
Messrs James l.. Norwood s. Son, Upper
Falls Road, Nd, ard YVES also constructed
under their direction, st cost OF $4,50O.
The building is Of frame, and Gothic design,
with slate roof. The main room is forty-fve
by thirty-two feet in size. The Sunday
School or lecture room is eighteen by twenty
Elk feet and will seat nearly one hundred
persons. The two rooms are connected by
folding doors, and can be thrown into one
large room, capable Of seating flom four
hundred and fifty to five hundred persons
The main entrance is under q seventy -five-foot
frame tower, surmounted by a weathervane,
and in which has been placed a fine bell, q
gift of A. s. Abel Company, Of Baltimore.
The Interior Of the building is finished In
hardwood, natural oaks and finished side
walls and wainscoted ceiling. The recess
pulpit is of modern style, which, with the
semi circular pews, came from Grand Rapids,
Michigan, while the entire flooring is carpeted.
The church windows, q number Of which are
memorials, are fitted with cathedral glass, of
handsome design. The four large triple
windows are particularly rich and impressive.
The two windows in the rear of the pulpit
were donated by the Christian Endeavor
Society and Sunday School, connected with
the church, and bears the name Of eacb. The
Inscriptions on the memorial windows are as
follows: Cardiff ard Mary Norris" "Rev.
Reese Norris" 'Mr. l.. B. Robinson" "Mrs.
Charlotte Robinson" William Robinson and
wife," "Mrs. Hannah II. Bagley," Miss
Bessie Archer" s'Mrs. Carrie Archer Foard.''
The dedicatory sermon was preached was
preached at II O'Clock A. NJ, By Rev. F. 7.
Tagg, d. D., Of Baltimore, editor of the
Methodist Protestant. In the afternoon Rev. |
B. W. Kirdley, OF Uniontown, Md, preached |
an eloquent sermon to large congregation, |
as did also Rev. Hugh E. Elderdice, D. D., |
professor OF theology at Western Maryland |
College, Westminster, NJ. Revs. Silas B. |
Tredway and Charles NJ. Compiler, pastors of |
the church. also assisted In the services of the |
day.
Notwithstanding the fact that the congrega- |
ton and community at large responded to the |
call for aid when it was decided to erect the |
new building, there yet remained about 81 900 |
to be provided before the church could be |
dedicated. When the call for more money |
was made, the members and friends Of the |
church contributed in such liberal manner
that The entire sum thus needed was collected |
and subscribed. A special choir furnished |
music during the exercises.
The cornerstone of the church was laid in
September last, the ceremony being conducted
according to the Masonic ritual by Mt. Ararat
Lodge, Of Bel Air. The old frame church Is
the oldest Methodist Protestant house of wor-
ship in the world, and as such, has always
been held in veneration by the entire denomi-
nation, and will be carefully preserved for
some time to come. Union Chapel was erect
cd in 1921, nearly eighty years ago, by the
residents Of that community, for a place OF
and, a diversity of beliefs natur-
ally exi-ted, a union effected, and the
church so named.
The building committee was composed oil.
Rev. s. b. Tredway, chairman; Rev. Charles
n. Compiler, secretary; Messrs. Alphonso
treasurer; Joseph w. Archer, Isaac
F. Sanuer, of Baltimore; Samuel :. Bevsrd,
George Archer, James T. Norris, d. 7. Archer
and DIR. Charles A. Bagley.