The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28
BEDFORD'S NEW CHURCH
1T WILL BE DEDICATED BY ELDER
SWEENEY NEXT SUNDAY.
Congregation Has Erected a
Splendid House of Worship-The
Building and the Pastor.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
BEDFORD, Ind. April 25.-On the first
Sunday in May Elder Z. T. Sweeney, the
most eloquent platform speaker among the
Disciples, will dedicate the new $4,000
Christian Church i'm Bedford. which has
been almost a year in construction. The
building is located on the corner Of Fiji
teenth and h streets in the center of the
city, and on the same spot where stood
the old church built in the SOS. The new
building is 12SxS6 feet. The basement con-
sists of a dining room. kitchen. ladies'
reception room, toilet rooms. furnace
rooms and storeroom. To the furnace Is
attached a fan nearly fifteen feet in cir
conference which in the winter equaliZes
and drives the hot air through the pipes
and in the summer makes the house cool
and pleasant by sending cold air through
the registers. The entire edihce is built
of Bedford limestone.
The building is of the fifteenth cen
fury Renaissance type. first brought 10
this country by Phillips Brooks. The audi
forum is of octagonal form, with a domed
ceiling and four large gables. in which
are placed large Gothic windows OF elab-
crate design. The ceiling is thirty-eight feet
ilSn NlbipNA W S4lhti ~ idlitis dilu
is handsomely frescoed. The acoustic prop
critics are excellent, and the auditorium
will seat rs persons. The Sunday school
room has seating capacity for 275 persons.
and the two rooms can be thrown togeth-
err. which arrangement will make room
for over two hundred extra chairs. Plat
form. organ. loft and baptistry are con-
veniently and compactiy located. and the
baptistry is so arranged that the candi-
dates enter and leave the water out Of
view Of the congregation. The church par
lors and lecture rooms are deliberately and
conveniently arranged. The whole struc-
tude is finished in Georgia pine. 1t will
be lighted by electricity.
The last meeting in the old church was
held on Sunday. June II. 1900. and the
sermons were preached by L. l.. Carpen-
ter. Of Wabash The corner stone OF the
new building was laid on Oct. j. by Il.
+. Sweeney. OF Columbus. In April OF that
year he preached i'm the old edihce and the
subject of a new, better and more conven-
lent house of worship was a part Of his
sermon. The congregation was so eiated
over his talk that the member resolved
10 have a new church, and the sum OF
$4,000 was raised the same day.
The church. which numbers $50 members,
has a fine influence for good in Bedford.
1t has been minisered 10 by some very
able men. The last preacher before the
present minister took charge was Joseph
Franklin. a Gospel preacher OF rare abil-
ity. The present pastor is James Small.
He has social and evangelistic powers OF
a high order and is making a number 81
additions every Sunday In his work. In
the last two years four hundred have been
added to the congregation as the direct
and indirect result OF his labors. He is a
great visitor and worker among the hum
bier classes and they hear him. like the
Master OF old. gladly. His audiences are
always large and enthusiastic. He has as
ISOLATED with him "A host of fine workers.
both young and old, who hold up ms hands
I'm every good work. He has already se-
cured Evangelist S. NJ. Martin. of st.
Louis. to preach in a series OF special
meetings 10 begin immediately after dedi-
cation. James f.. Halves. OF Ada, O., has
been secured as soloist and song leader for
the meetings