Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-07

The First United Presbyterian
church has been for many weeks in the
hands OF a force of artists and artisans
with the result that a complete trans
formation has been wrought, and so
lar at least as appearance goes, the
edihce is virtually new. Sunday morn
ing the congregation will worship in
the church for the first time since the
improvements have been completed.
The services will be more than usually
interesting. and the sermon will be
preached by the Rev. X. g. Ferguson,
ID. D.. president of Westminster Col
l5ge. New Wilmington, Pa. The gen
sra4 public is invited to the services
and those who attend are assured that
they will not be importuned for fnan-
cal aid.
The remodeling of the church was
done under the supervision of Arehi-
teets Giesey & Faris, and has beer IN
progress since March. The general
contractors are Klieves, Kraft & Co.
The committee on repairs consists OF
w. S. Mcdonald, chairman; R.. c. Oar
rah and VIM. Nesbitt.
While the most extensive improve
ments have been made gron the inter-
Tor. the exterior of the church has also
been beautifed. The front has been
painted and the old box tower has been
replaced by a pinnacled corniee OF Or
namental design. A new slate roof las
been placed on the building.
The interior of the auditorium has
been entirely r~emodelled. The floor
has been elevated from the level of the
vestibule a distance of W feet, and in
dimes by a gradual slope for about half
the distance to the pulpit. The pews
have been rearranged in a semi-circle
in three sections. The new carpet and
cushions for the pews are OF maroon
color.
The front of the auditorium is strik-
ingly handsome and very different from
the former box-like appearance. Two
groups OF pilasters on each side OF the
pulpit and choir gallery, surmounted
by Corinthian capitals, handsomely
decorated i'll high light gold relief and
supporting two large pressed iron iml-
tations OF sea shells, beautifully tinted
with pa1e green and pink, in its entire
ensemble including the organ. delights
rha eve with a most superb visual feast.
The new organ is the nuniheent gut OF
Nr. Johu NJ. Brown. It is a product
Of sc factory of a. B. Felgemakei, OF
Erie. Pa two manual
with a %profusion OF stops and possess
ing rich. sweet tones which I've been
favorably commented upon by compe-
tent critics. The choir of the church
is composed of Miss Anna T. Shaw,
~organist; Mr.. r. B. Mcclure, director;
Mrs. Charles H. Duncan, Miss Jane
Best. Miss Mary Dickey, Miss annie
Petrie, Miss Laura Nesbitt, sopranos;
Mrs. w. J. w. Cowden, Miss Bertha
Reed, Miss Sara Miller, altos; Mr.. wal
ACE Smith, Mr.. j. w. Adams, Mr.
James Giffen, tenors; Mr.. Robert Z.
Darrah, DR.. John H. Mcclure, bassos.
Special music will be an attractive fea-
ture of the morning and evening ser
vices.
On the north side of the organ Is
the choir room and on the south side
the pastors study.
In he curved position on each side OF
the pulpit handsome stained opalescent
glass windows have been placed. In
the windows are tablets in memory OF
the deceased pastors of the congrega-
tion-the Rev. William Wallace, ID. D.,
who served in that capacity from 1888
to 1S49, and the late Rev. j. I. Nc
Clure, d. D., who was pastor from 1901
to 1900.
On the side walls of the auditorium
there is a graceful cove connecting
walls and ceiling, with pressed iron
ornamental ~cornice at the base and
top. The f~rescoing and decorating is
the work of John Stulen & Son, of
Pittsburg. The color scheme is a rich
golden Give, blended with canary. /
and dark olive and gold are introduced
and blend tremendously.
On the ceiling are four of the hand
soonest Light fixtures to be found in the
city. They are Frink prismatic sun
light reflectors, each containing twenty
incandescent lights and a myriad OF cut
glass prisms and chains. The wall
brackets are also of ornamental design
and the interior will be lighted by
electricity.
The improvements have involved an
expenditure of $1,000 approximately,
and have given the congregation a
place of worship which is comfortable,
convenient and one of the most attrac-
tive in the city. Credit is due those
who evolved, designed and carried out
the plaas. Services have been con-
Quoted temporarily in the Sabbath
school room.
AS stated above, the general con-
tractors are Klieves, Kraft & Co. The
galvanized iron work was done by d.
IL. Bayha; painting by j. M. Collins;
electrical fixtures by Mountain State
Electrical Company.
The Presbyterian Churches.