The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-03-11

In New York city. on March 8. the first oi
series OF services in dedication OF New
| York's first ''skyscrapera church, the new
Broadway Tabernacle. al Fify-sixth street
and Broadway. built at a cost OF Sl,0O0, 200,
was held. The congregation was a rep
resenlAtive one, comprising persons Of all de
nominations. The service of dedication was
simple. As the congregation stood, the Rev.
Dr.. Charles Edward Jefferson, the pastor, at.
tered the words Of dedication, all joining in
the responses of the ritual. Unique. indeed,
| is this congregation. It's manifold activities,
tha. demand hundred rooms within the
church edifee, makes the Tabernacle the
type and model OF the modern working
church. Beside the great auditorium, beneath
which is an entertainment hall resembling a
theatre, the building rises in q magnificent tow
er of teu stories, which lifts itself 100 feet
above the pavement. II serves the purpose
of beautiful steeple in the French Gothic
architecture of the church. Unlike steeple,
it is not merely thing OF architectural ess-
gance. the utmost utility of which is to hold =
chime Of bells. Ii is patterned after the SKY
scrapern office building, and it serves a similar
purpose in the extensive work OF the church.
Two large elevators run from its basement ap
through nine Of its floors. There are one hun
dred great and small rooms in this towering ed
iiice. including halls and chapels and parlors
and offices. A stranger can lose himself among
the ramificaiions of the great bnilding, so un
like is it TO the usual simple interior OF a
church. In the basement are rooms that re-
semble those of any skyscraper building in
their extensive collection OF machinery tor
heating, lighting and ventilating the great
building aud running its elevators.
Here, also. are well equipped kitchens,
convenient TO the entertainment hail, where
banqueis and church fairs will be held. The
Tabernacle can house 5000 persons in its va
rious halls and assembly rooms. 1t is real
''rneetnghouse." as the pastor, DR.. Charles
E. Jefferson, describes it, using the term os
the Puriians, and extending ii to its full mod
ern significance in church with such pur-
poses as that of the Tabernacle.
While the Broadway Tabernacle, dedicated
today, is an innovation in New York church
architecture, it is no more so than was the
first Broadway Tabernacle, built in 1S40 in
broadway, near Worth street. The Taberna-
Gle Society, when first organized with sevesty
nine members, worshipped in the old Chat
ham Street Theatre. This church building
was q novel structure. The seats were in cir.
cular rows, with the pulpit in the centre
When the Tabernacle was nearing completion
rumor stated that white and colored people
were 10 sit in the same pews. On this account
the building was set on fire. The fremen re
fused to 6ght the flames. and the structure was
burned out. 1t was rebuilt, and section of
it was set apart for negro worshipers. This
early Tabernacle was a centre OF anti slavery
agitation. aud the services were frequently
disturbed by mobs. On one occasion a shot
was fred at the pastor, the Rev. DR.. Joseph
P. Thompson.