Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-02

congregation for the past year, and
| located at the corner Of Third and
Franklin streets, is, with the exception
of few finishing touches, at last COM
pleted and will be formally dedicated
Sunday, May Dist. The building is one
OF architectural beauty and arrange
ment throughout, and the architects,
contractors and building committee are
| deserving of compliments for the fine
structure they have furnished the NJ K
communicates
PRELIMINARY DETAILS.
The building is located at the north :
west corner of the above named streets
on lots purchased some years ago of
Jas. McCrossen The Methodist con-
gregation had been increasing so fast
in numbers for some years back that
the old building on Second street was
not equal to the demand for seating
capacity, and while the Rev. f. A
Pease held the pastorate it was decided
to erect a new bailding. Work of rails
ing money was entered into and build
ing committee appointed, composed of
the following gentlemen G. s. Gilbert,
Lamar Sexmith, Walter Alexander,
A. b. Wheeler and Rev. Pease. Finally
affairs were so shaped that plans were
drawn and contracts let Mr.. Pease
then decided to leave the city and for
time matters were delayed. Then Rev.
Geo. Carmichael was called to the pas
into the work and extended much aid
and assistance in getting building
operations under way. Ground was
broken about June 1st, year ago, and
on Friday, Aug. t9th, the corner stone
was laid and by fall the structure was
under roof. Since then crew of men
has been kept at work steadily in COM
pleting the building.
LAYING OF CORNER STONE
The corner stone is beautiful block
of Marathon county granite and is set
in the southwest corner. On Aug II,
1904, nearly a thousand people assem-
bled on the grounds for the purpose of
witnessing the exercises, incident to
the laying of this stone. Bishop Chas.
G. McCabe, of Philadelphia, was present,
as was also Rev. Perry Millar, presiding
elder of this, the Appleton district.
The exercises opened at 800 o'clock in
the afternoon with ritualistic services.
Bishop McCabe and Rev. Millar each
made addresses, outlining the work
being accomplished in Methodism
Mayor E. G. Zimmerman also spoke
words Of congratulation to the congre-
CATION. When Mr. McCabe had con-
cluded his address the corner stone was
set in place, the latter assisting the con-
tractor and one of the workmen in
placing the block where it will rest for
generations as repository for collec-
ton of articles indicative of the time
and age in which the church was built.
The receptacle in the stone contains
coins of 1904 mintage, copies of local
papers, a bible and books relative to
church work, lists of pastors from 1854
to 1904 and members of the church,
names of officials, board and building
committee, etc.
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT.
For the benefit of those who have not
as yet had the opportunity Of visiting
the church The PILOT has elected to
give a rough description of it in this
issue, but we will say that the reader
can better appreciate its beauties by
making personal inspection of it.
The walls are wholly of cement stone
construction, over 1900 blocks being
used. The lower part, to a height of
several feet, is of sand faced blocks,
resembling at a distance brown stone;
the balance is of quartz faced blocks,
lighter in color. 1t covers an area of
100 feet on the Third st. side and GA feet
on the Franklin street side. There are
two towers and a dome, the largest
tower being situated at the southwest
corner directly over the main enteraGce.
On entering the main door there is a
reception room at the right. Separating
the vestibule from the auditorium is a
Concordia folding door, in four pieces,
which folds up like jack-knife. The
service room is 50x50 feet, the floor
sloping from the rear to the altar and
above is gallery supported by red
birch posts of octagon shape. In the
northeast corner is the organ alcoe
and south of this is a raised platform
for the choir. Eight arches leading
from the floor all centre at the dome
The dome is an octagon, Is feet in
diameter, the base being 36 feet above
the floor. Above is a skylight, and
below this are 16 electric lights, which
are screened by colored art glass
When the lights are turned on the
colored glass lends a beauty to the
arrangement that can only be appre-
ciated by viewing the results. There
are over 300 lights in the main part of
the building. Leading from the audi
forum is Sunday school room 30x30
feet. The floor of this is raised about
two feet above the auditorium aoor
and large door, operated with weights
which raise it from view, separates the
two rooms. On three sides of the Sun
day school room are class rooms, library
and ladies' parlor. Three class rooms
are situated on that floor and fve on
the second floor. They vary in size
from 10x10 feet to 24xl4 feet and face
the auditorium. The ladies' parlor on
the left is 2Sxl4 feet and the class rooms,
Sunday school rooms, etc., are so ar
ranged that in case the church is so
crowded that these rooms must be
occupied during services, they can all
be thrown open and the words of the
pastor distinguished as easily as if the
persons were seated in the auditorium.
A library l0x1O fit. is alse situated off
from the Sunday school room. The