Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-11
CHURCH DEDICATION
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES YFsTFR-
DAY At GAITHFRsBURG.
Handsome Structure to Be Known as
Grace M. E. Church-Liberal
Contributions Made.

The services in dedication of the new
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Gath
ersburg yesterday morning and evening
were largely attended The program for the
occasion had been arranged by the pastor,
Rev Thos. j. Lambert aided by many of
the ladies and gentlemen members of the
church.
The services began at 10 I'm. with song
and prayer followed by an experience meet
ing, and at II o'clock the dedicatory
mon was preached by the Rev. DR.. j. c. X l.
gcur, president of Trinity College of Dur
ham, n. C. Services were held in the even
ing at o'clock, when song and praise serv-
Ice opened these services, followed by Rev.
Dr. Kilgour again preaching the sermon.
A choir of fifty voices especially trained
for the occasion by Prof. E. Wilson Walker
furnished the music.
At least five hundred persons gathered at
both the morning and evening services. The
donations received were especially encour-
aging. Six of the male members gave SJoU
each and the rest of the $4,000 raised was
contributed by the congregation total of
S13, 500 has been given toward the required
SIT 500 TO clear the property OF Indebted
ness
Monument to Energy.
The church edifice is regarded one of
the handsomest in this county, and stands
as a silent monument to the energy and
thrift of the people of that growing town
and 10 the unt'r.ng energy and efforts of its
faithful pastor Rev. Thos. j. Lambert. The
structure, which is of brick, is trimmed with
fine sandstone shipped from near Hagers-
town. The outer appearance is stately, d
high tower or steeple with open beifry rlS-
ing TO a height of seventy feet This tower
is in the center of the church, and, n the
belfry will be placed a handsome bell 10
cost $780, donation by the young ladies OF
Gaithersburg.
The church is Sc by 100 feet, divided into
a main auditorium, VIII CHI WI seat four
hundred persons; the Sunday school room,
sUbdivded by d partition OF WOOL ana glass
and folding DOORS will seat three hundred,
and the for primary classes, the IL.
bral'y and place for business meetings or
the officials of the churches.
All the rooms are so arranged that they
can be thrown into one, giving seat ng
capacity of one thousand persons. Ihe
wood work and trimmings of the interior
are of cypress and oak. The altar Is OF
cy,1ress while the chancel rail is of oak
The altar extends for distance of thirty
feet across the southern end OF the audi
torium The building is heated by ste. m.
The building will be lighted by gas from
an acetylene plant
Memorial Window.
The church contains handsome circular
pews and number of memorial windows
have been put in. The first window in the
center is a memorial to Mr. j. o. Trundle
and his son. Dorsey Trundle The one oppo-
site is testimonial of gratitude to the pas
tor. Rev Mr.. Lambert, presented by the Ia
dies of the congregation. The third large
window was presented to the Sunday school
| by Mr. n. ]. Walker, who for thirty years
has been superintendent of the school. In
the rear of the chancel are memorial win
dows to Rev. +. II. Merry and Rev. w. a.
Mcdonald, former pastors of that charge
There are also similar windows memorials
| to the late Zachariah Briggs and Mr.. VIII
! liam d. Hughes. The pulpit furniture was
presented by the young ladies of Gathers
| burg. The membership within the past few
years has increased to about two hundred
and fifty.
| This new edifice takes the place of the
| old Forest Oak Church, situated in the west
| end of the town. which was erected in 1867
and remodeled in 1882. The contractor and
builder was Mr.. James L. Gardner of Ste
phen City, Va.
The building committee is composed of
| Rev. Thos. J. Lambert, chairman; William
H Talbot, secretary; Gideon Briggs, treas
urer; Carson Ward, James K. Walker. John
w. Walker and q. a. Briggs, lately de-
ceased
Rev. Thomas J. Lambert, who has labored
so earnestly to make the church complete
success. was formerly in charge of Howard
circuit but is now passing tinto his third
year as pastor of his present charge.
Cost Of the Property.
The church and grounds cost ST., 500 The
grounds are to be nicely sodded and walk
ways laid off. which will be of brick, with
crushed stone driveways.
The laying of the corner stone occurred
May 20. and was marked by solemn and i'm
pressive services. Gov. Warfeld was pres
| ent and made an address, in which he asked
that all should be devoted to their church
and their religion, and all should attend
church one day in seven. Pentalpha Lodge
No. 194, A. F. and A. M, had charge of the
I having he rds of ho
new church are Nathan j. Walker G. D.
| Briggs, w. H. Talbot, DR. E. II. Etchison
| J. X. Walker. e. G. Ward and J. W. Briggs
The corner stone of the church. of white
lrrs. L.. dcral tI.1ll L. H..