Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-12-15
Church Dedication at Gaithersbure

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South, of Gaithersburg, this county, dedi.
Gated on Sunday last, is handsome brick
structure-a monument to the energy OF its
pastor, Rev. Thomas j. Lambert, and to the
growing town in which it stands. The Ger.
emonies were largely attended.
The previous sum raised toward the cree.
ton Of the church amounted to 1880, and
on Sunday $1,000 was added, making total
Of $13,5OO. Six gentlemen raised $1,000 of
the $4,000, the balance Of it being raised
promiscuously in the congregation.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by
Rev. ]. 9. Kilgo, president of Trinity Col.
lege, N. G., who was especially invited by
the pastor.
Special music for the day was rendered
by a choir OF 80 voices, led by Prof. E. Viii.
son Walker The music consisted of solos
duets, quartets and special anthems.
At Z o'clock in the evening Rev. DR.. Xii.
go again preached. The beautiful church was
filled with people, and showers of congrat.
ulations were bestowed upon the pastor.
The new building is on the main street
OF the town, on knoll, with its steeple 70
feet high, making landmark visible fol
many miles around.
The church is SO by 100 feet in SIZE, di
vided into main auditorium seating 4OC
persons; Sunday. school room for 800, 9
room for the primary class and a room fol
library and for business meetings of the
church officials. Folding doors are so ar,
ranged as on occasion to throw the room.
into one large auditorium capable of seating
1000 persons. The woodwork OF the int.
riOr is of cypress and oak. The chancel rail.
which runs 80 feet across In front Of Ene
choir, is Of oak, while the altar is of cypress.
The building is heated by steam and light.
ed by an acetyline plant; the pews are in
semi. circular rows and are Of oak. One
large window Ia front Is a memorial to MIR.
]. o. Trundle and his son, r. Dorsey Trun.
die; the opposite window is testimonial
OF gratitude to the pastor for his faithful
labors during the erection of the church,
and was presented by the ladies OF the con-
gregation. A third large window was pre-.
sented by Mr.. j. N. Walker. of the Sunday
School, of which he has been for 80 years
superintendent. In the rear OF the chancel
are memorial windows TO Rev. E. H. Henry
aud Rev. W. A. Mcdonald, former pastors
of the charge. There are also similar me.
mortal windows to Mr.. Zachariah A. Briggs
and Mr.. VIM. D. Hughes. A fine assem-
bly, bell, costing $500, was presented by the
young ladies of Gaithersburg. The bell is
being placed in the befry in the steeple.
The pulpit furniture is also a gift of the
ladies.
The church membership now numbers
$50, and includes some OF the most promi.
nent and wealthy citizens of Montgomery
county. The new building takes the place
of the old Forest Oak Church, in the west
end of the town, which was erected in 1857
and remodeled in 1882. The growing of
the town made it necessary to erect larger
structure.
The contractor and builder was James L.
of Stephens City, Va. The build
ing committee was composed of Rev. T. ]
Lambert, chairman; VIM. H. Talbot, sec.
rotary; Gideon Briggs, treasurer; John W.
Briggs, James X, Walker, Carson Ward,
John W. Walker and Zachariah A. Briggs,
lately deceased.
Rev. Mr.. Lambert was formerly in charge
OF Howard circuit and is now Ia the third
year of his pastorate at Gaithersburg. The
church and grounds coat complete SlT 800
The grounds will have brick walkSand q
roadway of crushed bluestone, with centel
sown in grass.
The cornerstone was laid on May Goth,
and the ceremonies were attended by sew
eral thousand persons. Gov. Warfield was
the chief orator Of the day. Pentalpha
Lodge Of Masons, with visiting delegations
from the county and elsewhere, had the SER
vices In charge.
The stewards of the new church are N
Walker, ]. w. Briggs, E. g. Ward, j.
K. Walker, DR.. E. H. Etchlson, w. Ii. Tai.
bolt, G. d. Briggs. The trustees are N. j..
Walker, Z. l.. Amiss, Thomas j. Owen, ]
K. Walker, E. G. Ward, G.. d. Briggs and
]. W. Briggs.