The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-14
IN The new HOME
First Baptist Congregation Sees
the Church Proper.
Services Held There for First
Time Sunday.
AN ORIGINAL ROOM.
Is Unlike All Other Churches in
Topeka.
Many Beautiful Windows Add to
the Effect.

The handsome new First Baptist
church at the corner of Ninth and Jack
son streets which has been under con-
struction for twelve months was OPEN
ed for services Sunday morning for the
first time. The Sunday school room has
been used for church purposes for some
time but the finishing work was so
nearly completed in the main auditor
ium that it was possible for the services
Special services. consisting of a fine
musical programme, were given and a
large crowd was present at the opening.
Following is the programme.
MORNING SERVICE.
Violin, Selected. Mrs. Axten
Solo, In Native WORTH from the
Mr.. Pfribhie. iea'i'"
Duet s,,,o' ~Tarry With Me. Q Ny
Miss Reddick and Mr.. Pr ii; ie.'0iAl
Gospel solo, The Model Church."
Mr.. Shaver
EVENING SERVICE.
Solo, THE Holy City,. Adams
Miss Reddick.
NQuafteIte Observation-Disclosures. Selected
Male Quartette of First Baptist church:
Messrs. Hunt Axtell, Godfrey and
Eldridge.
Solo, Behold a King" Wilkinson
Accompanies: Miss Grace Wilcox
Precentor: Mr.. Shaver.
3 The church was built with both the
idea of usefulness and beauty and the
latter is most certainly emphasized.
The direction of auditorium and ad-
joining Sunday school room is from the
east to southeast the audience facing
in the latter direction. The pulpit is at
the southwest corner of the building
and is under an arched ceiling From
each side of the center arch extends
another archWay to the back and side
of the auditorium. Balconies have been
IN he n-tE 1rf nocf o-4
sides of the pentagonally shaped room.
On all these archwayS incandescent
lights have been placed about three
feet apart these making a spectacular
illumination in the evening.
The ornamentation of the church
makes it thing of beauty. The rays
of light softened by the large stained
glass windows produce a mild and
pleasing effect upon the decorations of
the room. On the center of the west
side and also the south side of the
auditorium of the church is a large
stained glass window, probably twenty
first attract the visitors notice as he
enters the room. On the window to the
right of the platform is a large picture
in many colorS representing the
Resurrection of Christ, while in the
window to the left is a lifeIike repre-
sentation of Christ teaching in the
Temple The coloring of the glass
while manifold gives one the impress
sion of brown and green. The seven
windows to the back of the pulpit are
much narrower and are memorial
windows.
Above in tie center of the dome is
a large circular stained glass with the
head of Christ in the center. Along
the back of the Sunday school room
are several memorial windows which
are works of art and beauty in them
selves. The color of the room is dark
cream or light yellow Trimmed in
white which illuminated by the pale
light from the stained glass windows
produces a most pleasing and har-
monious effect
The large pipe organ has not been
placed in the building yet but it will be
in the center of the back archway di-
rectly behind the pulpit. The choir
will stand on a raised platform to the
right of the minister. To his left is
the enclosure leading to the baptismaI
fount. Under the large window on the
south side of the church is a small
window bearing this inscriptions: This
Church was organized March 1, 1857,
by Jesse Stone, Sarah L. Miller,
Charles A. Bliss, Joseph Miller, Will
liam Jordan and Christopher Fitch
gerald.
The exits are well arranged in case
of fire as the doors are about fifteen
feet wide and open outward. The
Sunday school room is half circular
arrangement which when the large
curtain is raised becomes the back of
the main auditorium. The woodwork
including the pews, DOORS etc., is in
oak and blends well with the color and
light of the room. The main floor will
accommodate in the neighborhood OF
eight hundred people and the balcony
building when completed will amount
to SIS 1000.
Palms and cut flowers were used to