The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-10
|PRESBYTER|ANS To
DEDICATE FINE
CHURCH
members Of Woodward-Ave. Congre.
cation to Occupy Their Magnificent
New EdiAce for First Time,
On Sunday, June %.
Rev. Edgar P. Hill, Of Mccormick
Seminary, To 0fficiate at Dedication
Gov. Osborn To Be Present. :.

To the many beautiful churches In
Detroit will be added the Woodward
hve. Presbyterian, Woodward ave. and
West Philadelphia-ave., Sunday, June
rs. when the formal dedication will
Jake place. This splendid building has
been In process OF erection the past
year and half, and In its completed
state today, stands as one OF the
handsomest church edifices In the
tountry. II Is built OF Pennsylvania
brown stone from the quarries In
Polk, and Is the second building In
fhe United States to be built Of this
material, the other being In Penna'
bola. Fla. Il 10 absolutely flreproof
recording to every possible test made
by airing and Son of Cleveland. the
general contractors. This firm has
ust completed church, the exact
Replica OF the Detroit church, In
Bloomington. Ind.
| A broad fight OF steps leads up to
he Woodward-ave. entrance, the big
Doors of which are of heavy oak, set
with stained glass panels. The vesti-
|bule floor Is Of rubber thing and the
walls Of white marble. A second set
bf doors leads directly into the audi
torium, which is seated diagonally.
The auditorium IL So feet square, the
main floor seating 100 and the grace
tul. curved gallery 500. There are no
pillars or visible supports to the roof
|f the building, the structure being
built on the cantilever plan. with q
huge dome rising ITO feet, In the cen
Ter OF the auditorium. In this dome.
|Kre choir gallery, the echo orsan
and act Of cathedral chimes. The
Interior decorations of the building
brown tnting Of the lower wells
which gradually hghtens into old
worry. A conventionalized design in
gold stencil is the only attempt at
ornate decoration Of the walls. The
| lighting Is from verni antique electro
|iers with frosted drop globes. The
beating of the auditorium is unique,
n that II seems to place everything,
In the square building on an angle.
The preaching platform, In the north
west corner, IL simplicity itself and
|pnly slightly elevated from the main
|1oor, the carpeting Of which 10 IN
lark green. To the right Of the audi
|:orium Is the splendid $4,000 organ,
given the congregation by Mrs.
Tracy McGregor. The choir stall and
he organist bench Is on q platform
|of about the same elevation as that
|)f the preaching desk. Between the
main auditorium and the chapel is a
huge opening, closed when necessary
by sound proof curtain which. in
place, looks like solid wall. The
chapel side OF this curtain has been
DO treated as to make II available for
use The chapel audi
,orium Is a second large auditorium
with q gallery that can be divided
INTO class rooms. The roof Is Of
stained glass, which, on bright day,
dlls the place with sunshine. In the
chapel end of the building 10 every
thing that the various church socie-
ties could possibly require In their
activities; parlors and class rooms of
varying sizes 80 arranged that they
|can be made small or large as re-
luired; q basement auditorium. which
may be used for lecture room or
|banquets, with fully equipped kitchen
and serving rooms leading from It.
Bowling alleys and big gymnasium
complete the modern details Of this
|splendidly equipped, modern, institu-
tional church.
When completed, which will not be
until the very eve OF dedication, the
organ, will be the second largest In
Tstrument in the state, the largest
being the memorial organ, in Univers-
lily hall, Ann Arbor, although the DE.
troit organ is much more modern in
every particular II was built by the
Stevens Organ Co., of Marietta, y.
The gift, few days ago, of the
property adjoining that upon which
the church stands, occasioned much
Joy among the members Of the
church, who had feared the corner
might be converted into a business
block. Mrs. Tracey McGregor was
the donor, az she was of the LAND
upon which the church Is built and oil
the fine organ. Mrs McGregor's slip
ulation In regard to the adjoining
vacant property is that 1t shall be
turned into public park and play
ground and so maintained until such
time in the future as church needs
make II imperative to add more build
ings, such az a church house o
'manse.
In connection with the dedication
three services will be held Sunday
June 20, at 1880. $3.50 and 7:3
o'clock. Morning and evening, IL
Rev. Edgar P. Hill, OF McCormiCl
Theological seminary, Chicago. vii
preach and, in the afternoon, Gov
Chase 9. Osborn and other prominen
guests will take part In the program
A specially prepared musical progi an
will be given by a double quartet, AM
Miss Mary owen, soprano, OF the Nj
Auburn Presbyterian church. CinciI
natl, will be the special soloist. TB'
Rev. Sherman l.. Divine, pastor o
the church, is bending every effor
toward completing the details OF tn
dedication program in ample dine, 81
that there will be no disappointment
and no change necessary ut tn
eleventh hour.