The Daily Missoulian., 1911-10-29


cation of tho new building of the First
Methodist church OF Missoula. There
have assembled for participation In this
event many men prominent I'm the
church councils OF the state and some
whose names are familiar In a broader
field, who are figures In the national
work Of their church There have
gathered. too. many scattered members
of the local church and there have
come 10 Missoula for this occasion men
and women who. though not of the
church membership. have a keen in
tercst In the work which the Metho-
dists have done here and whose pres.
cncc will testify to that friendly in
terest.
II Is an occasion which will be
memorable. Forty years ago the first
church was built I'm Missoula upon the
site now occupied by the handsome
structure whose dedication win be the
theme OF today,s ceremony. Forty
years have wrought wonderful changes
In the field which was opened 40 years
ago: the church has kept pace with
those changes. Well may the society
be proud of Its new home and weH
may Missoula congratulate herself that
this house OF worship has been builded
here.
Tho Building.
The new church occupies a ground
floor space which will square about
75x1lO feet. II has full, concrete
basement and the walls are of local
fife pressed brick In two shades, tho
darker color being used from tho
basement to the sills. The brick are
laid In the cement. The TRIMMINGS.
watertable and tower, are of terra
Gotta from New Jersey. the corner
stones are OF Montana granite and the
capstoncs to the chief entrances are Of
white Washington granite. The shades
OF the colors of the several materials
used in the building blend nicely and
form most artistic combination.
Interior Arrangement.
In Its interior arrangement the new
Methodist church is as convenient and
as near ideal as could be designed.
Tho seating capacity of the church
rooms proper IL between 800 and 300
and this will not make the church
crowded. The ground floor Is divided
into two rooms. the main auditorium
and the Sunday school room, separated
by panelcd curtain which can be
raised and lowered as the occasion de-
mands. With the curtain up the two
rooms are really one. There Is a bal
cony In the rear of each and the pull
pit IL so placed between the two rooms
that the speaker may be seen from
practically every seat In both sections
and nearly every seat In both bal
comics. There are several smaller
rooms on the ground floor. The south
side OF the church Is built as sort of
a huge bay window and this Is sep
aratcd from the main auditorium by Il
partition composed Of sliding doors.
This Is A rest room for mothers and
their children, but may also be opened
out so as to become very beautiful
part OF the auditorium. 1t Is provided
with special art chairs and has COM
Portable seating capacity of about so.
The windows on the south are some of
the most beautiful OF the whole church,
At the east side OF the main audi
torium Is the organ loft with choir
stage In front having seating ca
pacity Of IS, with room for so with ex-
ira chairs. The aleove Is graced at
THE rear with a beautiful circular art
window that makes an artistic setting
for the massive pipe organ. To the
right Of the organ loft Is the choir
room. large and convenient with an
outside entrances: and to the left Is the
pastors study The study Is a beautiful
little room, richly finished and well
lighted. The large window OF the
study Is the only memorial window
which has been put into the whole
building by the church proper. This
bears the bust OF John Wesley and was
placed by the church in memory OF
Dr. Jliff and of his early work IN es-
tabllshing the First Methodist church
In Missoula many years ago. The
study opens into hall from which
stairway leads to the basement and
also to the balcony over the Sunday
school room. Across this hall from the
study II small but conveniently ar
ranged library. room. H
z Three Entraness.
The church Il provided with three
entrances. The main entrance Is at
tho southwest corner. ODaniNg from