Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1912 — CHURCH DEDICATION WAS A SPLENDID SUCCESS. [ARTICLE]

CHURCH DEDICATION WAS A SPLENDID SUCCESS.

Remodeled Home of Trinity M. E. Congregation One of the Best .Arranged Churches in State.

While the cold weather of Sunday doubtless kept - many people from at tending the dedicatory services o ’ the remodeled Trinity Methodist church, ii did not detract from the enthusiasm of the congregation that attended bota the morning .and evening services, nor from the. thorough appreciation by all of the excellent sermons preached by W. CT Shepherd. of Chicago, who is the superintendent of one of the Chi-; cago districts of the M. E. church. The large assembly room was filled at both the morning and evening ser vices, while several were seated in the section of the church which is arranged to close off from the main, auditorium by means of sliding doors Dr. H. L. Kindig, a former pastor of the church, now located at Monticello, and wife, were here to attend the services, and he presided at thq evening meeting. In the morning Dr. A. T. Brigfes, the district superintendent, presided. >

The most pleasing feature of the morning service Was the spirit of cheerfulness in the giving to meet the indebtedness of about $5,000 While, not quite all that was needed was raised, in general the response was even more than had been expected and before the day was over enough Jaad been pledged to assure that the church will be free from debt. Some minor needs in completing the basement will have to be provided for and it is expected that members and friends will provide for this with equal cheerfulness. Started under the pastorate of Rev. Pelley, the old church was completed in 1889 under the pastorate of Rev. T. F. Drake, who will fill the pulpit here Friday night of this week. The enlarging and remodeling of the church was undertaken only a few months ago by the present ‘pastor, Rev. C. L. Harper. It had been expected to let the contract for the building and to get started by -the early part of May, but When bids were submitted the cost exceeded the estimate so much that it was decided to put the enterprise into the hands of a building committee and the following men were assigned the task, viz. Jesse D. Allman. He-<ry Amsler, J. M. Wasson and J. J. Hunt. They were assisted throughout the building period by Rev. Harper, who donned overalls and work gloves and put in full days of hard wofk along with the laborers and mechanics employed on the building. How successfully they worked an be told by theresult of their labors and by a knowledge of the fact that they saved a little more than $4,000 from the beet figures submitted by contractors. The alterations to the old building and the addition have served to make a large building with an arrangement that is probably unsurpassed anywhere. The old entrance was closed up and a new entrance made near it The-Entrance leads to a vestibule thirteen feet square, heated with a radiator and having double doors on the north and east sides t(j. the main auditorium. Another entrance is on. the north side, in th® new part of the building, and from it, to tho right, steps lead to the basement and to the left to a landing from which on® can go either into the main auditorium or into the large room that closes from the main room or into one of the class rooms. What was formerly a separate room from tile auditorium, has been included into the main room, and the new | seats, which are -finished in antique [color to correspond .with the woodwork. The pulpit occupies a raised : platform with a circular front, while to the right of the pulpit is the choir platform,, arranged so that the rear seats are slightly elevated. The platforms, the aisles and the space between the front, row of seats and the

circular railing enclosing the pulpit platform have been nicely covered with Brussels. The addition to the east side is in general respects much like the Christian church, but has more class room divisions, so that they may'be cut off by sliding or rolling doors, or may be opened and a good view of the pulpit had from almost all ot'them There are seven of these class rooms in this department, which are finished ip a light color. The center room is lighted by a skylight There is an entrance to /the pulpit vestibule from the south side next to the residence and also trom it to the pulpit and to the choir station. The basement is not altogether finished, but the arrangement is excellent A large dining room, which can also be used for classrooms, is at the foot of the steps. From it extends large kitchen, supplied with a new range, work tables, cupboard, pantry• etc. A kitchen shower is to be gfven soon to supply the needed articles for use in serving at functions in the fu-tij-A The dining room was inaugurated by the brotherhood banquet last Friday night, which was attended by about geventy men, .v. .. The wail and ceiling decorations in the auditorium are very beautiful. The walls are of buff, while a delicate bin < is mingled into the ceiling and wreaths delicately tinted and in a manner not to be overdone, make the whole very .attractive. . - The meetings will continue throughout this week and next week the union evangelistic services begin. • * . ■ . - - i