Linden Baptists in Their Handsome New Home

Linden Baptists in Their Handsome New Home Linden Baptist church, Camden S. Conrad Ott. John T. Bottomley. The Rev. George W. Peck. Yesterday was the day of accomplishment and the day of new beginnings for the Linden Baptist Church. It was the day in which the church moved into its handsome new building at the northeast corner of Ninth and Linden streets. That was the accomplishment of a dream long indulged in. The new building gives greater and broader and better opportunities for work. That is the new beginning. The church building is really one of the ornaments of this city. In every line there is beauty, symmetry and dignity. One of the visitors to the Bible-school's portion of the services yesterday afternoon was Henry D. Moore, of Haddonfield. In the course of a conversation, Mr. Moore declared without doubt that Linden Church has the handsomest church building in the country. Rev. William H. Geistwelt, D.D., the first pastor of the church, was another visitor, and he declared that he had travelled all over the world and nowhere was there a building that was more beautiful. All Camden may well be proud of the achievement of this church, therefore, from an architectural and aesthetic point of view, in addition to the natural pride of all people in the achievement of increased moral force and the ability to accomplish more for the up(lift) of humanity. The exterior of the new building is of brick, surmounted by a concrete dome of magnificent, sweeping proportions. This dome is of itself more or less of a curiosity because of the advance it marks in building. It is new; absolutely new, and it, too, is an achievement of skill. The main entrance to the building is at the corner of Ninth and Linden streets. Entering the church you find yourself passing through two vestibules, the outer one of which at once takes the place of the usual unsightly storm doors. The floors of these vestibules are tiles, the word "Linden" being a part of the design in the outer one. It is when you reach the main door to the audience room that you are almost swept off your mental feet by the sight that bursts upon you. Above stretches the great dome. In the very apex of this in ancient Hebrew is the word "Jehovah", from which there radiates great bursts of light in gold. At each of the intersections in the panels of the dome there is in relief a large gold star - one hundred and twenty-eight of them in all of the dome. The dome is supported by sixteen great white columns and is itself finished in white. The thought here expressed is Jehovah in the centre of the firmament shedding over all the light of His love and grace. The walls are finished in a light canary and the maple floor is carpeted in green. The rich color effect is most striking and so decidedly harmonious as to be almost surprising. The pulpit is in the east and the circular appearance of the interior is broken by the extending lines of the apse back of the platform and into which the latter is built. The choir is in the north and this platform will accommodate a chorus of fifty to seventy-five. In the northeast corner, between pulpit and choir, so to speak, is the baptismal pool. This is also something entirely new. It is built low so that those in the audience may look down into the water. The parlor [sic] and candidates in entering the pool walk down a gentle incline, so that the whole give the representation of walking down the banks of a river and is an effort to reproduce in a way the baptism in the Jordan. Over the pool is the test: "Repent and Be Baptized." This text, too, is in gold. The pews and furnishings are what is technically called "modern English," but most people refer to it as "weathered oak," "antique oak," etc. It is dark green in color. The pews are arranged in amphitheatre form. The robing rooms for candidates for baptism are in the crypt under the pulpit platform. The pastor's study is to the south of the pulpit. The architect was Arthur Truscott, of Merchantville, who was assisted by Arnold H. Moses, also of Merchantville. It is a curious fact that twenty-eight years ago yesterday there was opened and dedicated the old building that stood on this corner, and which a year ago last July was torn down to make room for this. Mr. Truscott, when a young architect, planned that building. John T. Bottomley, then and now superintendent of the Bible-school told him that some day a handsome building should go there and that he should draw the plans. When the time came to draw the plans the promise of a quarter of a century ago was redeemed and Mr. Truscott planned the new edifice. The church itself built the building. Turner & Stewart, of this city, were the supervising contractors, but the church was its own builder, the work being in charge of the following committee: James J. Myers, secretary; Robert J. McAuley, treasurer; Rev. George W. Peck, Jr., John T. Bottomley, Victor S. Pike, Albert Adams, Albert Senemeck, Joseph W. Graham, Mrs. L. S. Read, Miss Agnes Naso, Mrs. Ellen Enwistle, Mrs. Matilda Crumley, William H. King, Edwin Hillman, Frank W. Cramer, Harvey L. Restrick, Harry E. Booz, Albert E. Heal, Jonn Hill [sic], G. Walter Lees, J. G. Reeves, Randolph Cramer, Lewis A. Linnekin and J. Willard Morgan. And now to return to yesterday's services. It was a red letter day that began with a men's prayer service in the Bible-school building, led by Deacons Albert Scherneck and Joseph W. Graham at 10 o'clock in the morning and closing with an evangelistic appeal by Dr. Geistwelt at 10 o'clock at night. There was music and speeches all day long with a grand triumphal march of the Bible-school in the afternoon, when the scholars gave a thank offering amounting to nearly $500, and this, too, with no especial appeal - barely with announcement. In fact, the services lacked the element so frequently seen of making the day one of begging for funds. Not a special collection was taken all day and none will be taken for this fund during the three weeks that yet remain of services. Pastor George Williams Peck presided at the morning service. The prayer was offered by Dr. Geistwelt and Rev. Dr. Milton G. Evans, president of Croz'er Theological Seminary, preached the opening sermon. At the close of the sermon Mrs. Elmer E. Morton called the roll of "Linden's honored dead" and this was followed with a memorial prayer by Deacon S. Conrad Ott. The choir sang "Asleep in Jesus," and thus was the memory honored of the pioneers who went across the river before seeing the fruition of their labors. One new member received the right hand of fellowship at the close of the service, the communion service concluding it all. In the afternoon Superintendent John T. Bottomley had the Bible-school in charge, assisted by Associate Superintendents Edwin Hillma [sic], Randolph Cramer and S. Conrad Ott. Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Sophie R. Carter, the two who in 1863 made the house to house canvass to ascertain whether or not there was need for a Bible-school in the northeastern section of the city, spoke to the great host of assembled scholars telling of things of the early days. Then came a rousing address by Dr. Geistwelt, a talk full of inspiration and pointing to the greater things ahead. It was at this service that Architect Truscott was presented to the audience and received a Chautauqua salute. In the evening Pastor Peck presided and preached a sermon that was fitted to the occasion and was a fitting conclusion to the great day, his theme being "The Church and the World." At this service it was found that the building was all too small to hold the people who had come to see and hear. Built to accommodate in the sittings about 700 persons, fully 1,500 were crowded within the doors, many were turned away and an overflow meeting of some 200 young people who sacrificed their places in the church to make room for strangers was held in the Bible-school building. It was a great outpouring of people surely. It was at this service that the beautiful effects of the lighting scheme was seen. Great globes containing tungsten burners of high power are suspended form [sic] the dome by cords of white wire. The effect is most beautiful. This feature was designed by Richard T. Eschler, of Richter & Eschler of this city and is most effective. Following the pastor's sermon, fifteen candidates were baptized by him in the new pool and then came the closing evangelistic appeal by Dr. Geistwelt and the benediction. The choir rendered its music most effectively under the direction of Chorister George K. McGonigle, Miss Caroline W. Colby presiding at the organ. The soloists of the day were Herbert J. Starn, Clarence Hope, Eugene Adams and John N. Young. At both serviced [sic] of the church the following poem by Pastor Peck was suns [sic] a "Linden's Prayer:" In humble thanks we gather here To praise Thee Lord of Life, For Thou has [sic] saved us from the fear Of overwhelming strife. And Thou hast brought us to this hour When in our new church home We recognise Thy salient power And pray Thy Spirit Come! Yea lead us Lord, we need Thee now; To save our hearts from pride! Such human splendor her [sic] below May wean Thee from Thy side. We rather would the closer draw And harder work for thee And teach some weaker soul Thy law That they may too be free! Oh God of light enthroned above! Oh lord, o'er time and space! We know Thee only, by Thy love For none have seen Thy face. But this our honest prayer we raise And none can stronger be; To do Thy will through all our days To prove our thanks to Thee! There will be special services all this week which is know [sic] as "Occupation Week." To-night is "Old Linden Night" when John T. Bottomley will preside and Rev. William G. Russell, who for ten years was pastor of this church, will make the principal address. Mr. Bottomley and Associate Superintendents Hillman, Cramer and Ott, Secretary of the trustees Frank W. Cramer and "Emergency Pastor" Miles S. Read, will give some recollections. To-morrow night is Women's Night; Wednesday, Young People's Night; Thursday, Inter-Denominational Night, and Friday, Baptist Night. Next Sunday marks the opening of "Evangelization Week," which is really two weeks, as on Monday night of next week Rev. Dr. John J. Wicker, the well known evangelist, will begin two week's work at Linden, services being held every night and concluding with a series of all day services on October 24th.