THE TABERNACLE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1879

THE TABERNACLE.

This building is now completed; and for the past few weeks, Sabbath-school and meetings have been held in it. We are therefore prepared to speak more definitely concerning it. Our readers have doubtless looked for a description of the building before this; but a full description cannot well be given without engravings showing the ground plan, elevation, and exterior view. These will be provided in due time; but we wish to say a word about it to give the reader something of an idea of its structure before the dedication, April 20.

The building stands on the site of the old church, on Washington St., facing east upon the public square. It is 105 by 130 feet. Frame of wood veneered with brick, like the Sanitarium and the new Office building. There are four large entrances, through vestibules, one at each corner, facing south-east, north-east, north-west, and south-west, respectively. In this respect it is a good symbol of our message, which is gathering into its fold precious souls from the four quarters of the earth.

The interior arrangement consists of a large central audience room 65x85, entered directly from each vestibule through folding doors. Around this, on the north, south, and east sides, are three vestries, those on the north and south being respectively 21x52, that on the east 23x73. Doors from these vestries open also into the vestibules, so that any room can be entered without going through any other.

The main audience room will seat about nine hundred persons; the north and south vestries, two hundred and fifty each; the front vestry, three hundred and fifty.

The vestries are separated from the main audience room by sliding partitions, containing ground-glass windows for the free admission of light. These partitions are hung on weights, and can all be thrown up by a few persons in a moment of time, thus transforming the entire lower floor into one vast room, capable of seating over seventeen hundred persons, all within sight and easy hearing distance of the pulpit.

The pulpit is placed on the west side, the platform on which it stands, filling and extending somewhat in front of a large arched recess. In the back of this recess is a triple window, on the left sash of which is painted as a motto Rom. 3:24; on the central one, the ark and the law of God, the ten commandments; and on the right, Rev. 14:12.

From the pulpit a passage leads to the rear vestibules on either side; and from these passages stairs ascend to rooms over said vestibules, which are to serve as committee rooms. From each side of the pulpit, steps ascend to the gallery, which extends around the remaining sides of the room, on a circle forty-five feet in diameter. The gallery also extends to the front over the front vestry, furnishing seating room for eight hundred persons. Two stair-cases lead from the gallery into each of the front vestibules. Wall seats, and extra seats in aisles and vacant spaces, can be made to accommodate about seven hundred more. This makes a total of thirty-two hundred, who can be accommodated in the building in case of a crowd. All doors above and below swing outward.

The gallery-front is supported by iron pillars. These, extending upward above the gallery, form a support for the roof. The space within the circle is finished up with a dome, terminating in a large sky-light, twenty-five feet in diameter, fifty feet from the floor. A continuous row of small windows above the gallery admits abundance of light above, giving to every part a bright, cheerful, and inviting aspect.

The basement extends under the whole building. In this, just under the floor, is a net-work of steam pipes, taking steam, through a pipe laid under ground, from one of the forty horse-power boilers of the Office. The heat is thus evenly distributed under the entire floor, and passes up through little registers in every pew. It is just as warm in one part of the house as another, and the heat is brought where it is most needed,—around the feet and lower limbs. The heating system is very pleasant and efficient. No fire is built in the house.

The regular Sabbath audience now comfortably fills the main audience room. For Sabbath-school and social meetings, it is very convenient. Thus when the scholars gather for Sabbath-school at nine o’clock Sabbath morning, they pass to the places assigned to their respective divisions in the different vestries and the main room. The partitions are thrown up, and the school is all together for the general opening exercises. The partitions are then drawn down, and the divisions in the different rooms are thus almost as much by themselves as if they were in separate buildings. Class recitations being ended, at a given signal, the teachers and officers throw up the partitions, and the school is one again for general closing exercises, without a scholar leaving his seat.

In the afternoon, the social meeting is divided to avoid having too large a company in one, the divisions occupying different rooms, and carrying on their worship without interfering with each other. The house is an easy one in which to speak, and the acoustic properties are good. All are more than pleased with the building, and more and more convinced that it is just what is needed. It is finished up in a plain and not unnecessarily expensive manner, and supplies a want which the cause here has long felt. And now we want to see it appropriately and solemnly dedicated to the worship of God. In this the help of all the brethren and sisters who can come, is wanted. The foregoing description is designed only as an introduction to the invitation which is hereby extended to all to come to the General Conference and dedication, April 17-21. We want to see the house filled, from floor to topmost seat in the gallery. We want to see such fervency and enthusiasm as the present progress of our cause now warrants, and we want to experience such a blessing from the Lord as shall consecrate the house, and shall consecrate all the people anew to his service.

It is not a cunningly devised fable which is now beginning to move powerfully the people of the earth; but it is the most marvelously and harmoniously arranged, nicely balanced, and strongly fortified system of truth, that has ever yet been developed by the fulfillments of prophecy, and the concurrent testimony of the word of God. This truth is going on to speedy victory; for the end is at hand. It is in the interest of such a truth that this house has been erected. Come to rejoice in the accomplishment of this work. Come to see; come to hear; come to help; come to receive. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich.