what is known as the tracker action, 2,147 pipes, 33 speaking stops, and 2 manuals. The bell which was hung in the tower of the church, and which still calls us to worship, is the one which was presented by Col. Richard Borden at the time of the building of the old meeting house. On the exterior of the building the following mottoes cut in stone invite the passers-by to worship: "Praise ye the Lord"; "Let us exalt His name together"; "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near"; and on the arches over the pulpit platform are the inscriptions: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"; "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holi ness. The hieroglyphic character of the decorative fresco design, which was finally used for the upper background of the pulpit recess, has aroused so much curiosity, as people have seen it for the first time, that an interpretation of this quaint Latin symbol may be found interesting. It is in triangular form, and is an illustration of the doctrine of the Trinity as presented in the Athanasian creed. In the center is the word Deus," from which radiate three lines, each bearing the Latin "est," and each reaching to one of the three points of the diagram, where are the letters "P," "F," "SS," respectively; thus signifying: "The Father is God"; "The Son is God"; "The Holy Spirit is God." The three sides of the triangle each bear the inscription, "non est "; thus completing the reading: "The Father is not the Son," "The Son is not the Holy Spirit,' ""The Holy Spirit is not the Father." In this way is symbolized the completed doctrine of the Trinity: "One Substance, Three Persons." North of the pulpit, upon the projecting wall of the pastor's room, is the beautiful Memorial Tablet which was presented by the Ladies' Beneficent Society. It is of Tennessee marble, set on an arched panel of fine-finished gray sandstone richly carved, the whole rendered effective by its black-walnut background. It bears the following inscription: CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ORGANIZED NOVEMBER 16, 1842. First Pastor. Rev. SAMUEL WASHBURN Installed April 24, 1844. Dismissed Jan. 2, 1849. A genial and beloved pastor. Second Pastor. Rev. ELI THURSTON, D.D. Installed March 21, 1849. Died Dec. 20, 1869. As a preacher able and bold, And a power for good. In Memoriam Among other gifts at the time the church was built, were the beautiful stained-glass picture of "Jerusalem," set in the cloister window of the south parlor, and five large framed photographs which have ever since hung in the north parlor, all presented by Robert K. Remington; also the piano, which was until recently used in the parlors, and which now does service in the Primary Department of the Bible school, given by Niels Arnzen. The pictures above referred to are from bas-reliefs of Thorwaldsen. They represent the four evangelists, each riding upon a wingèd creature, Matthew's, with the face of a man; Mark's, with the face of a lion; Luke's, with the face of an ox; and John's, with the face of an eagle, -in accordance with the symbols in Ezekiel's vision. The fifth picture is "Mary with Jesus and John." |