. Origin and annals of "The Old south," First Presbyterian church and parish, in Newburyport, Mass., 1746-1896 . he restof the painting, paint it white. But some one reporteda new process of graining to make the pine look likeoak. Accordingly a Boston painter named Whit-taker, came on to effect the marvellous transforma-tion. His condition was that he and his helpershould have complete control of the room till hiswork was done. For some years the parish tookpride in it as a work of art; but better taste prevailedin 1856, and the pulpit was painted, as was first in-tended, a pure white. At that
. Origin and annals of "The Old south," First Presbyterian church and parish, in Newburyport, Mass., 1746-1896 . he restof the painting, paint it white. But some one reporteda new process of graining to make the pine look likeoak. Accordingly a Boston painter named Whit-taker, came on to effect the marvellous transforma-tion. His condition was that he and his helpershould have complete control of the room till hiswork was done. For some years the parish tookpride in it as a work of art; but better taste prevailedin 1856, and the pulpit was painted, as was first in-tended, a pure white. At that time an Italian, namedPhilip Guelpa, did the refrescoing of the walls andceiling so generally and deservedly admired, espe-cially the marvellous hangings back of the pulpit. Church music has been mentioned on pages 52-54;but a few words ma)7 here be added. In 1781 ElderPearson was instructed to sit in the Elders seatand set the music. In 1795 the parish voted tosing without the Deacons reading the psalms andhymns line by line. That same year they votedforty pounds for a singing-school, and made another *95. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. appropriation for the same object in 1807. Atabout the same time they voted to remove theold sounding-board from above the pulpit; andlikewise appointed a special committee to see thatpew-owners should nail list on the seats to preventthe noise made by their falling in prayer time. In1813 the parish voted to adopt the regulation dressfor attending funerals, although no description ofsaid dress is given in the records. The accompanying interior view shows the mod-ern organ, to the right and left of which are the so-called negro pews, relics of colonial customs; aportion of the famous whispering gallery; the fres-coed ceiling; and the alcoves, between the doors,where the stoves used to stand whence the foot-stoves were supplied with live coals. From the materials furnished by the singing-schools the singing men and sinoino- women wereformed into a c
Size: 1400px × 1785px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidoriginannals, bookyear1896
