ELIOT CHURCH, NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

George F. Meacham, Architect, Newton, Mass.

THE new Eliot church edifice stands in the place formerly occupied by the wooden structure which was burned in January, 1887. The general design of the building has features of the Romanesque style of architecture, while the carved enrichments, both on the exterior and in the interior, are in the Byzantine style. It is built of slightly pink-tinted granite from the Braggville quarries, near Milford, Mass., with rich Kibbee brown sandstone trimmings from Longmeadow, Mass. The principal tower is between the church and the chapel. It is 127 feet high, with clock dials, which are illuminated at night, and an open belfry. The bell weighs 3,524 pounds, most of which is metal from the old bell, and has the old inscription: "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound." Near the corner of the street is the portecochère. The small round tower is 85 feet high, with round pilasters crowned with winged angel heads.

As may be seen by the plan, the auditorium is cruciform. The greatest dimensions are 116 feet by 91 feet; the width of nave and of transepts is 64 feet each. The floor is inclined toward the pulpit 42 inches, and the pews, seating eleven hundred persons, are in the form of an amphitheatre. There are seats for a large chorus in front of the organ. The roof is exposed, and is constructed with hammer beam trusses, and there are no columns that obstruct the view of the platform. The only columns are those supporting the double diagonal trusses at the intersection of nave and transepts. These are in pairs, and are of rich Etowah marble. The auditorium is finished in cherry, and has a beautiful depth and richness of form and coloring. There are ten memorial windows-in memory of George W. Bacon; Andrew P. Cobb (a John Eliot design); Joseph P. Cobb; of the father, husband, and son of Mrs. Eleanor H. Coburn; of the wife of Edmund W. Converse; of David Brainerd Jewett; George H. Jones; John C. Potter; William Otis Trowbridge; and Ebenezer Woodward.

The chapel is 46 feet by 63 feet. The height of this room is 40 feet, which gives height enough for galleries to open into it over the rooms at each end. These galleries are divided into seven class-rooms, and are shut off, when desired, by heavy portières. In the chapel decorations a variety of colors is used with subdued contrast, more cheerful than the similar tones of the auditorium. The Sunday-school library is under the church organ, and opens into the chapel.

Rev. Wolcott Calkins, D. D., is the pastor of the church. Mr. Charles E. Billings was the chairman of the building committee.

The total cost of the structure, including the organ, furnishings, and the memorial windows, is about $180,000.

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

Will hold its seventh triennial session with the Plymouth Church, in Worcester, October 9-15.

The following is an outline of the provisional

A. M.: Organization.

PROGRAM.

WEDNESDAY. - 10 A. M.

P. M.: Reports of Provisional Committee; Publishing Committee; Secretary; Treasurer; business.

Evening: Dr. Storrs's address on "The Foreign Field."

THURSDAY.

A. M.: Statements of Benevolent Societies.

P. M.: Reports and Statements of Benevolent Societies.

Evening: "The Church and the Young," by Rev. Francis E. Clark; to be discussed. "The Need of Bible Study," by Rev. Albert E. Dunning; to be discussed.

FRIDAY.

A. M.: Statements of Theological Seminaries; "The Deficiency in Ministerial Supply, and How it may be Remedied," by Prof. H. M. Scott; to be discussed. Reports of Committees and Business.

P. M.: Reports and Business. Salutations from England, Canada, and the Presbyterian General Assembly.

Evening: "The Church and the Workingman in the Light of To-day," by Rev. Washington Gladden; to be discussed.

A. M.: Sermon by Rev. Arthur Little: "The Home Field"; followed by the Lord's Supper.

Evening: Sermon by Rev. Israel E. Dwinell.

Reports and Business.

MONDAY.

Evening: "Religion and the Public Schools," by Rev. Josiah Strong; to be discussed.

TUESDAY.

A. M.: Business, and Closing Exercises.

The Committees from whom reports are expected, and the subjects, may be found on page 365.

The Congregational Club in Worcester representing the churches will entertain delegates who do not choose to provide for themselves, and will assist any, delegates or others, who desire to find places for themselves. All such are invited to send their names and make their wishes known at once to

G. HENRY WHITCOMB,

Lock Box 965, WORCESTER, MASS.

Chairman of Committee of Arrangements,

He will give information, and as soon as practicable make assignments.

A Manual and Roll of the Council, with list of delegates as far as reported, will shortly be issued by the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. It will be sent to all whose names are enrolled; and to all who apply for it at their headquarters in Boston or Chicago.

INTRODUCTORY.

THIS YEAR-BOOK is late in issue. The returns of the States, received in May last year, were in better season this; Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio reporting in March; Connecticut and Kansas in April; but New York, which reported in April, 1888, was not heard from this year until July 14-22. This unforeseen and surprising delay has postponed the YEAR-BOOK's possible issue from June to near September.

Do not wait, say some. But the YEAR-BOOK is so related part to part, that the omission of one part would seriously impair the value of all that remained. To print without the returns from any State would make the summaries imperfect and misleading, and the list of ministers most unsatisfactory to many who make practical use of it. Such a number would be an inconvenience and a grief, and would lower the value of the series in all the future. The gain of a few weeks in issue would be dearly bought at such a sacrifice.

And there will be no need. There has been a gain this year all around, with a single exception. The churches in New York may be trusted to find a remedy for that. They will not be pleased or content with their distinction this year; they can do as well hereafter as they did in 1888, and better. When they and all others will furnish their returns in March, as most now do, the YEAR-BOOK can be issued in May, or early in June. Why not? If there is the will, the way can be found.

The churches of the United Conference of Georgia, fifty in number, form an important addition to the tables this year. In regard to their insertion, it should be remembered that questions of fellowship belong finally and only to the churches, and are to be determined by their representatives in local and State bodies or the National Council. But in the case of churches newly organized or reported, the YEAR-BOOK has been accustomed often to insert them in brackets, as a matter of information, leaving their future status to be determined in an orderly way. In the case of these Conference churches in Georgia, there were many reasons for the same course, and none which seemed sufficient against it. Whatever the result of current discussions, the question must have an important place in our history, and the facts will be wanted by all. Such a body of churches and ministers have a primafacie case in their favor, when they propose to enter into fellowship with the Congregational churches. This is more than confirmed by the action of the American Home Missionary Society at Saratoga; but this only is involved in their insertion in the YEAR-BOOK. It is not too much to say that a hearty welcome awaits them, if, with due regard to the rights of all, they can take their place in our ranks.

Every minister whose name is on the rolls of the denomination and enjoys the benefit of the Council's great liberality in the free distribution of the YEAR-BOOK, owes in return, at least, the small care involved in seeing to it himself that the YEAR-BOOK knows just where he is, and is promptly notified of any change in his place or status. Many copies of the YEAR-BOOK are lost every year, and many

complaints come from brethren who have failed to receive it, when they alone are responsible from their neglect of this simple duty. Who is the scribe of your association or conference; custodian of the record of your ministerial standing, and responsible for its correct report to the State secretary and YEAR-BOOK? He should always be able to answer for you. If you neglect to keep him informed, you are likely to suffer from his ignorance. And, after his annual report has been made, at the beginning of the year, any change in your status or post-office should be sent at once, not only to him, but to the editor of the YEAR-BOOK. The proper correction will then be made if there is time for it; and the YEAR-BOOK will not be wasted ⚫ in a vain hunt for you at your former home, or costly pursuit of you from one place to another.

The statistical secretaries of the States and Territories will remember that they are to meet in Worcester on the day before the assembling of the Council, Oct. 8. Their meeting in Chicago was helpful in suggestion and influence, and in cultivating a useful esprit du corps. We should do better this year.

On the authority of the secretary, Rev. S. L. Gerould, I name eleven o'clock, Tuesday A. M., at the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., as the time and place for meeting. The committee of arrangements authorize me to say that the entertainment of these secretaries shall begin that day.

A word is due to the memory of the faithful man who for more than eight years has paid, as treasurer, all the bills of the YEAR-BOOK and the Council. Lavalette Perrin, D. D., ceased from his labors in a sad catastrophe which befell the hotel in which, with his wife, he was stopping, in Hartford, Ct., Feb. 18. He had served the Council with diligence, zeal, and fidelity; and his record as a pastor, a Fellow of Yale College, and a servant of the churches of Connecticut is a most honorable one. He was a good man and a true one. The Rev. Samuel B. Forbes has been duly appointed by the provisional committee as his successor, and his statement follows.

AUGUST 20, 1889.

HENRY A. HAZEN,

Secretary and Editor,

CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY, BOSTON, MASS.