820 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



For the interior of our home, we may introduce the 

 hardwoods — like oak or chestnut for the exposed ceiHng 

 timbers and partition timbers. Oak, maple and yellow 

 pine play an important part for floors, only do not try to 

 imitate the floors of bowling-alleys with excessively 



THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING 



AM Souls In-The-East, Unitarian Univcrsalist, and voted by the Archi- 

 tectural League o'f New -York the ideal meeting-house of America. 



narrow strips such as mill men often recommend in 

 order to divide the inevitable shrinkages of their half- 

 aged product as much as possible. Poplar is best, in 

 this section of the country, for white jjaint and enamel 

 trim, liecause the grain and color of the pieces are hard 

 to mutch, while it is a soft wood requiring some protec- 

 tion. The Summit, New Jersey, Meeting-house illus- 

 trated, is trimmed with poplar, ca])ped with Ijirch rails. 

 There arc three-ply, built-u]), birch doors, and a birch 

 casing for the renaissance organ, all birch being cabinet 

 fmishcd. hut without a i)article of stain, depending solely 

 upon time for deepening the tone values. 



White paint is a bit harsh for the exterior of a meet- 

 ing-h'ous^ as rich in architectural detail as is this one, and 

 in a city or largie village, it soils too quickly and streaks 

 horribly. There is, moreover, an indefinable charm im- 

 parted to Colonial buildings by soft browns and drabs. 1 

 cannot tell you why ; but a subconsciousness suggests 

 reiiiiriiscences of the subdued afid grateful tones incident 

 to the Italian travertine, as one reason, while another, 

 possibly, is suggested by memories of the delightful belfry 

 of old St. John's which presides over the docks of Ports- 

 mouth, New Hampshire, also the brown steeple of St. 

 John's and St. Paul's, respectively, in New York City. 



And then, there come to mind the splendid old mansions 

 in the neighborhood of Benefit Street, in Providence, 

 Rhode Island, and along Federal Street, in Salem, Mas- 

 sachusettes, all in brown color schemes, mostly mono- 

 tones, depending upon richness of detail for contrast 

 and shadow. I may tell you, however, why the new 

 Meeting-house at Summit was placed, apparently, with 

 its back to the street. It was done for a certain and 

 irresistible dramatic note in the setting that nothing 

 else would produce. The theory of Orientation played 

 no part. 



One is little prepared for the religious perspective 

 which greets one upon entering the Meeting-house from 

 Waldron Avenue — the main entrance. People remark 

 the high pulpit with its sounding-board, the lectern, the 

 chancel, the altar over which it is easy for the imagina- 

 tion to descry a sanctuary lamp dimly burning. There 

 is even a faint suspicion of incense in the atmosphere, 

 which however, is nothing but a certain historic haze 

 the architect of the building has artfully produced, 

 rather than services in which acolytes have taken part. 

 Conventional manners and reticence are likely to give 

 way to the heart-to-heart question — 



"And pray, what kind of a church is this, anyway?" 



"It is the Unitarian Meeting-house." 



"What are you saying?" — and tableau of consterna- 

 tion ! 



Yes, it is difficult — very difficult for an architect to 

 design a Unitarian Meeting-house. The requirements 

 are so exacting. Strange as it may seem, it is the very 

 symbols of some of the densest of religious superstition 



THE NEW MEETING HOUSE 

 The old time hallowed atmosphere of the great portico. 



