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Show FORMER SALOON NOW CHURCH Rcmarkabla Trantformation for Which tho Congregation U Vary Literally Liter-ally Raaponalblo. The Bronx, New York's famous residential res-idential section, has a home-made church. It began life as a saloon In the period antedating the year 1, A. V. (ante Volstead). Thea followed a spell as a billiard parlor. Rev. A. V. Vns. an Episcopal clergyman, next appeared upon the scene. lie rented the ex-saloon, organized a congregation, congrega-tion, and with a big shoe-case for an altar and a dozen rude benches for the accommodation of his flock, which In-eluded In-eluded Germans, Italians, Hungarians, Irish and Americans, the Initial service serv-ice was held. In course of time the little congregation Increased to about fifty, bought the place, paid oft the debt In sums of J 13 and $20 at a time and at length laid aside a reserve fund. And this is what they did with It : Including In their number carpenters, carpen-ters, bricklayers, ' cement J workers, electricians, etc., they had a. chuurch meeting, - parceled out the work among themselves, and oil the night of December 3 Inst they began tearing tear-ing out Hie front of the building. Each night thereafter, as soon as sup-ppr sup-ppr was disposed of, the volunteer workers got back on the-job and by working every night save Sunday sometimes well into the morning they have succeeded In making over the place Into a pretty little concrete edifice of the old Spanish mission type, j It includes not only the chapel proper, but a dining hall, social hall, kitchen, etc. Rev. Mr. Voss fmys: "It Ixn't a cathedral, but. to us.lt Is the finest church building in the world because, we have reared it with our own hands." Plans ore being formed for the ronseeratljon of the building by Cl.shop Winning at an early date. |