Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-12
Strange Story of WashIuwaOn
,il l-.iig.yrsl Church. lf,r.,f ',rr


A Washington correspondent Of the Rickr
naond Times thus details an interesting oc-
currence at What Ia called the Foundry
Methodist church in Washington, some two
weeks since 1N .TurXNf1L fu9t iz47V
The pastor of the, church, Rev. Mr.
Moody, was connected with the army, and
at one time was stationed at Nashville,
Tenn, and there became intlmatelyIaeG
| quainted with Andrew JOHNSON, when ne
was Military Governor. Sonnet two or three
weeks since Mr.. johnson wentiotO tho
Foundry church, on the sabbath morning,
to hear Mr.. Moody preachHoA After the SER
mon was concluded the reverend gentle.
man ordered all: the doors closedU placed
sentinels at each entrhneey and directed
| them not to let any person pass out until he
gave them permission. Having arranged
this part of the programme, he turned 10
the congregation and informed them that
the repairing and fitting up of that place OF
worship had cost the church $4,000, and
| that the congregation had got TO pay or
subscribe that amount before they could
leave the building. The plate was passed
and large amount received; but this was
a moderate sum compared with the whole
amount. The reverend gentleman then
made another appeal to them, announcing,
In the style of Beeeher, that they need not
think that they were going to get off that
easy-the amount bad got to be made up
Paper and pencil were then passed around
for those present to subscribe, the pastor
all the time continuing his appeals. AS
these slips were passed up to the pulpit,
Mr.. Moody read off the names and
the amount each subscribed. These varied
in amounts from $50 up to $1,000 But
when this was concluded there WAS still
quite sum lacking, Another appeal was
mazda " N
The plate was again passed around, and as
1t came to President johnson he toOkiG
large roll of bills out of his pocket, and,
without opening or looking at the amount,
placed it upon the plate. AS it was
returned to the pulpit the pastor an
nOunced that he would inform them
how much the President had given.
But Mr.. johnson interrupted him and
protested against any such announce
ment in any form, and Mr.. Moody yielded
to this request. But TumOr, of course. is
busy with its stories es to the precise sum.
1t appears to be we'll settled fact that it
was not less than $1,000, while many declare
that it was $l.500. .".a. ~ f9f ia
This last effort was successful In raising
the required sum. Mr. Moody then turned
to the congregation and informed Them
now that they had nearly removed the debt
from the church, they had got TO give an
other $1,000 to make the President of the
United States an honorary member of that
church. When they had accomplished that
they might 20 home. Another subscrip-
tion was taken up and the amount raised.
There were several members of Congress
present, all of whom gave literally for this
proposition, varying from $25 to 500 each.
The President was then declared an honor
airy member of the church, and the con-
prpOatiOn dismissed having bpan detained
there from IL o'clock in the forenoon till 2
in the afternoon under this excitement and
pressure. As this was something unusual,
| considered it worthy of office, although
two or three weeks have elapsed since its
occurrence. tI.Ir'. or.