The national Republican., 1867-09-07

IMPROVEMENTS. - Improvements within
| our city are many and various and there are
mono more highly priIed and valued than tho
houses to bo dedicated to the service Of God
which aro at present in tho course OF erection
There arc different pcrsuasions represented in
these buildings, yet oil striving for the one OBJ.
ject-to have an edhco where man can attend
and offer worship and devotion to the Most High.
The Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal church,
on the corner Of -Four. .and.a. and O streets
north, Is one that we will mention In connection
with this article. The increase Of Methodism
in the United States within tho past century has
been something unparalleled. Two persons,
taking the initiative, enlisted themselves to tho
persuasion, and to-day the Methodist Church Is
the most powerful in the country. The secret is
one which, perhaps, may be accounted for.
With the early settlements and the westward
course Of our forefathers Methodism kept pace.
With tho pioneer hewing his way through the
forests, side by side with him was the earnest
and indefatigable stump prcacher." Along
with the Ak was the Bible. Where the woodman
reared his cabin, 90 did the preacher labor to
erect his little house Of worship. And so on the
calling Hourished. The houses Of worship were
always humble ones, yet nevertheless they were
there. The woodman endeared himself TO the
little structure Of hope, and would assist his
neighbor many miles away to erect similar And
this Is the secret. The Methodists never cared
for snowy edifcesi they only desired many,
though humble
OF late years, however, with the improvements
Of those modern days, congregations Of that do.
nomination have desired to orcct edi0cos perhaps
more adapted to their means, and as q conse.
quencc, the humble log house church has given
way in many Of our cities to strustures Of more
pretonsions.
The Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal church,
now In course Of erection in this city, Is one Of
H.. taNk Tt. ,wstt r.. l..
one, and It's struggles for its completion have
been great.
Some ten or twelve years ago Matthew G.
Emory, Samuel Fowler, Samuel Norment Thos
II. Havenner, DR.. +. Howard, VIM. q. DiehI
Zedack McKnow, Thos. Purcell and Charles II.
Lane were elected the trustees ofa church, to be
erected on the corner Of Four.and. a.hnlf and
streets. The ground was purchased, founda-
tion sunk, and cornerstone laid with great SOL
emnity by Bishop Simpson. The prospects for
its rapid building wero fair, md tho hearts Of
those connected with It wero happy In the hope.
The great deJiderdtuM-want Of money-h0w.
ever, interfered with its progress for some time,
and the war breaking out, political differences
between tho members prevented its completion.
It was not until some two years since that now
impetus was given, and Rev i. S. Do Haas was
appointed agent by the board Of bishops, to col.
lcct moneys and superntend its construction.
Other trustees were added, among whom were
Gen Grant and Chief Justice Chase.
The work which had been so long lingering
started anew, and the house Of God commenced
to rear its head toward the skies. It Is being
built Of Connecticut brown stone, and the archi.
lecture Is Of the pure Gothic style It is so far
advanced that the roof will be on within two
months. In Its present rough and unfinished
state but poor description could be 81, en-, but
when finished according to the proposed ideas
the edihce will rank in appearance with any in
the District and far beyond Tho pulpit will be
located in the south end Of the building The
galleries will be spacious, and the lecture.rooin
large and commodious, tho entrance to the
latter being from Four.and.a. a.half street. 1t Is
hoped that tho lecture room will be finished and
open for service early In the spring A hand.
some steeple and spiro, somo 22O feet high, will
loftily point hoavenward and considerably en-.
hance tho magnitude Of the church. Tho depth
and breadth Of the building is great, and will be
able to hold and seat q very large congregation.
Mr. MATTHEW @. Emory has had the stone
work under his charge and superintendence; the
brick work Is under the charge OF Mr.. Nelson G.
Reynolds; tho carpentering department under
tho auspices of Mr.. Charles L. Walker while
tho architects are Mundall 4 Teckritz, of Brook
lyn, New York.
The structure will be one which the en-.
tire persuasion may we'll feel proud Of. Not the
humble log house Of the missionary in the viii.
uerness but the magnihcent temple OF God In
the popalous city. The ons ss its influence and
is adapted to the tasteN of the uucultured,
though the earnest and faithful heart of the
trapper in the backwoods, while the other with
its grandeur attracts tho more matured and In.
tellectual mind Of those having the advantages
of education, and we trust that tho Metropolitan |
Episcopal church Of Washington |
with its lofty spiro leading heavenward, may
ever be q house Of God In every sense to its
and though generations may pass
away and future ages orumble the stone that is
now SO weighty and substantial, yet we feel its
memory will live the good 1t has accomplish
bo remembered when the building and all con-
nected with 1t have passed away forever.
NATIONAL UNION BUILDING ASSOCIATION.
Tba National ITpion R,iId;n, Az Ia, |