National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-07
THEREVsDR. JOHN C. SMITH
HIS THLRTY-FLFTH ANNIHERSARY
SERMON.

1900
INTERESTING STATISTICS OF THE FOURTH
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IT'S OLDEST
LIVING MEMBERSHIP REV. DOCTORS
WAR RECORD = HOSPITAL SERVICES =
REMuNISCENCE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The Fourth Presbyterian church was filled to
its full capacity yesterday morning, the occasion
being the thirty-ffth anniversary sermon by that
excellent and venerable minister Of the gospel,
Rev. DR.. John O. Smith. The doetrinaI portion
Of the sermon was explanatory Of the ofhce Of
Christ as king, and was one Of four sermons on
the same subject; the others relating 10 His Offices
as prophet and priest. After an illustration by
argument, philosophy and scripture Of the
nature Of Ohrist's kingly rule and character
from the text, "EookIng unto Jesus, the author
and hnisher Of faith, DR.. Smith said:
Many have gone from this family in the thirty
five years past into the kingdom Of grace and
glory "foreVer with the Lord. Amen. So let it
be-" Their names are written in the records Of
this family Of believers, and their memories are,
indeed, precious to those of US who are now here
OF THE TwENTY-THREE MEMBERS
who were in the organization of the church, oath
November, 1928, there are now alive and In at
tendance upon the services Patrick Crowley,
Catharine Wilson and Mary Robinson. In the
pastoral services of Rev. ]. N. Danforth and HIS
successor, Rev. Mason Noble, D. D., there were
added to this small number Sl4 names. My call
to this church is dated September TO- 1889, and is
signed by Elders Jacob Gideon, W. and David NJ.
Wilson on the vote Of the congregation. Rev. p.
| H. Fowler, now and for many years pastor OF the
Presbyterian church, in Utica, N. Y, was the
moderator Of the meeting, and his certificate is
| on the back Of the call. 1 was we'll known to the
| members of this Fourth church, =" and very ire
quently preached and IabOred in this congrega-
ton while was pastor Of BrIdge-street church,
Georgetown. was Installed pastor by the Pres
| bytery September q, 1909, In the presence Of a
crowded congregation, in the order prescribed by
| the Presbytery. In and from the small beginning
| q large number have been admitted into this
family OF Christ Jesus.
In these thirty-fye years there have been add
ed, as per record, l. O2 members. There are now
on the roll ard in communion with the church.
so; baptisms OF infants, usually in the church,
brought and presented by parents, members of
the church. 7S3; baptism OF adults on profession Of
faith, 1879; marriages, the first on the 5th Of May
1910. ISL: total baptsms, infants aad adults. 9e2
deaths Of members since and during the organiza-
| ton of the church, $40.
In the tkirty-iye years Of this record the Pres
bytery has licensed TO preach the Gospel thirteen
members OF this church, eleven Of whom arc now
alive and actively and successfully engaged in
their work. Most Of these were we'll known to US
all, and one OF them is the associate pastor Of
this church. 1 have lived and labored with three
great objects constantly in my mind and in my
heart: First, the education Of young men for the
ministry. three Of whom were in my own family,
provided for and treated by the pastor and his
| wife as IL their sons. One Of them, q. w. Cham
berlain. is q missionary In Brazil, sent out and
sustained by the board. Others in our own land
are occupying important places, loved and hon.
Ored as pastors and faithful in their work. Not
one Of them is unemployed.
The second object has been that of foreign mis-
siOns and home, contributing OF my own money and
time, and pressing upon you all the Importance Of
the work at home and abroad. Also third, building
houses Of worship. This house was undertaken
by me, and pledged myself to raise the money
and pay the builder before occupied it for wor-
ship. The men in the church. and the women too,
were OF one mind. They contributed largely,
worked earnestly and unitedly, and with success.
Large contributions were made to Brother Noble
for his enterprise. The Sixth Presbyterian church
and the Assembly church 1 built and undertook
the Western Presbyterian, but was prevented
from finishing by an accident on the South Side
railroad. Beside these several in Maryland, my
native State, have received aid. Rev. Mr. Glover
this day breaches in two Of these churches. Last,
but not least the Fifteenth-street church. eolored
1 organized that church in 1910, John F. Cook,
licentiate and ordained pastor. Until his ordina-
tion moderated the sessions, admitted members
preached, &C., sc. A dark day was that when
John +. Cook died. He has had, indeed success
ors in office, but the spirit Of John F. Cook was
not in them. They have had supplies by breth-
rem Of the Presbytery, noble men and devout, Of
whom 1 make particular mention Rev. Septimus
Tustin, D. D. At length they have q man after
Gods own heart, eY. Geo. Van Deurs, and thus
established they will be strong In the Lord and
in the power Of His might.
There is q mortgage Of $4,000 in the Freed
mans bank, with ten per cent. interest, given
without my knowledge, on the building. There
are other debts also. After all my efforts and
anxiety may have to pay, to save the church,
$500 or more, unless you help me to pay the
amount. ask you to prevent me from doing
this. Tbs money will be needed in October, or
when Rev. Mr.. Mitchell returns to the city.
HIS WAR RECORD.
Bear with me when tell you Of my war record
aye, war record. On the 10Th of April, 1871,
o Massachusetts, regiment was fired on in passing
through Baltimore. At that very hour was
writing my sermon for Sabbath morning. in which
1 gave assurances that I would stand by the
church and the Government whatever might
come. In the evening Of that day the Massachu-
sets regiment arrived. wounded with stones and
other missiles in Baltimore. 1 went to the Med
zeal College in Judiciary square the next morn
ing, where they were quartered, and thence 10
the War Department. and offered my services to
the Secretary OF War for any duty which
as minister Of the Gospel could render. On
the 18th 1 received complimentary letter from
the Surgeon General, accepting nv offer and
authorizing me to visit and care for the soldiers
then and there, and others who might be brought.
No mention was made o: rank or compensation,
nor had any such thought or purpose. These
duties were from my heart and for my Govern
ment. On the Sd Of December, 1861, President
T 4. =
from which Rev.-John G. Butler, D. D., now pas
tor Of Memorial church, has kindly copied and
furnished me these words: d" By mere omission, 1
presume, Congress has failed to provide elaplains
fer hospitals occupied by volunteers. This subject
was brought to my notice, and was induced to
draw up the form OF n letter, one copy Of which,
properly addressed, has been delivered to each OF
the persons, and at the dates respecting names
and stated in Q schedule containing all the forms
OF the letters marked A, and herewith trans
mitted. These gentlemen, understand, entered
upon the duties designated at the time respec-
lively stated in the schedule, and have labored
faithfully therein ever since. therefore recon-
mend that they be compensated at the same rate
as ehaplains In the army. further suggest that
general provision be made for ehaplains to serve
in hospitals as with regiments. John G.
Butler. John G. Smith. ."
Ny service was from April 20, 1851, to July 20,
1855, when was honorably mustered out Of the
service Of the United States because the services
Of chaplains were no longer necessary. 1 had
under my care over TO- 900 men in Judiciary Square
hospital, and in this our Church home, occupied
as q hospital by the Government for eight months.
Ladies Of the church were devoted in their at
tentionB to the sick and wounded, and had re-
lgious service in the hospital and in this church
every evening, and preaching on the Sabbath.
~
THE CASE OF Mr.. RG UIRE.
In Saturdays issue there appeared in the local
columns an account Of the arrest Of Mr.. William
Mcclure by Oficer CHARLES Proctor, on the charge
Of horseWhipping boy. and the incidents con-
nected Herewith, in which It was stated that Mr..
Mcclure was pursued into his store and drew a
pistol upon the officer, notwithstanding which