Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-17
0nr Washington Letter.

to washingtonians is the relative effect thereby
produced upon Washington churches
"oEsERAL oARFrELD's CHURCH"
Ia the name commonly given to the only Christian
church In this city.-the term Christian " being
used TO designate the denomination known as
Complexities, or 1.-THE Disciples OF Christ" The
president-elect having been for a number OF
years the most prominent individual connected
with this denomination In Washington, the
church where he worshped has come to be
known, and generally SPOKEN Of, as General
Garfelds church." The congregation Ia one Of
the smallest In the city, az Is also the building
where II worships. The church Is located on
Vermont avenue, between N and o streets, and
quite near the Thomas circle. It Is a plain, I'M
pretending, one-story structure, more after the
pattern OF country chapel than a city church,
and, compared to Foundry church, where Pres
dent Hayes attends, It may be characterized as
the little church around the corner" The
Campbelite faith has been preached here for
some thirty years. The first services we're held
in private houses. About 1852 the little band
met at the old medical college, now known as
Marni's Hall, and in 1853 they went to the city
hall, where they remained until 1869. formal
OTkhnILttlOn WAS tHtCteu III 1901, Tue meetings
gradually grew in interest, and the elders gen.
orally ofiiciated Among the attendants at this
time were Judge Jere. Black, and Colonel Ward
Lamon. A movement was then made to build or
buy church, and the building originally erected
by the Southern Methodist church, on NJ street,
being for sale, was purchased, and the society
took possession. Rev. ]. z. Taylor Of Indiana
was called TO the pulpit, and the result Of his
minstrations was a gain OF thirty or forty mem
beB. General Garfield had attended the SER
vices when they were held at the city hall, and
afterwards at the M street church, sometimes
speaking at the meetings but always from the
floor. He also delivered several lectures in the
church. Rev. o. A. Bartholomew OF Phladel.
phia became the pastor in December 1869 and
remained four years During this time fund OF
seven thousand dollars was raised, principally In
the west, and five hundred dollars was subscribed
by Hon X. NJ. Bishop (who has since been gov.
ernor Of Ohio, to aid in purchasing permanent
site for a church ediice. Sunday-school had
been organized which has gradually grown unit
It now numbers about three hundred scholars
and teachers. The present site was purchased
and 1t Is now all paid for. The pastor left il
1879. and for two years the pulpit was supplied
by such ministers as they could find. Among
others who preached here during this period
were President Pendleton OF Bethany College
President Hinsdale Of Hiram College, Ohio, anC
Rev. j. S. Lamar Of Augusta, Georgia Rev
F d. Power, the present pastor, took charge IL
1876, and since then the membership has steadily
grown until it now numbers some three hundred
| and fifty. Attached to the church is a sewing
society, a Sunday school mission, and severa
| associations of young people. The government
Of the church is now committed to the pastor an'
| a board Of four elders The church seats abou
| four hundred Congregational singing takes tn
place OF choir. The other day Rev. DIR. Lana
| ham, the pastor of Foundry Methodist Episcopa
church, OF which Mrs. Hayes is a member anC
| the president an attendant remarked to the Rev
| Mr.. Power; doctor when General Garfield i
elected you will have to enlarge your church" t
| which DIR. Power replied "Oh no, doctor, you
congregation will follow to my church, and he
will enlarge it," The joke was taken in GOO
nature, and there is much of truth in it. Tn
| congregation have under consideration alread
| the erection Of larger and more commodou
edifce, and hope to raise about fifty thousan
dollars for that purpose during the coming year
| THE CAMPBEI.LlTE FAITH
is well set forth in pamphlet entitled Our Pc
.ition." by Rev. l. Errett editor OF the Chris,ia
| Standard In this tract the particulars are show
in which the " Disciples OF Christ" agree wit
Evangelical churches, and those in which the
disagree. While agreeing a. to the divine inspil
alton OF the Old and New Testaments, the Disc
| Piles differ from others on the question OF thei
| equal binding authority. They accept the OF
| Testament a. true, and as essential to prope
understanding OF the New, but as a book Of au
thorty to teach us what we are to do, the Ne'
| Testament alone Ia their stand ,rd While accep,
ing fully the scriptural statements concerning tn
Trinity, they repuiiate alike the philosophical
and theological speculatons OF Trinitarians AM
Unitarians and all unauthorized forms Of speec
m question which transc ends human reason
While agreeing that the Bible furnishes an al
sufficient revelation OF the Divine will, and pei
feet rule OF faith and practice, they repudiate a
human authoritative creeds. With them the d
vinity and Christhood of Jesus is the central trut
| Of the Christian system. They demand no othe
taith in order 70 baptism and church membershi
than the faith OF the heart In Jesus as the Chri-
the Son OF the Living God. They require assen
20 no theory of regeneration or spiritual influence
| md submit no other tests but faith and roper
lance In admitting persons to baptism and churc
membership They celebrate the Lords Suppe
very Sunday as ptrt Of the regular worship
Alexander Campbell the founder OF the Camp
bellite Church. was born in Ireland, in 1876, an
lied in Bethany, West Virginia, March A, 1866
" recent setiug OF the General Missionar
Convention OF the church at Louisville, Kentuck,
l IL. ...st.. a4.t II A H..
3, 4SS preachers, and 500 92S members, the create
portion located in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and KeI
lucky. Rev. Ed. Power, the pastor OF the churc
u this city, is abont thirty years OF age, Il tho
ughly educated minister, and was professor
Bethany college, Bethany, West Virginia, whe
called to the pastorate. He Is an eloquent speake
is universally beloved by his people, and has bee
unanimously elected pastor for five successiy
years.
THE OUTLOOK AT THE CAPITOL,
10 regard to the next congress, Is daily becomin
more and more interesting The Republican ms
jority in the house is definitely settled, and wi
be about nine over all. The situation of the ne
senate however, is very interesting, and also yer
difficult OF solution 1t seems to be the universe
belief that Senator Malone OF Virginia will hol
the key To the situation when the senate meet
and will be able to dictate to his brother men
bers just how the political machine ia that bod
shall be run Then, again, II General Mahon
should refuse to act with the Democrats anotht
nice question arises This Is In regard to II
right OF the vice-president to cast the decidn
vote on any resolution or motion affecting tn
organization OF the senate. Prominent DEM
Gratis say that he has no such right, for the reaso
that he is not member OF the senate. On III
fourth of March next, when President CARTEL
calls the senate, in the extraordinary session,
confirm his appointments, the Republicans wi
endeavor quite naturally to reorganizs the senai
and thus secure control. The importance OF ha'
ing control reaches a great deal further than IL
securing Of few petty offices which attach TO II
patronage OF the senate The main point is
secure the committees. All important legislatio
is shaped by the committees, and II the Repul
have chairmanships but also majority represel
taton upon all committees. Hence the legis
ton OF an entire session would be under contr,
Of the Republicans In both branches OF congress
The Republicans hold that the vice-president wi
have the casting vote, Ia case OF tie, upon a re-
olutlon introduced by the Repu bcaus fixing III
standing committees OF the senate, as otherwi,
that body would be in perpetual deadlock. Q
an appeal from such a decision by the presdel
Of the senate, a tie vote would be decided az
affirmation. The situation In the senate on Il
fourth OF March will be at least interesting.
I