Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-04-06
President Garfield at Church

There Is hardly palmer OF
more uDpretentious church structure in
any out Of the country village in the
land than the Christian Church at
Washington where the President and
his family 90 to worship. The building
is of wood, its architecture that of the
ordinary school house. Its seating ca
pacity must be less than five hundred,
including that Of the narrow gallery
which runs across one end Of the in,
terror. Opposite the gallery is a small
alcove where the minister stands to
preach. The singing, which is purely
congregational, is led by small cabi-
net organ placed in the middle of the
church and presided over by very
Young lady. The Christmas garlands
are still above the windows, and to-day
there was on little stand near the
minister large boquet Of exquisite
flowers. sent from the White House
conservatory.
The President, his wife and mother
occupy pew on the right, too far back
to be conspicuous. Mrs. Garield's
costume is palmer thar that Of many
ladies' about her. The mother is not
distinguished from other elderly women
by her black gown, black bonnet above
her snow. white hair, and the smoothly
folded white kerchief over her bosom
The Rev. Mr.. Powers is young man,
apparently not over thirty, with good
Il
The service Of the Christian demon
ination includes the communion every
Sunday Immediately after the sermon,
and. as member, the President re,
mains with other members for this pur-
pose. His mother and wife are also
commandments. No other church at.
tended by any President. within many
years, at least, is as unpretendlng az
this. President Lincoln went to the
New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, then called DIR. Gurley's
Church. Though not large edilice,
il il of brick, with two floors, an
organ loft, aud furnished with steeple
like city church. 1t is a short dis,
tancc from the White House, but Pres
idept Lincoln with his family always
went in a carriage. But it was war
time.n and the streets here were not
payed and clean as they are now. An
drew johnson attended service at the
Methodist Wesley Chapel in Fifth-st
plain brick building much like the
Christian Church, except that it is lar.
ger. Mr.. Chase went there at the
same time General Grant attended
for $ wears the Metropolitan Church III
C-st.-a pretentious brown-stone struc,
ture that has not yet been paid for
There are wood carvings, stained glass.
ed windows, soft carpets and all that
pertains to elegant and comfortable re-
| iieion. The organ il one OF the finest
in the city, and at one time the choir
was composed Of first-class singers well
paid. One had to go early To get q
seat in this crowded house Of worship
and when the Presidents family enter
ed at a side door there was an unmls'
taxable movement all over the church
and vet President Grant was himself
most plain and unassuming. Perhaps
it was the size an elegance Of the house
of God, or the fashionable worshippers,
or the minister that made it all seem
quite grand, and in certain way, Inn
pressive. And when the people NOV.
ed out the organ pealed forth classic
music, and outside the crowd waited to
see the Presidents carriage go by. Al.
together there W a good deal Of for.
NAL ceremony and display ; but no a abit
Of it by he President himself
Mr.. aad Mrs. Hayes walked to the
Foundry Methodist Church near the
White Htpso. Tberc gre FREE seats Of