Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-15

of the day, George d. Graham; officer of the
guard, John F. Thomas; representatives to en-
campment. William H. Smith and George D..
Graham alternates, John II. Rawls and Richard
Henderson,
The Baptists of Washington.
SOMETHING OF THE HISTORY OF THE DENoMINA-
TON IN THIS CITY-THEIR FIRST CHURCH
HERE-GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANI-
EATON OF OTHER CHURCHES.
That large and influential sect-the Baptists-
formed their first congregation in this city as
early as March 18th, 1902. with the following
persons among the original members: Charles
p. Polk, Cephas Fox Charles Rogers. John Blu
chan, Joseph Borrows, and Sarah Borrows. At
that time Congress was holding it's second ses-
sion here, and Rev. VIM. Parkinson, the chap
lain of Congress. preached for the infant con-
gre@ation. There were then less than four
thousand Inhabitants in this District. F street
was the main th0roughfare from east to west,
and Pennsylvania avenue was an unmproved
road-the city then being in reality one of mag
nifcent distances.
TIE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The young congregation took steps, imme-
diatey after its formation to provide house
of worship, and in the fall of 1902 a meeting
house. at the corner Of 10Th and l streets, was
occupied. Although they had no regular pas
tor, the congregation kept up the meetings. In
January, 1907. call was extended to Rev.
Obadiah B. Brown, of New Jersey, and he
entered upon his duties as pastor of the new
church February 2lst, following. the member
ship numbering but twenty-three at that time.
Under the pastorate of Mr.. Brown, which con-
tinued until 1926 years at 18th and streets
the church grew steadily. and at times enjoyed
several seasons OF revival
NOTED CONVERTS.
In 1914 Hon. Oliver C. Comstock. a member
of Congress from New York, was baptized, re-
ceved into the church and licensed to preach,
and five years afterwards OSLO, he was or
dalned to the ministry, and relinQristing polti-
cal life, he became an evangelist The actor,
Spencer II. Cone, having relinguished the stage
on profession of religion in Baltimore in 1914,
and removed to this city accepting clerkship
in the Treasury was licensed and ordained as a
minister by this church, and subsequently was
called to the Baptist church Of Alexandria,
which he served some years.
CHANGE OF LOCATION.
In 1Sl6there was quite revival in this church.
and the membership was largely increased The
church building, in 1880 was found to be too
small for the congregation, and having be-
come somewhat dilapidated, a new edifice was
erected on 10th street, betw cen and F, in 1883
which was occupied till 1S59 and the site was
afterwards occupied by FOrd's Theater. now the
Army Medical Museum. Here the congregation
increased and prosrered, reyiyaS having oc-
CURED in 1899 and 1913.
THE FIRST COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH
Up to the time of the removal f. ON 10Th
street there was quite number ofcolored men,
bers, and for few years some of these con-
tinued to worship with the whites, but most of
them remained at the old location, and in !, .,9
they were organized as the First Colored BAD
fist Church, with Rev. G. w. Anderson as pas
tor.
MORE CHANGES.
In 1850 Rev. Mr.. Brown having served the
church on 10th street forty-three wears. re-
signed. Rev. DR.. 8. P Hill succeeded Mr..
Brown, entering on his duties in October, 155t.
and continued as the pastor until after this
congregation was merged with that of the
Fourth Church, on 18th street, in 1859.
and with Rev. Isaac Cole he was joint pastor
until 1860. Rev. DR.. Samson, president OF Col
umbian College, was next PASTOR without sal
airy, for about three years. The Fourth Church.
with which this congregation was merged was
formed by number of members from the
street church, associated with Rev. r. C. Teas
dale In 1858, and having erected the 18th
street church, between G and H streets a
goOdly congregation was built up. Rev. DIR.
Teasdale was succeeded by Rev Isaac Cole. and
it was mainly through his efforts that the union
OF the two congregations was effected. During
DR.. SamsOns pastorate the church editice was
badly damaged by a tempest February 1897
and the congregation accepted the use of the
New York avenue church. Mainly through DIR.
Samson's efforts the ediice was rebuilt In the
latter part of 1863 Rev. DR.. A. ID. Gillette. now
of Brooklyn, N. Y, succeeded Dr. Samson.
DIR. Gillette remained the pastor for about
seven years, resignng on account of ill health.
and the membership continued to increase DUR
ing his pastorate. After few months supply
by Dr. Hall and others, Rev Dr. James II.
Cuthbert was called and entered on his duties a
little over eleven years ago. and still remains.
Dr. Cuthbert has been very successful in his pas
torate and quite frequently have there been adj
ditiOns to the church which now numbers over
three hundred members, and there is quite
prosperous Sunday school attached to it.