Evening star., 1884-01-19
GARFIELD MEMORIAL CKuRCu
A Beautiful New Structure TO be Dedi.
Gated Tomorrow.

Gated Tomorrow.
| A SKETCH OF THE EyENTFUL HISTORY OF THE
LITTLE BAND OF wORSHIPERS - WHAT THE
| CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN-DIsTISCTIoN FROM
| OTHERS-A GENERAL VIEW OF THE DENOMI-
NATION-THE EVENTS WHICH LEAD TO THE
| ERECTION OF THE PRESENT EDIFICE-A DEs-
| CRIPTION OF THE NEW BUILDING, &c.
Eight years ago thieves broke into the Chris
tian church, on Vermont avenue. and in chron-
icing this fact local paper spoke Of it as "a
/ little colored church on Vermont avenue" At
that time the membership was small and the ex-
istence OF such religious body was scarcely
known outside Of the limited circle of its own
membership. To-day the church roll contains
about 400 names, the church property is valued
| at SD. 900 and tomorrow the newly completed
and handsome church ediice will be dedicated
to the service OF God. The history ofthis church,
| traced from the feeble beginning over so years
ago to the present time. is one of absorbing in
terest, and at the same time presents remark
| able instance of growth and progress.
| THE FIRST SERVICES
in this city of this religious society were held in
| private houses. and in 1913 an organization was
/ effected by Dr. j. T. Barclay. afterwards mis-
/ sionary to Jerusalem. The first meeting was at
DR.. Barclays, near the navy yard. in Decem-
( Der. The original members present beside DR..
+ Barclay were Edward Pritchard, Thos Jacobs
| Joseph Taylor and George TaylOr of AeXan-
| dria; Robert Moore and Mrs. Ceruca Moore.
| lhe latter are now the only survivors of this
| little band About 1852 or g they met at the
| old Medical College. corner of 10th and E
streets. AT old Temperance hall (nOW Marini's),
and at Corcorans original art building, on II
street. between 18th and 14th and about 1858
! they went to the City Hall, and remained there
except for short time-unt the summer of
1863 Among the early members were r. G..
Campbell. for many years Il clerk in the Land
! Office; ii. H. Hazard a well-known tailor;
George +. Tingle, of Indiana. father of Mr. A.
! X. Tingle, of the Treasury department Gall OF
whom are dead), Mr. Benjamin Sunny, a we'll
| known farmer residing in the county north of
/ this city. and Mrs. Margaret H. Campbell The
| meetings gradually grew in interest the elders
/ generally officiating. In 1867 Elder d. p. Hem
| derSon, OF kentucky. officiated for several
months as the pastor, and tie result was con-
siderable accession to the membership. Among
| those who Joined were H. C. Ster, the present
/ superintendent of the Sunday school; &. W.
Shelton. Geo. ". Pratt. II. H. Hazard. jr,
Harvey Hazard. W. H. Hazard. C. E. Holmes,
| and n. j. Hllman. Among the attendants
| were Judge Jere Black and family, of Pennsyl-
van1a; Col Ward H. Lamon and wife. aud Mr.
'" s. Roose and family. In 1867 there was
| FORMAL ORGANIZATION
| OF the congregation, with Benz. SUNNY Fl. B.
| Sherman. +. NJ Bradley. elders, and J. III. Rob
inson. W. W. DUNCAN, N. ]. Hillman, c. W.
Shelton and H. c. Stier. deacons. Elder H. T.
Anderson, of Harrodsburg. Ky, came here in
| March, 1853. and remained for one year, until
March. 1869. movement was made to build
| or buy church. and the building originally
! erected by the Methodist Church South on NJ
| street, between 9th and 10th streets. being for
/ W Iynr
! OF that year they took possession Of the build
| ing. In september and October of 1869 Rev J.
! Il. Taylor, Of Indiana occupied the pulpit and
the result Of his ministrations was a gain of
thirty or forty members. Mr.. w W. DUNCAN
ana his family. having removed from Baltimore
united with them. as also j. H. Robinson (since
deceased). L. W. Knowles and others
THE LATE PRESIDENT GARFIELD
had attended the services when they were held
at the City Hall, and afterwards at the M street
cAurch, sometimes speaking at the meetings
! Dut always from the floor. He also delivered
/ several lectures in the church. Rev. O. A Bar
lhoiomeW, OF Philadelphia. became the pastor
on Hecember LIST. 1869, and remained four wears
during his mnstratiOn fund Of s. 900 was
raised. principally in the west, and $500 came
/ from Hon. K. NJ. Bishop (who has since been
governor OF Ohio to aid in purchasing a perma-
nent site for church editice. The conpreya-
ton being unable to obtain a title for the N
street property, they finally purchased the pres
ent Site fronting eighty lection Vermont ave-
nue. Rev. MIR. Bartholomew left in 1873. and
FOR two years the pulpit was supnlied BIZ such
ministers as they could find. Among Others who
preached here during this period were President
Pendet0n, OF Bethany college; President Hins-
man. of Hiram college, Ohio, and Rev. J. s.
Lamar. OF Augusta. Ga. Rev. Mr.. Power took
charge IN 1913, and since then the membership
mas steadily grown until now it Is about 400
THE
While this church has been so signally pros
porous the denomination to which it belongs
has also made great advances in all that consti-
tutes the welfare of religious body. In 1927
the society known as Christians. or .'Discpes
OF Christ" simply. was founded by Alexander
Campbell. who was born in Ireland. and was for
some years Presbyterian minister In Washing
ton county, Pa. The denomination is sometimes
called ''Campbellites' after him, but without
their consent. Since Mr.. Campbells death. in
1868. they have made their mightlest strides
Though the youngest OF the religious bodies
they rave advanced from the foot OF the list to
the NTH IN rank, and are increasing of q rate of
not less than $1,000 yearly. They now number
'V,Uou communicates in this country and have
Churches IN England, Australia France, Dem
mark Turkey and the Island of jamaica Their
strength in the United States lies principally in
The west and southwest. They are most numer-
Gus In Illinois. Indiana comes next, then Ohio
fhiSSoti aiiu IeilItssee. last OF the Aliepha-
MES virginia has the largest number In Ken
tuchy the membership comprises the wealthlest
and most prominent people. They support some
| lgrty colleges and sixty religious periodicals.
Inc statistics of the church show about 4 500
churches, $500 preachers and over 7OO 600 men,
bers.
WHAT THE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
The particulars wherein they agree and dis
agree IN points of faith and practice with the
evangelical bodies OF Christians are thus ably set
forth by prominent member: While agreeing
as to the divine inspiration of the Old and New
Iestaments, the Disciples differ from others on
the question of their equal binding authority ON
christians They accept the Old Testament as
true. and as essential to proper understanding
| OF the New, and as containing MANY Invaluable
lessons In righteousness: but as book of
authority to teach us what we are to do the
! New Testament alone Is their standard as en-
0Odying the teachings of Christ and his APOSTLES
while accepting fully the Scripture statements
concerning the trinity, they repudate alike the
| philosophical and theological speculatiOns of
Irlnltarians and Unitarians and all unauthorized
forms OF speech on a question which transcends
human reason. While agreeing that the Bible
furnishes an all-suff1cient revelation of the
Divine will. and perfect rule of faith and prac
| tice they repudiate all
HUMAN AUTHORITATIVE CKEEDs
With them the divinity and Christhood of Jesus
| Is the central truth Of the Christian system.
They demand no other faith In order to baptism
and church membership than the faith of the
in 1norl SI<,( W.