The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-24

The President Rents a Pew In DIR. Sunder
lands Church

The President Rents a Pew In DIR. Sun<ier-
lands Church.
Washington Special to Cincinnati Commercial Ca
zette.
The Washington churches are about as badly
stirred up tonight by President Cleyeland's Sc
lection of place cf worship as the politicians of
his party have been by his failure to make
clean sweep of the Offices. Yesterday he rented
pew at the First Presbyterian Church, on Four
and.a- half street. of which DR.. Byron Sunder
land has long been pastor. The Presidents de-
cision has caused universal talk. Dr. Sunder-
lands church had not once been mentioned by
any one. 1t is Republican from center to cir
eumference, and from the pulpit to the back Of
tho organ loft. It was one of the out and out
loyal political churches during the war. It's
members were for Mr.. Blaine It's pastor was,
# possible even stronger for Blaine than the
Jews.
It would have been difficult to have persuaded
DR. Sunderland to attend White House recep-
ton under the present regime, and so, while
Washington Presbyterans have had their eyes
On various churches as presidential possibilities,
none-of them burdene9 their minds with DR..
Sunderiand'a chances.
Before Mr. cleveland came it was given out
with. q yery considerable flourish that the New
sceA selected, and that the President would
promptly make his appearance there
The story ran that Dr. Bartlett and Mr.. Cleve-
lands clerical brother were class mates. and that
they had fixed it. But when the attempt was
made to secure pew to offer the President,
none could be found. The fact Is, q large part
of tina church was not particularly anxious to be
placed In the attitude of seeking for presidential
patronage The congregation is very large
one Every pew is taken. For years it has
been very difficult for any one to obtain a pew,
and no one cared to give up holding, even Cor q
President Thereupon the pastor made advance
provision for Mr.. Cleveland in his own
sew The Sunday after inauguration the
hnrch was packed to suffication to witness
re ecclesiastic inauguration of the President in
IS New York avenue pew, but to the intense
ratification of the majority of members, who
id not fancy the advances which had been made,
Mr.. Cleveland did not appear and last Sunday the
pastors pew was kept clear for him, and looked
throughout the service, in the midst of the packed
church, like trap set for big game. But moth
ing was caught To-day there was more than
usual curiosity to learn what the White House
company would do. 1t was known that the
President had made up his mind that he would
not serve the purposes OF q church show 1t he
could help it, and so had remained quietly at
home for the irst two Sundays To-day it was
thought he might make an appearance sonoe
where. All the small Presbyterian churches
were thought Of. His sisters had already visited
two, and third was named as probability for
to-day. But still DIR. Sunderland's had not been
thought Of by the public, or, If remembered,
given only passing thought upon the utter
improbability Of Democratic President going
there
The matter was finally arranged yesterday,
though it became a matter of consideration at
the White House after last Tuesdays reception
IF Miss Cleveland. 1t came up in a curious
way. Two Buffalo ladies are visiting at DR..
Eunderland's. They were acquainted with the
Presidents sisters in that city, and naturally
H. e a L. 4
House ladies' Mrs. Sunderland went with
them, and was introduced. Miss Cleveland
asked if she was the wife of Byron Sunder
land who had preached in Buffalo when
young man. She then went on to tell Mrs.
Sunderland that her mother attended DIR. Sun
derlands church in Buffalo, and she well re-
WONDERED the cordial terms with which she
lad spoken of him. This led to the sisters
kurnipg their attention to DR.. Sunderland. As
they are both Republicans the antecedents of
ahe church and of the minister were no bar in
aheir eyes to its becoming the administration
church. They decided that they would like to
make it their church home. The President
who has left this matter TO them agreed without
hesitation.
Yesterday DIR. Sunderland was astonished be-
yond measure 10 receive a note, saying the
President would like to select pew. and asking
him to send plat of the pews. with such as
wege vacant marked There have been such
large proportion of the pews vacant for SO long
that there was no plat to be found. But one of
he church officers supplied the lack by hastily
irawing one, and putting down the empty pews
This was taken to the White House yesterday
The President had no difficulty in finding place
suit him. Colonel Lamont gave check for
he rent, and this morning the Presidents sisters
occupied their pew
Hereafter the President himself expects to at
tend. The result viii doubtless be to fiji up one
IF the weakest churches In the city in point of
numbers. 1t has fine building and large aud
lenceroom, and Dr. Sunderland is one OF the
Ablest men in the Presbyterian Church here.
But through various Influences the congregation
las decreased until il began to be feared that
the change in administration would throw so
many OF It's members out of Office as to lead to
closing the church.
bo Al.