National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-31
A NEW PLACE OF woRsurp.

Onurcn-An lmu1onbe CrOWu Rresenb.
The dedicatory services at the Metropol-
itan A. NJ. e. Church, on NJ street, between
Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets northwest,
began at 1890 o'clock yesterday. Long
before the hour arrived for the services TO
begin the church was crowded to It's ut
most capacity. and hundreds were waiting
outside unable to gain admission. In order
10 accommodate the waiting congregation
the basement or Sunday school was opened
and that, too, was speedily hlled and
hour named the services began In the church
auditorium proper. The gallery, In front
OF the choir, was Hastily festooned with
evergeens, and suspended from the center
was a beautiful design OF white flowers with
the words "songs OF Pralsen embedded In
different colored flowers. Inside Of the
chancel and In front Of the pulpit rare and
beautiful plants and flowers were arranged
In most artistic style and producing a most
pleasing effect. The conservation sermon
was delivered by Bishop ID. A. Payne, Of
the Florida and alabama conferences. His
textwas from Psalm lxxxxli, 10, 10, and a.
subject, 1.-THE House Of God Formative OF
Christian Character" After giving the
Specification OF the term house OF God, he
said: The home Of every man calling him.
self Chrietlan ought to be the house Of
God. But every man bearing the name Of
Christian is not righteous; therefore every
one bearing that holy name has not home
which he can call the house Of God. But
the home Of every righteous man being
Sonss az Goa home snS ,b Il e also the
These two statements, positive and mega
tive, he said, demand that the meaning Of
the term righteous shall be made plain aud
distinct. He then explained at some length
what the characteristics OF the righteous
man were; resulting from this righteousness
the fruits, he said, were-love for every
man, mercy for every man, truth for every
man, justice for every man, and protection
OF the law for every man. Concluding, he
said Brethren, this Bible, containing the
Gospel Of salvation, Is more than Jacobs
ladder competing heaven and earth, In
which Visions OF angels and archangels may
be seen descending and ascending from
earth to heaven, aud the Infinite God above
revealing Himself to man, from generation
| to generation, so that myriads shall be con-
strained to say with the patriarch, Surely
the Lord is In this place and | knew IL not;
| how dreadful is this place. This Is none
| other but the house OF God and this ID the
| gate of heaven Planted In this house OF
the Lord, no man need go out of His courts
to seek science, philosophy, literature, or
theology, or political preferment, or civil
honors, or riches, or wealth; for any and
| oil may find them there and flourish In them
| there.n
The dedicatory poem was read by Bishop
| t. M. ID. Ward. A collection was then
taken up TO raise s., 900, which was needed
TO meet payment due on the church, aud
| from the liberal manner In which the minis
tiers and people responded, Il Is certain that
the amount was raised.
| The new church building Is Gothic in
style, inside and out. The front is an ex-
| cellent combination Of red brick, trimmed
with granite. The auditorium Is beautifully
finished In ash, with walnut reed molding
in shellac finish. The galleries and choir
are provided with four rows OF seats, &c
commodating 500 persons. The auditorium
has seventy-six semi.circuIar seats, four
aisles; entire. seating capacity, $500.
The design aud plan is by Mr.. Samuel G. t.
Morsel, a practical builder and architect OF
this city, who has faithfully superin.ended
the erection Of the church in a most thor
ough and businesslike manner. The ma
terials used in the building have all been of
the very best, and the work has been done
70 the entire satisfaction OF the church.
Services were held In the church at p.
m. before another very large congregation.
The sermon was preached by Bishop s. L.
Jones, A. NJ. Z. Zion Church, and at 1880
p. m. still another service was held, the
sermon being preached by Bishop j.. p.
Campbell d. ID. Yesterday will be day
|
Washington, and It will stand for many
I years TO come as a red letter day in the
annals Of the church. The dedicatory ser
vices will continue throughout the week,
and the following talented divines have
been invited and are expected to be present
Bishop s; I. Jones, d. D., A. NJ. e. Zior
Church Rev. Dr. Henry X. Naylor, OF thu
Foundry, NJ. Z. Church Rev. DR.. j. G
Butler, Lutheran Memorial Church Hon.
Frederick Douglass, r. J.. Cardoza, d. A
Straker, esq; Reys. d. w. Arnetb, B. T.
Tanner, W. II. Hunter, w. j. Gaines, j. NJ
Townsend, B. I. Lee, j. g, Embry, G. s
Smith, and W. d. johnson.
The Sunday and public schoolsof the Dis
trict are invited, together with the trustees
and teachers of public schools. The M. w
G.. Lodge Of A. A. Masons OF the District
OF Columbia, and her subordinates; GRAND
Commandery, G. Il. A. Chapter, and sub
ordinate Communicates and chapters; Dis
trict Lodge and G. M. Council, and subordi
nate lodges, Grand United Order of Ode
Fellows, are invited, and will each be pres
ent on the evening designated.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock the consecra
ton of the Sunday school room will tax,
place, upon which occasion the exercises
will be very interesting. At 1880 p. IN
another meeting will be held in the church,
when an address Of welcome will be de-
liyered by Rev. j. M. Townshend, d. d. AID
|
Sherman, Speaker J. G. Carlisle, Hon. VIM
Mckinley, Hon. G. w. Geddes, Hon A. A
Ranney, and Hon. Robt. Small.s Over 500
persons attended the ceremonies. Excur
sioDs from Philadelphia, Baltimore, an,
Richmond brought huge crowds.
The present Metropolitan A, M. L
Church has grown from a very small be
ginning. At meeting held in this city OF
the 9th day o. July, 1888, In the little bricl
house then occupied by Mrs. Celia Simms
between L and NJ and Fifteenth and Six
teenth streets, 1t was resolved to purchas
lot and have erected q suitable place o
worship for the accommodation of the mem
bers in the western part of the city. At tina
meeting II was stated that the location o
Israel Church was too great distance fror
the western part Of the city, sit beinl
rather oppressive In summer season Il
walk so far to church and cold Il
the winter season, the mornings be
} ing also short and the time allowe
us "a colored people TO pass with safety a
night without being subject TO molesta
ton" At meeting OF the building com
mittee, held Oct. 2, 1898, 1t was ascei
tanned that sos had been subscribed towar
the building. On the 18th OF April, 1910,
| petition was presented to the annual con
| ference of the African NJ. f.. Church, the
In session in the city OF Baltimore, askin
that the Union Bethel Church be receives
by the conference. After some debate tn
| petition was granted. From June, 1889, h
. June, 1848, the church had 101 member
.. on the church roll The first church build
: ing was q frame building 80 by AZ, bull
in 1871. The second church was
. brick, 42x63, built In 1859. The preseI
| church is S0x105, was commenced In Sci
TENDER, 1881, and finished May, 1886. Unto
Bethel M. &c. Church has given to I'll
connection one bishop and twelve itinerar
ministers. The pastors from l84l TO 1881
: forty.flye years, have been Reys. Edwar
} Waters, Adam s. Drulr, Thos. w. Henri!
A. w. Wayman, William Moore, NJ. Stub
; John j, Herbert Henry Waters, John /
Y, Morgan, Daniel Moore, j. ID, s. Hall, r.