Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-05-03
FoRTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
A Sermon on the Fortieth ANNIVERSARY
Of the Presbyterian Church.

The following 10 brief abstract Of
Sermon by the Pastor Of the Pres
byterian Church yesterday morning
on the Foriieth Anniversary of that
church
With brief allusion to the Puri-
tan Colony that came 10 Annapolis
in I649, who were really Presbyte-
rians. the pastor proceeded to give an
account of the origin and to relate
the history Of the present Crganiza-
ton, known as the First Presbyter-
ian church of this city Forty years
ago." said the pastor. nine persons
were organized into church by the
committee appointed by the Presby-
terry of Baltimore DR.. John Ridout
and Prof. A. N. Girault were elected
elders, both of whom served the
church for many years With diligence
and faithfulness. In less than three
months after the organization Of the
church, July 25th. the corner stone of
this edI6ce ia which we worship was
laid. In less than one year after the
corner stone was laid, the church was
dedicated to the worship of God, and
from that time to this it has been
open for worship. On the day the
church was dedicated, July 18th l84T.
the first pastor, Rev. G IL. Ewiog,
was installed. In May 1849, Rev. j.
j. Graf became pastor. 1t was DUR
ing this pastorate, which extended
over twelve years, that the parsonage
was purchased. Ia September, 1861.
Rev. L. M Patterson became pastor.
Although this pastoraie embraced
the period of the civil war and lit
tie beyond, the church seems to have
gone on with it's work with about as
much success as in other years. The
next pastor vas Rev. J.. j. Hender-
son, ID. d., who came in February,
1867. This pastorale continued nine
years aud was closed by death. Dur
ing this pastorate the church building
was enlarged at considerable expense
In May 1876, Rev II. o Gibbons
began a pastorate of a little more
than five years. After a vacancy in
the passionate Of more than year,
Rev. Robt. Fl Williams, the present
pastor, entered upon his duties This
pastorate began September lst 1882
OF the founders Of this church not
one is living to-day in Annapolis
OF those admitted to memberships
by the first pastor only one is living
within the bound of the congregation
at this time, aud not more than eight
or ten who were admitted by the
second.
The great majority of the members
have been admitted in the last TWEEN
ty years The changes taking place
in the population of the town are no
where more pcrceptible than in the roll
oil the churches. So great have been
the changes in this church, that it
might with propriety be called the
strangers church. The church We
have no doubt, was founded With a
desire to meet the wants of many 10
connection with the Naval Academy.
One of the elders elected at the or
ganization of the church was a pro-
lessor in that institution. The open
ing OF the Academy was almost con-
temporaneous with the organization
OF the church. the Academy naving
been opened on the 10th of October,
and the church having been organized
about seven months after. Many
from the Academy have attended this
church from that time until the pres
ent. They have not only been at
PENDANTS up0n the service, but have
been members of the, church, and
useful in the work of the church,
We do not 60 far down the roll be-
fore we come to the name of Commo-
dore Stribling, Superintendent from
July lst. 1850, to Nov. lst, 1858.
He and his wife and daughter. united
with this church by certificate, and
bis son, before the close If the FIRST
year. by prolessiol of his faith 10
Christ. Our roll will show the names
OF officers and professors aud their
families, of cadets, aud marines, and
sailors and others OF the Academy -
Many of them knew that their stay
Ia our midst would be short. and yet
identified themselves with the church
as members. The congregations are
uniformly good. and every depart
ment oil church work seems to be ia
healthy, vigorous condition. The
church presents all the indications of
growth. and q greater influence than
ii has had 10 the past.
Ponds Extract. Men and women viii
suffer from severe headache, when ten
minutes spent bathing the head with the