Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-10

The First baptist Consregraslsa ana
It's History.
rs STRUGGLES IN THE EARLY pAYs o. wAsunso-
foS-eHuRCH STRUCTURES m WHICH n HAS woR-
sHrPPED-rnR OLD CHURCH on TER sfrR or Pokps
THRAfRR-THs PRESENT OFFICERS AND AEnBERs.
handsome stone church is to be erected 1t the
southwest corner OF 10th and streets northwest.
II win be occupied by the congregation Of the First
Baptist church. The present church edince has
become too small for the congregation and will be
the sum or 81, 600 has already been secured, and
with the additional subscriptions that will be
made ana the proceeds OF the sale OF the present
church property. the financial outlook Is promis-
Ing. The site selected is in a section OF the city
where there is at present no Baptist church,
and 1t Is the belief that the change will result In
giving increased usefulness to the church organi-
Zatlon: During the long period-extendng now
over three-quarters OF century-that the church
has been In existence there have been several
will be the fourth occupied by this congregaIion.
Inc cnurcn was organized on the 7th OF March,
IsO, IN private house, by six persons-ChaS p.
Jos. Borrows, and sarah Borrows At that time
after the removal Of the Government to
located on the banks Of the potomac. The city
was one only in name. and the Inhabitants were
.S" AZ uuuUcT anu poor In worldly wealth. IOc
White House, the old War and Navy Department
buildings, and the north wing OF the Capitol were
lne only public structures &C that time erected
small rrame building on 10th street. 1ust north OF
street, and on The opposite side was the humble
brick building occupied by the congregation Of 81
fatiickS Catholic church. The parfshl0ners Of
Christ church EpiscopaIl, now located near the
hayward, were then worshiping in q small
rslsense Of 81 na NsS ssy Ss a.s
meeting house on the site OF their present struc-
ture street, between 18th and 19th), ana there
services 81 sn1 ree
the Concordia church now stands. society Of
Aethodists held meetings at Greenleafs Point. In
church, the old Bridge-street church (Presby-
tertan), and the Dumbarton-street Methodist
church, then located on Montgomery street, had
numbered some Z, 500 souls and the churches, like
the people, were poor and struggling.
TIE FIRST cHrRcH STRUCTURE
The First Baptist church showed considerable
vigor from the beginning. The six members pro.
ceeded at once to secure church building. They
purchased lot on the southwest corner of 10Th
and streets northwest which had 81 feet front on
18Th street, and was IS feet deep, for S225. A
building 32x42 feet was erected upon this lot and
vember. 1t is only within recent years that this
occupied by the congregation Of the isth-street
gable roof, win be readily recalled BY
nve years Of its existence the church was Without
the services OF regular pastor. Rev. VIM. Park
nson, then chaplain for enc Of the houses OF Con.
and Rev. Mr.. Wood also served the CHURCH during
the same period. call Was extended to Rev.
Obadiah b. Brown, OF New Jersey, In the year 1907,
and on the 21st OF February, Of that year. he
entered upon his duties as pastor. In 1850 after
pastorate OF forty-three years. Mr.. Brown with
Drew on account OF falling health Mr.. Browns
was pastor OF the Bridge Street church, George
town, for nfty-three years, and Rev. Dr.. Laurie,
VINO served %. the congregation OF the F-street
upon the church but upon the community.
THE coNGREGAT ALTON
at the beginning OF Mr.. Browns ministry mum.
bered but twenty-three members, and its tempo
raj affairs were not prosperous. From
time to time, however, improvements were
made ON IN the church building, and in the
deep that as one OF the old members recently re-
marked the interior OF the church reminded him
OF the natchway OF ship. Al this time the sys-
records show that for'y-four pews were leased,
bringing In a yearly revenue Of 500 The mem
there Mere 1a sSs
Oliver &. Corlstock, a member OF Congress from
the state OF New York. was baptized In the year
1919. and was received as member OF the church
He was ordained 10 the ministry In 1919 ana de-
voted the emainder OF his life to preaching the
gospel. Atonverted actor, Spencer H. Cone, who
made q profession OF religion In baltimore re-
moved to this city In 1875 and became member
of the f rst ehu oh. He was ordained TO the min
istry subsequently and served as pastor OF the
Baptist church ia Alexandria. There were num-
Der OF the members OF the church who
entered the ministry, and in addition to the
two named were the following: Joseph H. Jones'
William Sedwick, Robert W. Cusnnnan, Luther
Rice, James ID. Knowles Baron stow George f.
Adams, John Pratt, Joseph I. Robert, Robert b. C.
Howell, stephen chaplin and Henry W. Dodge.
Prior TO the year 1926 the question OF erecting
church building in what was termed the central
part OIL the city was discussed. A lot had been
9th streets northwest, with this object In view.
DIR. George May offered the congregation a lot on
9th street. near F, In exchange for the lot on d
sire t. but this proposition was MOI accepted. The
CATION was not wealthy.
The financial difficulties, therefore, In the way
clently Encouraging to delay action for some
years. The material condition OF the cOngrega-
ton Is shown by an entry Ia the records, which
inclusive, was s5052l. Rev. Mr.. Brown served the
as pastor without any stated salary
although for many years IL was the custom to give
the Sunday-morning collections to the pastor.
For a number OF years he held position in the
POst-Onice Department. In the year 1888 the
change OF location was again under consideration,
and II was nnally pushed TO conclusion.
TEE TENTH-sTREEr SITE.
An effort was made TO exchange the D-street lot
for one on street, between 18th and 18th streets
owned by Mr.. Nicholas Travis, hut II was not sue
cesslui and lot 10. in square 371 situated on the
east side OF 10th street, between and streets
northwest, was secured. The erection OF the
church edifice was begun in July, 1893 The new
building was OF brick, Go feet long As feet WIDE
with room In the rear 22x30 feet for sunday
school and lecture-roOm. There was q tower on
the 'front.' The number or pews was seventy Eight
and the membership one hundred and orty-eignt
The cost or the new building was about $Sl12 IL
was loo ated on the site subsequently occupied by
Ford's Theater, which has become historic as the
scene or the ASSASSINATION or President Lincoln.
shortly after the removal to tue new church
building large proportion Of the cOl0red members
Of the church, then quite numerous, we're formed
Into separate organ cation The use OF the old
granted them. The experiment proved successful
and the church then constituted has continued to
the present time.
church any great prosperity, but in spite of dis
the life O1 the congregation cOntiu.
1eJ active. In the year 1S40 the church property
was damaged by IRE. In lS43 as In 1850 and In
1916, there were revivals OF religion. The veteran
pastor, Rev. Mr.. Brown, retired In 1850. and Rev
stephen P. Hil, d. D.. was chosen In his place. II
was during the latters ministry that the congre-
CATION removed TOR the third time.
TIE REMOVAL 10 13rH STREET.
They sold the church property on 10th street
building which had been erected by the members
Or tine Fourth Church. The membership OF the
latter was merged With that or the First Church
and their pastor, Rev. Isaac Cole. bee me joint
pastor with DR.. Hill. The proceeds OF the sale Of
the 1Oth.street property was used In paying on q
portion OF the debt which had been Incurred in
building the 13th-street church. The exterior OF
ton OF the Fourth Church In 1853, has undergone
but few changes. In February, t662, the Church
was greatly damaged oy tempest The steeple
BONN % thu the crushed
damage was repaired and for some time after