Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-23
THE PRESIDENTS CHURCH.
A Description of the Beautiful Church
of the Covenant.

of the Covenant.
WHERE FORMER PRESIDENTS ATTENDED CHURCH
EPIsCoPAIIAS AND PRESBYTERIAN DExOMISA-
TONS CLAIMED THE MAJoRITY-ELoQUENT PAS
TOR OF THE NEW CHURCH-LIsT OF PEw-HoLDERs
Andrew Jackson was the first President con-
nected with the Presbyterian church. President
Harrison. like his immediate predecessor. con-
tinues the succession of Presbyt erian Presi-
dents. Following the example of most of the
occupants of the White House President Harri-
son thus early in his administration has taken
apew IN church in this city. He has selected
as his place Of worship the Church of the
Covenant, the new Presbyterian church re-
Gently erected az the corner of Connecticut
avenue and 18th street. The first President to
reside in this city John Adams. a Congre-
gatlOnalist. During the short period of his
term Of Office spent here he does not seem to
have regularly attended any church. The first
President inaugurated in Washington was JEFF
fersOn. and he as well as his successor
Madison, attended Christ church. near
the navy-yard. which was one of
the first churches organized at the capital
Madison also attended 81. Johns church. which
was established IN 1916. Monroe was an Epis-
cOpallan and an attendant at 81. Johns. John
Quincy Adams. while President had pew in the
Second Presbyterian church. which was on the
site now occupied by the New York Avenue
church MIR. Adams, however, was Unitarian,
and when he became a resident of this city
again while a member of the House, he was in
the habit OF going to the Unitarian church.
Andrew Jackson. at the beginning of his admin
itratlon, attended the Second Presbyterian
church, but the pastor. Rev. Mr.. Campbell. hav-
ing taken stand against Peggy D Neill who
became the wife of Secretary of War Eaton
he shared in the wrath which Old Hickory
visited upon all who refused to espOUse the
cause of Mrs. Eaton. The result was that
General Jackson ceased to attend the
second church. He took a pew in the First
Presbyterian church on A. street. where he
attended during his term of Office. Van Buren,
Was an attendant at st. Johns. and his successor
Mr.. Harrison. was Presbyterian. but died in
the trst month OF his administration. st. Johns
again became the presidential church when Mr.
Tyler succeeded to the presidency The wife
of President Polk was a member Of the Pres
byterian church, and like Mrs. Cleveland. was a
communicate at the First Presbyterian church.
where the President had a pew. Gen. TAYLOR
who only lived Tor a short time after becoming
PRESIDENT, was
An ATTENDANT AT ST. JOHNS CHURCH
His successor, Mr.. Fillmore, was Unitarian
and attended the church then located at the
corner of 9th and d streets, the building now
occupied by the Police Court Franklin Pierce
brought back the Presbyterian succession and
occupied pew at the First church, where his
wife was a communicate. 1t is an interesting
feature Of the long pastOrate of the present
pastor. Rev. DIR. Sunderland. that he had been
installed as pastor about a month prior to the
Inauguration of Mr.. Pierce. which occurred
March 4, 1858. Buchanan was a PRESBYTERIAN
and attended the street church, which occu-
ped the building now known as Willard hall
The late Rev. DIR. Gurley was the pastor and
III 1853 a union was effected with the Second
church, and the present edifce of the New
York avenue church was built. Here Lincoln
90. 49,, y, l.
cares OF the anxious war period permitted
Andrew johnson, IL seems, was not a church
gOer, and IT Is not known that he had pew in
any church. Gen. Grant attended the Met
roPolltan Methodist eAurch at the corner of A.
and streets, and his successor. Mr.. HAYES
who was also Methodist had a pew at the
Foundry church, corner 18th and G. streets
President Garfield continued to attend as he
had done while a member of Congress, the
Church OF the Disciples, or the Christian church.
on Vermont avenue. At that time the congre-
CATION vOrshiped in a small frame structure
which has since been replaced by a handsome
brick structure. His successor, Gen Arthur
Was an EplscOpalian, and he attended st Johns
church. There Is a stained glass window in the
church which he caused 10 be placed there as a
memorial to bis wife. With Mr.. Cleveland the
Presbyterian succession was again restored and
during has term OF Office he was "A regular at
tendAnt at the First church. Mrs Cleveland
brought her letter to this church and was en-
rolled as one Of the members
INTEREST IN THE PRESIDENTS CHURCH.
There Is always good deal of interest mani
Tested in the church where the President wor-
ships Naturally the stranger who happens to
spend Sunday IN the city seeks out the Presi-
dents church, while the resident who is enter
tanning friends pilots them in the same direc-
non; those whose conscience happens to be
tender on the subject of sunday observance
nnd that this Is an excellent plan for combin
ing Sunday sightseeing with the orthodox
idea of keeping the Sabbath. The result IA
that the Presidents church is always crowded
In order TO avoid the curious thronR as much
~ possible, II Is said that President Harrison
has determined not TO attend one church ex-
clusiyely. 1t - not known in what other
churches he will worship, but so far the Church
Of the Covenant is the only place where he has
taken pew.
The CHURCH OF THE COVENANT.
Although the Church Of the Covenant is
new organization, having been in existence but
trife over three years, 1t Is one of the strong
est and most influential churches in the city.
The structure itself, picture Of which accom-
panies this article, stands at the head of church
architecture here, not only in point of beauty,
but Of cost. A complete description of the
building, together with history of the church
organization, was printed few weeks ago in
IHE STAR. The church building. with the ex-
ceptlon Of the lantern Is built entirely of stone
OF hight color, and its Romanesque design has
al ,he charm OF massive gracefulness which
marks the most successful examples of that
school OF architecture. The great square
tower, which, when completed, will rise to q
height OF las feet. is beautiful and impress
uve feature Of the building
TIE INTERIOR
- chaste and elegant, the coloring Of the dec
Grated walls. which is done in plaster in low re-
lief, being subdued and in complete harmony
with the tones and tints Of the carpet and the
oak wood work. As a specimen of modem
church building and furnishing il is claimed TO
be complete.
The elegant chandelier, which is considered
one Of the most beautiful Of its kind in this
country, is from an original design by De
xossnko Hetherington, Of philadelphia, and