The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-16
PASTORS OF THE CITY.
THEIR HOME LIFE, LITERARY HABITS
AND HISTORIES.
Doctors Bartlett, McKIm and NavIor
Speak of the Morals of washing
ton Generally Considered Good
Religious Sentiment is Good Here.


Speak of the Morals of washing
ton-Generally Considered Good
Religious Sentiment IL Good Here.
Few members of the Washington
clergy are better known than Rev. Will
lam Alvin Bartlett, ID. D., the pastor of
New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Helives in large three. story
English basement dwelling on the
southwest corner of Twelfth and X
streets northwest. There is a well kept
yard in front of the house surrounded
by an iron railing The hallway is
broad and the parlor handsomely fur
nished, portrait of his brother, Gen.
eral Joseph j. Bartlett, being one Of
those which attract attention. Lace
curtains, bronze mantel ornaments,
crystal chandeliers and handsome fur
niture tend TO give this reception-room
an appearance of luxury.
DR.. Bartlett is So years old, slightly
over middle height, with n tendency
TO moderate portliness and an easy man
ner which stamps the man of travel and
good breeding. His hair and mus
tache are white and he has good fore
head and complexion-on the whole
being handsome man. He invari-
ably dresses in good taste and is partial
TO petit boutonniere.
DIR. Bartlett graduated at Hamilton
College, N. Y, in 1858, being class
valedictorian. He then spent one year
in a collegiate institution of Virginia,
during which time he read the law
with an idea of entering the legal pro-
fession. Before completing his legal
studies he finally decided to enter the
ministry and spent the next three years
taking a theological course. Two more
years were spent abroad, where he
matricuated in Halle, Saxon Prussia,
Berlin and Heidelberg.
His first call was to Oswego, N. Y,
where he spent one year, during which
he formed an acquaintance with two
young lawyers and school teacher
who have since made names for them
selves-ex. Secretary William C. Whit
ney, ex-District Commissioner Ed
munds and Susan B. Anthony. His
next call was to Elm.Place Church,
Brooklyn, N. Y. where he spent ten
years, after which he took charge of
the Plymouth Congregational Church
in Chicago, ILL.,, at a salary of $1,000 q
year, the highest paid to any Western
minister at that time. The Windy City
was ravaged by fire during the eight
years of his incumbency, but, though
the flames came very near it, Plymouth
Congregational Church was uninjured.
In 1874, during a European tour, DR..
Bartlett lost his wife. From 1876 to
1881 he was pastor of the Second Pres
byterian Church in indianapolis, Ind. ,
and in 1882 he accepted call to the
New York Avenue Church.
DR.. Bartlett is quite conservative in
his ideas, and while he says that his
church does not encourage such amuse-
mtnts as theatre. going and round-danc-
ing, it is his opinion that such matters
should be left to the conscience of the
individual. He considers the morals
Of Washington good and believes that
strong religious sentiment exists here
That this opinion is not general is due
to the fact that arrests are made with
unusual vigilance here" he said.
High license is his solution of the
liquor question.
DR.. Bartlett is fond of literature and
"The Last Image serial by his pen,
was published in the Independent during
the COS. OF American writers, his
favorite historian is Bancroft; his favor
tie authors, Prescott and Hawthorne,
and his favorite poets, Henry Wads-
worth, Longfellow, John Greenleaf
Whittier and William Cullen Bryant.
DR.. Bartlett numbers some of our
most distinguished men in his con
gregation, among others being Justices
Harlan and Bradley, Attorney General
| William II. Harrison Miller, Senators
| German, Farwell and Frye, eX. Repre-
sentative Shellarbager, Judge jeremiah
NJ. Wilson, Civil Service Commissioner
John w. Thompson and Brainard II.
| Warner.
DR.. L. NJ. McKim succeeded the late
DR.. Geisey as rector fourteen months
ago. DR.. McKim lives in the same
commodious house on New York ave.
nue. that was occupied by his popular
| predecessor. 1t is three. story front,
with English basement, and is located
on the south side of the street, about
midway between Fourteenth and>> Fiji
teenth streets northwest. The entrance
is approached by fight of dozen
stone steps. The parlor is well and
tastefully furnished and DR.. McKim is
famous among his congregation for the
informal entertainments which the rec
tor gives there
DR.. McKim is apparently 60 year
old and stands about five feet, ten il
his well-polished shoes. He has darl
brown hair, brushed with studied
neatness, and the conventional side
wbiskers that he wears are gray. Other
wise his face is clean. shaver and hand
some. He has brown eyes, a straigh
nose, rather small mouth and gooC
teeth. He wears black broadcloth anC
the coat is cut in the clerical style. HI
has an easy habit of parting his leg
and thrusting his hands into hi
trousers pockets, and the general pois
of his body while in this position re
minds one involuntarily of Governo
David r. Francis of Missouri. Boil
assume the attitude as naturally as if i
was favorite one.
DIR. McKin was born in Baltimore
Nd, and educated at the University o
Virginia, and was the only member o
his family who took clerical orders
He was for eight years rector of Chris
Church in the quaint old town of Alex
andIia, Va. This church is one of tn
most historic in the country, and wa
built before the war of the revolution
On every Sabbath morn the prett
maidens of Alexandria walk demurel
down the same aisle that echoed to III
tread of our great. great great. grand
mothers, and no doubt If the old
fashioned pews could only give voic
TO their silent "reminiscences, they coul
weave romance for every sermon tina
has been preached there,
The owners of many historic name
have held pews there, and he VIII
bore the greatest ,of all America