The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-12
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
At Washington-The Place Gar
field Worshiped.


The removal of the old Vermont Ay
enue Christian Church and its replace
ment by a new, modern edifice,. was 1
well-meant mistake. The little frame
building in which James A. Garfield haC
not only worshiped, but ministered
should have been kept in its place as ;
landmark for future generations. II il
a popular error, however, to suppose tha
the fact Of President Garfeld's associa
ton with the church caused the building
of larger tabernacle after his sudden re
moval from the congregation. The ides
of the erection Of new and enlarged
Christian church was advanced and dis
cussed by the congregation while Gar
field was yet representative in Congress
and before his nomination to the Presi
dency. During the winter preceding the
Inauguration President-elect Garfield
wrote to the pastor, Rev. Frederick ID
Power, saying: II note what you say in
regard to the new church b1ilding in
Washington. I am glad TO hear that the
work is undertaken, and in answer to
your inquiry beg leave to offer but one
suggestion, and that is that our brethren
do not undertake to build too large a
house Let Us keep within our means
and also avoid any thing like ostenta-
tion, either in size or decoration. Let it
be neat, modest church of undersize
rather than oversize"
The project was commendable, the
growth of the congregati IN under the
able pulpit ministry Of DIR. Power war
ranted the erection of a large edifice /;
but after the fatal bullet had sped its
course into the life of the best and
strongest friend of the church, it would
seem 20 have been better far not to have
removed the old landmark, but TO have
builded upon another site. Through
one Of these old-fsshioned windows the
insane assassin peered one Sunday morn
ing with criminal murderous intent but
some good angel ealmed the restless,
troubled brain, and saved the President
a little longer to the people, by causing
the hand of the assassin to be stayed.
All unconscious of danger, sitting in that
pew where he had long been ac-
.ustomed to worship, with an absence of
and modesty worthy
Of emulation, the President listened in
.ently to the sermon of his well-beIoved
pastor. Again, one Wednesday night
when he walked out Vermont avenue
% the prayer-meeting, unostentatiously
Is in former days, the President was fol-
owed by his unseen death-shadow but
lgain that murderous hand was stayed.
Encricl I'd by a cloud of witnesses, he
eemed safely guarded, and it was so.
But when he started upon a vacation
was to be also a political
good angel forsook him for
moment, and the bullet fashioned for
hin stopped forever the brilliant career.
Many thousands Of American citizens
Innnally visit the Vermont Avenue
christian Church, imagining that they
zee the tabernacle in which Garfield
yorshippedI but they see church upon
which his mortal eyes never gazed,
hurch pretentious beyond his wishes,
arg-r than he had advised, of oversize
ather than undersize.
James A. Garfield was a member of
his Christian church, communicant of
he Vermont avenue branch, for a great
many years, and Rev. Or. Power has
continuously been the pastor. In an old
crap-book / end the following letter.
1927, ST., n. W., wAsHISGroS, Oc-
ober 25, 1S76-Deaf Brother P0rer: Our
'recious little boy died this morning at
80 We take him home to Ohio for
'urisl, starting by the 7:40 train this
yening We shall be glad to have you
ONE and hold brief service Of reading
nd prayer at O'Clock.
please ask a few ofoGr brethren and
listers to come with you.
an the hope of the Gospel which is so
'recious in this affiiciion, am very truly
ours, JAMES A. GAaFIELD."
The note, hastily written to his pastor,
t time when he was bowed down with
rief as parents only can understand,
'reathes such a spirit of religious feryor
S to be worthy Of preservation, to lay
'efcre the minds and hearts of his coun-
rymen. Rev. DIR. Power says: "Mr.
fairfield was Christologist rather than
theologist. Garfield had faith in
erscnal Christ, rather than in any sys-
EN- Of theology" This is evidenced by
is allusion TO the hope Of the Gospel
D the letter above quoted. In his oc-
asional sermons the subjects we're al
rays Of New Testament characters and
iospel lessons
On July 2, one year after the assassi-
alton OF the President, the cornerstone,
4 the new church was laid. Among
~. n.