Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-11

THE NEW CHURCH.
The completion of this building furnishes
10 the congregation of the old First Baptist
church place of worship in a central and at
tractive portion of the city. The new edifice
is built mainly of brick, with stone introduced
to give variety and effect to the design. A
beautiful square tower rises to a height of 14O
fees, and the outlines in harmony with the
Norman style of architecture, which character
ICES the design of the building. The main en-
trance Is from 10th street and leads
to the fine auditorium room. which is of
unusual size and is amphitheatric in
shape. The walls richly but appropri-
ately decorated by the Tiffany company of
New York. W. Bru:, Gray the architect
and John McGregor the builder. The work
has been under the direction of building COM
miitee consisting of DR.. &. A. Stakely, chair
man: DIR. j. Z. yelling, DIR. r. G. Fox. DIR. J.W.
Clarke, Prof. .. I. Mason, Prof Z. L. Fristoe.
DIR Z. VI. Chaplin, John q. Judd, William l..
Spgiden and T. II. Martin-Mr. Martin being
tbs treasurer.
THE STORY As TOLD By THE PASTOR.
The pastor of the church. Rev. DIR. Chas. H.
,tzkely, who came to his present field about
;wO years ago and under whose leadership the
new enterprise was begun, in conversation with
q local reporter, said:
.'For several years our people have been
thinking about some such work as this in the
beautiful northwestern part OF the city Nv pre-
decessor, Dr. j. II. Cuthbert. was an earnest
advocate Of the movement which is now
drawing to L successful close. Nothing very
dennlte. however. commenced to show itself
urtll some two years since, when certain condi-
tlpns, together with the coming OF new pastor
Made II necessary for the church to define new
pVlicy. In that policy, which defined with
NO uncertain sound, was involved the inaugu-
ration Of this new movement. Three lots at
the southwest corner of 10th and D streets
were purchased at once, Mr.. W. Il. Gray of
this city was selected as architect, who. within
a short season, furnished such designs and
specifications as met the approval of the COM
II, ittee appointed by the church and a con-
tsaet was entered into with Mr.. John McGre-
gor. who commenced work in the early part of
January, 1859. Thus, within two years from
tie churchs decision to rise and build and one
year from the first breaking of ground we will
enter our new edifice and formally set it apart
- the worship OF God.
The new edifice has been erected with strict
regard to economy. We have sought not
beauty particularly. but capacity and appoint
rlents. As d working station for religious
people, as a house appointed for the uses of a
baptist church. its excellency will be apparent
% all have never seen better work or more
of II for the money. We have one of the very
largest seating capacities in the city, and the
building is well lighted, we'll ventilated well
heated, with good plumbing and ample
ginning room and kitchen accommodations
5ome have been pleased to call the last named
attachment
The COOhIN0 STOVE APOSTACY,
but it is q very valuable attachment neverthe-
Tess. and we shall use it not so much for enter
sainments as for sociables. 1t is Que Of the best
things to employ in developing the social
feature of a church. Our baptistery will be
always open, with water IN il on SUNDAYS and
Is SO arranged as to be seen from any part of
the auditory. At first there some oppo-
sitiOn to our new enterprise. but it has quietly
passed away. Very naturally 1t is not easy for
Ia a.. L,,fIs Al
worshiped so long. To some of our people
the old building on 18th street has many very
dear associations connected with il, but these
feelings will otprevent US from going to the new
location a united church Indeed the common
sentiment Is that the new movement has not
been projected too soon. Some OF our people
were also afraid of church deDt. But il is
pretty we'll appreciated that the debt which
we will incur-if. indeed, it amounts to any,
thing very considerable-will hardly be more
burdensome than would be the raising of enough
money to make the present building adequate
to our needs And this would have TO be done
II We renamed at the old spot. Moreover, at
the new building we will be more advantage
ouSly located in our church's territory, and
from this and some other considerations we
can hope to achieve wider results II seems to
me that we will have many things to encour-
age in the new field and that our people
who have brayely and with much self-sacritice
conducted things thus far, will see the wisdom
OF their movement indicated in the perma-
nent development of the church in all of the
elements Of the larger success"
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
The First Baptist church was organized on
March ., 1902, with Charles p. Polk, Cephas
Fox, Charles Rogers, John Buchan, Joseph
Burrows and Sarah Burrows as members
Congress was then in session for the
second time in Washington and the city
with less than 1000 population, had not
yet been Incorporated. + street was the chief
thoroughfare, Pennsylvania avenue being an
unimproyed road washed by the tides of the
Tiber. Rev. VIM. Parkinson chaplain to Com
gress, first supplied the pulpit On May four
members were added and the Lords supper
was observed for the first time. In the fall a
meeting house was built on the corner of 18th
and Streets but was without a pastor until
February q, 1907, when Rev. Obadiah b. Brown
OF New Jersey began his ministration to the
society, then numbering % members. He con-
tinued his la1ors TIL looO. when. on account of
declining health. he resigned and succeeded
by Stephen Z. Hill, DID. In 1888 a new build
ing Was erected on 10th street on the site now
occupied by the old Fords theater. About
this time the colored members organized
into n sOcitty by themselves and held services
In the old meeting house. corner Of 18th and
streets. where, under the name of the First Col
ored Baptist church of Washington, the organ
izatiOn still hourishes.
In 1859 the First and Fourth Baptlst churches
consolidated, retaining the name of the First
and occupying the building of the Fourth on
18th street, Rev. Isaac Cole. pastor of the
Fourth church, becoming joint pastor with
Rev. Hill till ls60. when Rev. DR.. Samson,
president of Columbian college. accepted the
pastoral charge and filled it three years gratis.
In ls52 the building suffered heavy damage IN
tempest and was temporarily vacated. Rev.
A ID. Gillette. DID,, accepted a call to the
church Late in 1868, but, resigning account
Of failing health, was succeeded in 1863 by Rev
]. II. Cuthbert, DID,, who filled the Office until
January 20, 1851, when he in turn resigned and
vas succeeded by Rev. Charles A. Stakely,