Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-24

the fact that, Washington being
residence city, many rich people have
taken up their abode here for al least
part OF the year, and by
their handsome contributions have
largely made possible the erection Of
the palatial buildings which have in
recent years succeeded the old and I'M
sightly meeanR-houses which were
formerly considered good enough for
the purpose. The official part OF the
city's population has also done It's share
towards identifying the churches in
which its members worship. Each
change Of administration has It's effect
on the city's churches, which is aiiuost
ms marked as on the civil and political
life of its population, so that one can
almost trace the progress In church
buildings in Washington by the DIFF
ferent administrations, as one tells by
its rings the age Of 4 tree. New life is
brought to the old body by each sue
cessive change Of government, so
that although the membership Of the
churches is continually altering, there
Ia a steady growth in the prosperity OF
the parent stem
Presidents cabinet officers, Senators
and members of Congress who are
blessed with surplus Of this worlds
goods, are therefore considerable ae-
ouisitions to the churches at which
they elect to attend during their stay
I'm Washington. They are made much
Of and such is human nature that be-
cause they attend such and such
church many people decide to go there
too, all of which rebounds to the credit
and prosperity of the institution, and
soon new building of more magnih'
/ cent proportions than the old is, pro-
ieeted there is some slhllful financing,
and before long, another architectural
triumph adorns our streets-
Another result which has followed
these changes is more to be deplored'
and that is the gradual introduction
into the churches Of Washington OF a
system Of caste" which is almost Us
rigorous as that of the Hindoos. There
are magnificent edifices. where the rich
and high in station congregate; there
are handsome buildings set apart Tor
The worship of the well-to-do mid
| dle class, and there are the
humble, unpretentious meeting houses
where the poor and lowly come to-
0ether for prayer and praise. The
lines are drawn and woe be " the ad-
venturous worshiper who would
,,.ansgress the unwritten code. do
NOT mean TO say by this that person
~ the second or third class would be
ac,ualIy refused admission to view OF
a.. n,,latial elegance Of the favorite
shnrch ~ the first class, although l
have known Of even such cases. But
shonId the hardy one gain admittance
he will be greeted supereiliously by
,ha SEXTON. eyed aslsance by the reg
La habitues OF the church, given the
rear most seat in the building, and
...,,.r,llv be made as uncomfortable
o. nossible to the end that he may not
presume so far again. Not long since
when the celebrated Archbishop Ire
land was preaching here he took oe-
aas'on 10 publicly call attention TO re-
80 his very thing, showing that
IN erpsriences as have mentioned
a,enot 90 uncommon but that they
nod attracted his attention although
he was a stranger to the city
The archbishop spoke Of the ele,
r,nce Of Washingtou's churches and
ogtbe social taste maintained therein
sd5ipa that n jesus Christ were to
- h,s appearance al the doors Of
ans 81 the hne churches on Sunday
morning, clad as the humble fisher
nan Of Galilee. the sexton would un'
d,,ubtedly decline to admit him
ors Of the anest churches IN Wash
,,,.',n Il INC Church Of the Covenant
=, 1. situated IN 8 most prominent post
tom on one Of the principal avenues
~ in the heart Of the most fashion
All. section Of the city. II Is nn on
ssoot OF one Of the oldest Presbyterian
churches in the city, which now ano
II the past has numbeTesi among "
u.en hass aerh4ia HaIs-s nraisi'. -