Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-11
AMONG THE CHURCHES


ministration he was noted for his regular
ity, and every Sunday morning his car
rage used to drive up in front of the First
Presbyterian Church door, In fact the
church had few more regular attendants
In those days than President and Mrs.
Cleveland But since the beginning of his
present term he can hardly be said to have
been setting an example Of piety to the peo-
pie of the land by his unbroken regularity
as a church goer. nor has his carriage roll
ed out of the White House grounds on Sum
day mornings a little before II Just like
clock work. The last time he was at the
First Presbyterian Church was some time
in midsummer. and since he has been out
at Woodley he has put in an appearance
at a little Episcopal chapel in the neighbor-
hood once or twice.
But he has reasons enough for not at
tending church at all. no doubt. For one
thing, Mrs. Cleveland has not been able to
accompany him. and he has besides, been
SO beset this summer that presumably, the
seventh day has slipped by like all the
others in the week. and rest on the Sab
bath has been something of a stranger to
him.
On his return from Woodley, nevertheless,
he will no doubt resume his old habits and
DR.. Sunderland expects to see the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Cleveland in their old pew,
as well as Secretary Thurper and his wife
Washington is unquestionably the place
for preachers. 1t is a city sought after by
many a good minister of the gospel, as well
as by army officers looking for a soft
berth. Not that IT is a place for idle
preachers-far from it. 1t is a place which
calls for the most active ones. Nor is it
that the work is easier here than else
| ,x-l,1 l,,r
many phases. as well as the great oppor-
tunity for doing something and its i'm
mensity. even, it has peculiar charm.
Those who have come here from other
places know their good fortune in being
here, and those who have never been else
where don't know what it is to be sorry
they are not here. No minister ever came
to Washington without a great opportu-
nifty being in store for him. No place in
the country offers him the chance of meet
ing and coming in touch with a greater
variety Of people nor of using his influence
for good in circles both high and low.
One OF the prominent downtown pastors
who has come to Washington compare tive
ly recently, in speaking on this subject
said that he had in year and a hairs
work here met more old friends and form
er acquaintance than in all his previous
years of service, although he has worked
in New York. Cincinnati. Baltimore, Phil
adelphia and other large cities. On one
Sunday, and 1t was at the time of no spe-
cial occasion or meeting in the city either,
eight old members Of as many churches in
widely scattered parts of the country turn
ed up at the same service. This was Of
course remarkable instance and probably
could not often be paralleled, but neverthe-
less, he says that few Sundays go by when
an old friend doesn't appear to shake
hands after the morning service This, Of
course, is more true of a pastor of a down.
town church whom 1t is easy to hunt up,
put at inaugural ZION time and at various
meetings and conventions. SO many Of
which take place in Washington old
friends bob up in front and behind and
grasp You by the hand in such numbers
| that minister undergoes almost a per-
petual reception. Few people hunt you up
If in New York on account of the difficulty
and time involved. Washington is not
however, first in point of attendance at
the churches by any means. Curious as
II may seem to some Philadelphia and
Baltimore are the best cities for church
goers.
The new Sunday school house of the CAL
vary baptist Church, which is just south
OF and adjoining the church edifice is now
under roof and the work of fitting I'D the
interior Is going on rapidly. In a way this
pulong marks an epoch in the Sunday
school development OF Washington. IL NOT
that of the country 1t is the first builain 2
ever erected in Washington exclusively for
the use OF the Sunday school and one ~
the flrst In the land. Heretofore some place
has been reserved in most churches for the
Sunday school, but too often II has been in
a dark basement with cramped quarters
and meager facilities The present Structure
mas been erected for the use of the Sunday
school Of the Calvary Church exclus,vely
Its actual accommodation will provide FOR
l,soo persons and the school room will seat
Law scholars, more than will the auditor
ium or the church itself at present II
contains ample room for a library class
rooms and office rooms besides The Cal
vary Baptist Sunday school is in every wav
worthy OF such structure, claiming and
no aoupI Justly, the largest attendance
In this connection Ii may be remarked
now general is the present tendency to
build churches of stone Stone and Stone
work is becoming SO much cheaper that 1t
is generally used now even in small chan
els, and few brick churches have been erect
ed here lately, large or small; SO much finer
Is the effect OF stone, with but little addi-
s slon IA Cost IL must also have been OBJ
served that in cities, at least, the church
spire is going out of date For one reason
II is useless expense and most churches
nave TO get along with a small tower or
none at all When tower is built IL is ant
to be built in a square or round effact as
VIII be noticed in any of the recently built
churches. There are people however 70
Whom church spire seems most Important
ana without II they think a church very lit
tie of church at all Call them old fooia.
II you will. but they are fixed in their onin-
i ,oii mat churcn without spire is as use
ieSs as senool without school marin"
II is nard 10 md more enthusiastic man
than one Just bound for a big convention
especially If Ii be a gathering of missionary
splrits such as passed through Washing
ton last Monday on their way to the Chris
tan Workers convention in Atlanta. This
is the same body which held a session here
two years ago in the First Congrega tional
church, and Thursday they began their
ninth annual session of a weeks dura ton
In Atlanta. Among the many interesting
hgures who passed through here early IN
the week on their way thither none made
a deeper impression on their hearers at the
FIRST Congregational Church and also al the
central Union Mission than s. H Hadley
OF the ST. Bartholomew Mission in New
York. Mr.. Hadley. as many know, is him
self reformed drunkard and gambler but
1t is little understood that he was formerly
a Washingtonian and large property hold
er here. In '76 ~ and rs Mr.. Hadley was
a lawyer here. He organized the Washing
ton Life Insurance Company as well as the
Washington Fire Insurance Company. and
owned property to the valuation of $50 600
This was in Gov. Shepherds time There
were then two big saloons, one on the cor
ner of 9TH and F, the other on the corner Of
| 9TH and E streets, and Mr.. Hadley's Office
was conveniently situated on It'll street
| between the two. Mr. Hadley has lost his
! means, as his friends say. he drank II ali
up;' but he is blessed with one of the hig
gest bodies and the biggest heart imarins-
/ BILE, and since his conversion twelve Yea re
/ ago has done more good than most neonle
would do in a lifetime like NethuseIa,s
! The st. Bartholomew Mission is known ~
| everywhere, is the work of its foundar
Just before passing through Washinoton