Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-19
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.
Twentieth Anniversary of DIR. Crummel's
Passionate Celebrated

Twentieth Anniversary of DIR. CrummeiPs
Passionate Celebrated.
Twenty wears ago yesterday the Rev. Alsxan-
der Crummell became the pastor of st. Lukes
Episcopal Church at the corner of 18th and
Madison streets. Since that time he has accom-
plished good and holy work among the colored
people in this city. 1t was mainly through his
efforts that the congregation have the commo-
dious edifice that they now occupy.
He took occasion Yesterday in his sermon to
review his service in this city during that
period. choosing as his text 4Sth Psalm. Sth to
l4th verses. 1T is twenty years ago this Sum
day." he said. ''since / began my ministry In
this city to this congregation MY coming
hither was without doubt in the providence OF the
Almighty. / myself bad little to do with IT.
was ministering. soon after twenty years mis-
sionary life in Africa to a mission IN the upper
part OF the city of New York On the irst
Sunday OF my service here 1 found a small
gathering of about twenty-five persons. tnen
worshipping in ST. Mary's Chapel, on sd street
between G. and III streets Its capacity was
afterward increased so that it now holds from
seventy to eighty persons. In 1879 commit
tee was organized to make an appeal Tor funds
for the building Of larger structure. Inc
sum OF 81 500 was given BY the late W. W.
Corcoran and a lot was obtained on 10th street
a few doors below VI. Subsequent payments
were not made and the lot and money were Iost.
Later Bishop Pinkney sent for me and commis-
stoned me TO undertake the collection OF funds
for the purchase of lot and the building OF
this church
SUCCESS AT LAST.
This time success crowned his efforts. The sum
total realized was s3l 600 Real progress has
been the history Of the church. notwithstanding
formidable difficulties, bitter opposition and
great poverty. During the twenty wears OF his
ministry here he has baptized 299 persons,
brought to confirmation 249, married % and
attended 159 funerals. The communion aims
have amounted to s9l4; the offerings. SlS. I36
For the whole enterprise ne has been enabled
to collect some S24. 900. The present valde Of
the property Is about $50 0O0 In view OF these
facts he said the congregation had grounds
for congratulation. When he came to St
Narv's Chapel il was a church in n state OF alb
solu,s poverty. Today it Is corporation In
the possession OF an area OF ground covering
some s. 800 feet. with a market value OF fully
$50 COO There was mortgage of $1,000 placed
on the church. but Of this more than $1,000 has
been Cancelled during the past three years To-
dav II may be said that 1t has an indebtedness
of but %, 500. with the purpose and hope oil
sweeping this away within the current year.
The possession of the adjoining lot was after
ward obtained and ST. Luke's Hail was made a
gift
FUTURE HOPES.
'One signal thing moreover" he continued
'calls for rejoicing this day before the LORD
Far beyond all thoughts Of property, higher
than all considerations Of possession, Is the
moral and spiritual condition OF church
They make the greatest Of mistakes who thinl
that property and money and rich men anc
temporal success the great things III God
church Nv brethren, there il many church
in Christendom Astounding in affluence. crowded
with the great and luxurious, Astounding viii
gifts and adorned with magnificent decorations
which after all, is but "a synagogue OF Satan
This true glory OF Gods church Is the Presenc
OF the spirit and the spiritual life of it, mem
bers The true criterion Of success IL the !ov
ing kindness of the Lord in His temple.
Here then. Ito day IS the grand cause of on
thanks and rejoicing. Great has been thu
poverty of this church; painful have been 1t
constant struggles But / thank God tina
scandals. grossuess, denominations have bee
the rnrest incidents Of our history. The nee
OF discipline has been of the most seldom &C
currence. In the whole period of nv ministrl
here have not disciplined more than half
dozen persons for gross sins. In general tn
communicants of this church have lived eleal
and spotless lives"
He closed "a follows: with clean and PEI
sistent church life this church will surely stan
forever, type Of holy living"