Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01

who desired To attend divine xorsbin and Il
became necessary to enlarge the building by
extending the north front in 1898 and with
characteristics ENTERPRISE he had a steeple
erected and bell placed in it. Soon after the
removal of the seat of government to Washing
ton city considerable accessions were made to
the congregation and it was necessary to still
further enlarge the church edifice which was
done under the immediate superintendent of
DIR. Balch. All protestant denominations wor-
shipped here and received the word of God at
the mouth of DIR. Balch. and communed to-
gether at the same altar, such was the liberalitv
that prevailed in those days. In 1921. the
building being insufficient to accommodate all
who desired to attend. it was determined to
pull down the old building and erect a much
larger edifice which renamed standing until the
spring of 1873. when it was demolished and the
material used in constructing a new church on
near 3Ist street
The Presbyterian Church WAS in fact the
mother church of the town. Other denomina-
ttons sought shelter under its roof while their
church was being erected or remodeled When
the Methodist Protestant Church was organ
lied in 1929 DR.. Balch invited them to his
church and labored and sympathized with
them until they found a resting place. He
was a friend of Georgetown College in its in
fancy. and was a frequent visitor to the insti-
tuition and often dined with the priests of
Catholic Trinity Church. On one occasion
thew apologized for the appearance of the
table on fast dav. DR.. Balch replied: well.
we'll brothers. if Won call this fast doy what do
you nave on feast day! He was also lnstru-
n aten.Si in Sisa az. se,ai nleso! 'eI'an
RaI,,more ONE ~ tben, in the c;.s =, TroS ~
erick. Md. where he often preached.
Among those who attended his church was
Gen. George Washin~ n.who frequently visited
here from Mount Venom; Thomas Jefferson,
President OF the United States, who on one &C.
contributed AlbnYt
tRry of the Treasury. and the French ambassa-
dor, Monsieur Pechion. while residing here.
NJ. Pechion and his wife were Huguenots. He
had been sent over by Napoleon to receive the
money which was paid for the purchase Of
Louisiana during the administration of Jeffer-
son in 1903 The old pastor baptized his child
and the next morning Pechion sent him a note
containing $50. being as he explained in his
broken English, ten for de leetle boy, ten for
de madame and ten Tor mlneself, and he
mentloneo tnat In france II was customary to
pay Tor baptisms.
Some young men were guilty Of the sacrilege
OF robbing the church OF the Bible and hymn
books. but the ofense was never repeated. for
on the Sunday following DIR. Balch made the
most thrilling and eloquent appeal ever heard
from the pulpit. Every eve was wandering
over tine congregation in search Of the perpe-
traitors. The supposed agents in the affair
were ever afterward held In contempt and some
OF them left the town. In the closing years Of
his life the congregation provided DIR. Balch
with assistant ministers.
asa PREACHER ANN . scuo,,n
n. p.,.h ..-
-. D"''H ""' mn" VI ,oou't' vigorous CON-
sutution ana OF a Doid, honest countenance.
Arrayed In his gown and bands he made an i'm
posing appearance in the pulpit His stvle NJ
oratory was forcible and impassioned. Though
bold in his appeals he ALWAYS addressed the az
fiicted with astonishing tenderness He at
times resembled Whitfield. In the dissemination
Of the Lords supper he WAS without a rival in
his sublimity both in language and manner
Among the classics he preferred Horace TO
VIRGIL. He might easily have been a man NJ
extensive reading. but chained to the school
room the greater part of his life he was Obliged
to confiue himself to system He was
kind and affectionate father and in
his social relations of life few men
possessed more urbanitv OF manner
nleasantrv and anacdota Ha w.s an ;nyat
crate chewer of tobacco. esneciaiiv when en-
gagged in solving nroblems IN the school roon
or in animated Conversation Dnrino the
course of his well-spent life he educated
seyentv-four vouths Tor the ministry and a
large number far the different nrofess;on.
some of whom became eminent Ha nract;ced
what he nreacbed. ..It ia not GOOD That 80
should be alone. and believed in tvino the
marriage knot. As an exarrnle 10 ctber. no
married twice after Passing fonr score YEAR,
His first wife. Elizabeth Beall died on lime o.
1927 aged siyty-fiya vears and IN obar
5. 1925 he married Elizabetb King who snr-
yiyed the ceremony but three weeks. and died
November % 1909 soed fftv-eigbt ya.rs m
November Q 1870 he married MIA Ian. par-
rott of Easton- Md formerlv Of Georoetown
who survived him many vears He narsornsI
more matrimonial ceremonies than anv Other
clergvman in the Dstr;ct at that tive and
nigbt or dav ba was siways 49,
10 attend In candidot TO- for r,atr;momn n, -.
sonth side of the po,onn,n 80 a.. 20 ~
district cslysd Co,-,av VI ,ros,in ;,h.h 10.
by the ,shnrino cIssSos ~ a,,s .co.n'n .I;a
wortbv man relatad tho. :. connIa So Caona1
called at his bonse OF yniSrioht Ha "a TO-
tired 10 his bed room and as h. rndrassaJ 80
n.ratorv 10 living doyn ba bod 90, =. ~.
fronr door He raised The winJou and 30 ; ;n
formad That conrIs ~ ,ha a., d." ~ =. ~ N
united in wedock. He reouested them TO make
ready and he would marry them from the win
dow; Inc service performed he wished them
81 -. ~, ,ha nt t n,su. anu .e9ues'eo .nen
.'S -; q. eo uuoi 'no iion' uoor. cure
ths &c. IT, Sh;iiiv hing no aoana 'uoAeu unu n
.-a..,, anu oiAPonIe. on
]1.i oo NTs iio .no same r heisnoornooa
o.pie esneu soou. noon. Ihey were invited
nnn sm1 P"i ..S. anu were married; Inc usual
ran ou'e your oride, was gwen
mnen ,ne souns man acteo Ia an ignorant man,
. uei' WHICH showed 'nat ne uia not comprehend
.ne e1mIiana' Tnen III. baich called out Mss
!ui oi hoVo couples from all sections,
money or no money. came to him to get mar
rieu, anu on one occasion couple from the
e oouh a gave MN as marriage Zee one-haif