The Washington times., 1894-12-10
The Assembly's Not Rich, but Full of
Willing Workers.
NOTED FOR IT'S LARGE LIBRARY
Over $4,000 Volumes Read Annually-The
Church Must Always Remain Down
Town-Disadvantag Under Which 1t
Labors-Pastor and Congregation Happy.

Presbyterian congregation IN the city but
you can be certain of one thing-if there is
in the District any good work OF any kind in
the midst of it you will ind member Of
Assembly's. In the Central Union Mission
are Rev. E. d. Bailey and wife, Judge l. G.
Kimball and family, Mr.. o. B. Brown, Mr.
7. P. Keene, J. Herve Purdy. and others.
In the Y. NJ. c. A. the president, L. Cabell
Williamson halls from Assemblys. and
other workers are: George F. Williams, DR..
0. A. L. Swaine, and William l. Campbell.
In the Women's Christian Association can be
found Mrs. George o. Little, Mrs. t. P.
Keene, and Mrs. Nathaniel Freeman. In the
y. p. S. c. L. the president OF the union,
Walter S. Macarthur, belongs here, and other
members of the church are on important
committees. In the Sunday-school Union
can be found A. NJ. McBath, and SO on
through all. When workers are needed AS
semblys always responds TO the call. The
church was open night and day for overflow
meetings when Moody was here, and no
worthy cause ever goes begging among
these active church people.
The church Is nearly iorty-two years old.
and its organization dates pack to the time
when slavery was the question OF the day,
and some interesting stories could be told OF
that time II was first known as the Fifth
PRESBYTERIAN Church, and began its struggles
with only twenty members. At meeting OF the
members and pew-holders held May 49, 1855,
the name of the church was changed to its
present style and title in compliment to the
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church,
which was in session in Washington at the
time the enterprise was planned, and contri-
buttons for the object were received from per-
| sons representing twenty-five States OF the
Union.
Since its formation the church has had five
pastors-Rev Andrew G. Carothers, from
| March 9, 1853 10 November 10, 1860; Rev. T..
b. McFalls, from March 81. 1861, to De-
cember 3, 1867; Rev. William Hart. from Feb
ruary 5. 1868, to April !, 1870; Rev.
Charles B. Boynton, ID. D.. from June "a,
1870, to May !, 1873, and the present pastor.
| Rev. George o. Little, D. D.. who was called
! June J. 1873.
DR.. Little is the third oldest Presbyterian
/ pastor in point of service in the city, Drs.
! Sunderland and Bittinger being his only
/ seniors He believes in hard work himself,
! and also in hard work for his congregation.
! He is universally admired for his generous
/ and broad religion and can always be counted
/ on. He is quick and active and comes from
/ a family OF preachers. His father, three
brothers and one son, Rev. Arthur NJ. Little,
/ Fh. D.. of IakOma Park are all Presbyterian
ministers, and with the exception of the
/ father are all in the active work. He was
| born in Madison, Ind, graduated at Amherst
! College in 1860 and at Lane Theological Sem
/ mary in 1863 After a ten years pastorate In
! Indiana he was called to Assemblys Church
and has been there ever since. He Is now
moderator of the synod OF Baltimore, presi-
I and has been invited TO teach pastoral theoI-
ogy in Howard University.
SOME DISADVANTAGES.
With a less energetic pastor or a less active
congregation, the church might be on the
down grade, for it has two great disadvanta-
ges to contend with. Fifty or sixty per cent.
OF its members are in the government employ
| and the church thus feels the changes OF
party and administration. This is especially
so from the fact that many members are en-
ploved in the Government Printing OMce
and the changes there are too recent TO be lor-
gotten. The second disadvantage is its To-
cation Fifth and streets northwest) in the
old part of the city. There have been over
500 accessions TO the church durin & DR.. Lit
ties pastorate. but the cong regation is al
Yays changing Yesterday five members
were received. but five may leave in the next
ther TO the northwest Still another disad-
vantage is that the church must always stay
where it is. 1t was only on these terms that
the lot was decided to it.
But Notwithstanding this the congregation
has prospered wonderfully. 1t has been re-
q markably harmonious and united. In twenty
five years there Rave been no schlSms or dl-
visions This is probably due to the fact that
its membership is made up of the class it is
1t is remarkably social church and after
Sunday and week day services all stop tc
speak to each other and introduce strangers
At the socials there is always d fine musica
and literary programme. tits we'll organized
and Sunday-school meetings and teachers
meetings are always well attended. For year.
there has not been break in any column o
the benevoences of the church and it always
Joins cordially with other churches in all tht
presbyterial and synodical work. Last yea
it raised for church purposes over $1,000 anC
this with membership of 335.
Assemhly's Church. however. not only lead
Washington but the world IN the matter of
library. Once it was a Sunday-school library
| but now il belongs to the church. The olde
people find they enjoy BOOKS Just as well a
the younger, and they use them. Forty-iyt
hundred volumes in good condition com
prise the library. The library is the growtl
of twenty-five years. In 1869 the Centra
Congregational Church united with Assem-
bly's. and this gave a start of 700 volumes
: The congregation subscribeS, or the member
do. and the subscriber has the first right t
the new book. The amount contributes
varies from 10 cents to 90 cents month. TIL
, interest is great.
, For several wears the number of books give
out has averaged over 26, 900 annually. Fac
book is covered with brown paper as soon a
received and in this way preserved. Book
of reference are bought and each week som
member Of the committee is reviewing som
new work. The librarian is James c. Strou
; He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1S5
and among his college mates were Chief Ju:
tice Fuller and ex-Speaker Reed. He serve
during the war in Massachusetts regimen
and for twenty-five years has been third q!
sistant librarian in the Library of Congress
OFFICERS AND WORKERS.
The officers of the church are: Elder
A. NJ. McBath, L.i Holtzlander, Charles L!
man, Thomas P Keene and o. B. Brown
deacons, L. G. Williamson and J. HerN
, Purdy. and trustees, Peter Duvant r.
BOYD, J. Herve Purdy, A. l.. Sturtevant, !
Cabell Williamson, and j. NJ. Foster; I.
9 Keene, treasurer, and r. ]. Boyd, secretar
The singing is always good, and some su
prise is usually in store. Warren S. Young
1 the precentor and Theo l. King the organ
: ist BuJ the congregation has great del
. of musical talent, and this is drawn on.
one time quartet of young ladies lead tt
singing. at another the Christian EndeavC
Society is turned into a large choir, and 3
on. few Sundays ago Miss Gem Bukt
sang a solo with violin obligato by Miss Mn
Chittenden. and in the evening Miss Ellen
Y Lyman sang solo.
q The Sunday-school has neatly 400 scholar
and twenty-six teachers. Mr.. A. N. McBat
is superintendent He is assisted by the 70
lowing officers: W. L Campbell, assistant SUI
= erintendent: A. c. Campbell, treasure