Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-15

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posed to the severance of the relations
which have been SO pleasant and profitable,
yet they recognized the necessity In the
condition of their beloved pastors health.
A meeting of the congregation will be held
next Friday evening. when the formal resig-
nation OF the pastor will be acted upon.
DIR. Bartlett expects to spend n good deal of
time In the future in this city. The latter
part of November he will go abroad &C
companied by his son, whom he will place
In an educational institution in France.
The Nan and His Work.
AS the head of the largest Presbyterian
church in this city. DIR. Bartlett fills an i'm
portant place in this community The
church of which he is the pastor is not only
the largest in point of numbers at the
nations capital, but it ranks near the top
in the denomination in this country. When
DIR. Bartlett came to the church, nearly
twelve years ago. the membership was 593.
while today it is 1.155. The increase has
been steady one.
DIR. Bartlett Is a good type of the modern
pastor. He Is progressive, and in a good
sense aggressive. He has always been
heartily in favor of any movement which
advances the interests of the denomina-
ton, both abroad and at home, and at the
same time he has taken an active part in
all enterprises which are designed to i'm
prove the social and moral condition of the
community.
He is broad minded and thoroughly be-
leves in Christian unity and the co-opera-
ton of all religious bodies in promoting the
welfare Of the race. In this spirit he some
time ago accepted a position i'm the direc-
tory of a charitable Institution conducted
by religious order of the Catholic Church
He is now about sixty years of age He
breaches without manuscript and has the
power OF thinking on his feet One of the
charms OF his sermons il the stimulus given
to thought and the Intellectual atmosphere
which is born of contact with an earnest
enthusiastic thinker He is especially hap
Ply in the form of addresses which are
known as occasional when ne pours
forth the richness of his intellectual equip
ment with attractive power.
He built the first Peoples Tabernacle in
Brooklyn. Then he went to Chicago. where
he was pastor of the Plymouth Church
After a pastorate in Indianapolis he ac-
cepted call to the New York Avenue
Church, where he has been in continuous
service ever since. He was a commissioner
from the presbytery Of Washington city to
the General Assembly which met in Port
land in lS.re and it was due to his invita-
ton that the General Assembly voted to
meet the following year in this city. In ex-
tending such an invitation DIR. Bartlett APP
preciatcd fully the immense amount of
work which would fall on him and the Of
ficers of his church. Dr. Bartlett took the
lea1InS pat i'm making the arrangements
and the success which crowned the efforts
made is a tribute to the executive skill as
well as the personal labor which was de-
mande1.
Sending Out Colonies.
DR.. Bartlett was called as pastor to the
church April IL. ISL, and commenced his
labors June l. 1SSe at which time the men,
bership was 500. In October, 1856. forty
one members were granted letter of dis
mission to organize the Church of the
Covenant. and others took letters later
In 1883 an extensive addition was made TO
the building of Gurley Chapel to accom-
modate the Sunday school and TO adapt
the audience room for church services On
February II. 1889, 119 persons were dis
missed by certificate from the membership
OF the New York Avenue Church TO organ
lie the Gurley Memorial Presbyterian
Church. In the fall of 1883 the work now
known as that of Faith Mission was begun
and in 1880 the sum of $4,000 was raised to
purchase the site and erect the building
now occupied by that mission The first
services were held there February 10, 1891
Another mission of the church, Bethany
chapel was started In 1874. and Is still in
operation.
The New York Avenue Church,
The present church organization reaches
back into the early history of the CITY,
when the building on F street between 14th
and 18th streets now known as Willard Hall
was the church home of a large congrega-
ton. Some years later a congregation of
Presbyterians erected a church edifice on
the site now occupied by the building of the
New York Avenue Church. This enter
prise, however, did not prove PHOSPHORUS
and in 1875 the few members united with
the r street congregation, the property of
the latter was sold and the present editice
was constructed and dedicated In lstO Rev.
Dr. Gurley, who was the pastor OF the r
street church prior to the union. continued
his mlnistrations until they Were closed by
his death. September 30, 1868. Rev. s. s.
Mltcheii DID, was the pastor for about
nine years and was followed by Rev. John
X. Paxton, DID,, who served the church
until February II. lSS2, and in the same
year DIR. Bartlett began his pastorate
As to- His Successor.
As early last spring It was rumored
that DIR. Bartlett was contemplating the
severance Of his relations with the church.
When he was asked the direct question
months ago he admitted that while he
would not resign In the then immediate
future. he realized that IT was only a ques-
ton OF time before he would be compelled
to take this action.
DIR. Bartlett has agreed to continue in his
present position until the middle of next
month, but some Of the members of The con-
gregation are OF the opinion that IL would
have been wiser. for his own sake, IL he had
decided to leave at an earlier date and re-
iieve himself at once of all worry and re-
sponsib1ity.
DIR. Bartlett was called to the New York
Avenue Church from Indianapolis, where he
was pastor OF one Of the largest churches.
When q vacancy occurred here and the
name Of Dr. Bartlett was suggested a COM
mittee was appointed, consisting Of Mr.
VIM. Balantyne and Ex-Governor Wells to
go to Indianapolis to hear him, and later
they were sent out again 70 see IL he would
consider q call II Il were extended TO him
As yet. Of course, there has been no az
ton as TO the appointment Of q successor
TO Dr. Bartlett, nor Is the matter likely to