The Washington times., 1894-09-02

II is the purpose OF THE TIMES in begin
ming to-day a series OF sketches Of the
churches of Washington, which viii be con-
tinued on successive Sundays, TO give as
vivid picture as a limited space will permit
OF our religious bodies as exhibited in their
active life Of to-day.
In other words, it will be the aim to show
Just what work each is doing and tell how
and by whom II is being done. While primarily
q church is n religious institution, devoted to
divine worship, it is none the less an active
organization OF human beings, whose mem
bers are seeking by different agencies to pro-
mote the general welfare Of tho whole and TO
avail themselves Of every channel TO secure
closer social fellowship and to cooperate in
charitable and spiritual work.
1t is this feature that The TIMES proposes
60 develop. Three or more churches, accord
ing 20 circumstances. will be treated each
Sunday, and needless to say, without regard
TO creeds or doctrines. In carrying out this
programme OF spreading abroad a wider
knowledge Of our religious bodies and their
spheres Of usefulness, the personal aid and
support OF every one interested in church
work in this city, both pastors and congrega-
tions, iB earnestly invited.
As in many other respects, Washington eI-
GELS in the number and strength. OF her
churches. There are here about 225 separate
congregations, nearly all Of whom own their
separate places Of worship, and most Of whom
are Din a remarkably hourishing condition,
financially and numerically. This does not
include religious societies and sodalities, Of
which there are many.
CITY OF CHURCHES.
Even more than TO Brooklyn belongs to
Washington the name the ''City of Churches. -
With one church Tor nearly every thousand OF
the population, the city is certainly well sup
piled. And the fact that membership runs up
In several cases TO over ,000-in one OF the
Catholic churches 10 five times that number
shows how strong hold the religious bodies
havs on the people Of this city.
To the Episcopalians. if the records are ac-
curate, belongs the credit Of having estab-
nshed the first church in Washington-St.
Paul's.. Of Rock Creek parish. This was
founded in I7l9, when a small chapel was
erected on the site of the present church by
some Of the early English settlers, one John
Bradford, Of Prince Georges County, Nd,
having contributed his homely mite in the
shape Of 100 acres oflard and 1000 pounds Of
tobacco, then used as money.
The Catholics were the second in the field,
Trinity Church. Georgetown. having been es-
tablished some time prior to 1895, by Rev.
Erancls Neate. an active member OF tnS DO
ciety Of Jesus. who first held his services in a
blacksmith shop. From this small beginning
the Catholic Church has grown to its present
strong and influential position.
Methodism took its start in 1872. when Rob-
ert Williams. an Englishman, then on his
way to Norfolk. Va. first preached here.
though the earliest church, the Dumbarton
Avenue Of Georgetown, was not founded until
twenty years later.
The Presbyterians practically began their
work when the Presbytery of Baltimore was
founded in 1856. The earliest church was the
West Street Church in Georgetown. founded
in 1882, where Rev. Steven B. Baleh, a licenti-
ate Of the old Donegal presbytery, OF Pennsyl-
vania, bound on a missionary tour Of the
Carolinas, first preached TO few sturdy
6cotchmen and New Englanders.
The other denominations were somewhat
later. The first Baptist church was Crgan-
ized in 1902, with only six members, by Rev.
William Parkinson, then the chaplain of Con
gress. The Lutherans, as early as 1888, wor
SHIPPED in the city hall The first Unitarian
society dates back TO 1920; the Congregation.
alists TO 1s47; the Christians TO 1913; the He
brews TO 1854, and the Universalsts TO 1867
To-day there is scarcely a sect in the countr,
that is not represented here.