Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
IN THE CHURCHES

their time Is not taken up altogether with
the serious side of life, nor is it necessarily
considered one of the requisites OF the pro-
fession to wear a pereni1-lly long face and
always shun the sunny side of things. or
course. there are some things which, al
though not personally Objectionable to
them. perhaps. they must forsake on ac-
count OF their place and calling, but. after
all. they are like all others. taking their
work and their play as it comes, and hu-
moring their fads and fancies as far as pos
sible. There are many ministers here who
employ their leisure moments in pleasant,
and sometimes. also. queer ways. OF course,
being public speakers by occupation, many
of them develop into orators OF the first
rank. and many divines have become ia
nous as speakers. who would. otherwise.
have remained in obscurity- The stereopti-
con offers many a chance to try the lee
ture platform. and is a great friend Of the
ministerial profession Washington num-
bers among its pastors a number of spe-
cially gifted speakers. Music Is held
usually thought to be untrodden by them.
but such is not always the case. One must
and although very few ministers ever lay
much .pretense to being musicians, when
there Is an exception it Is all the more
noticeable. DR.. Clarence Bispham. rector
of ST. Michaers and All Angels Episcopal
Church, corner of Virginia avenue and I'D
street northwest, Is one exception In Wash
tngton. at least His musical abilities. as
Is well known, are of a high order, and he
recently took part In a concert given at
Metzerott Hall for the benefit Of his church.
Rev. John A Aspinwall, the rector of the
new st. Thomas Episcopal Church. has a
rare and pleasing fancy. He Is a practical
mechanic in several lines. Back of his
handsome house on Dupont Circle he has a
wood and iron working shop completely
fitted out. and 1t is his pleasure to spend
his spare time there. For some time he has
been too busy to do much in that line. but
In the building of the new church, which Is
now going on. he mas shown his knowledge
and ability as a builder. He can often be
seen watching the work. himself directing
some things, walking around on the rising
foundations, examining and taking every
thing in. Walking and driving are the two
chief forms of exercise commonly taken. II
they may be said to contain much exercise.
Exercise is a thing that ministers. a rule,
seem To fight shy of.except when on their va
cations. when they indulge In many sports
more enjoyable than sedate. There is, how
ever, clergyman in this city who Is quite
fond of boxing. and may even be said to
be an enthusiast. In quiet way, of the
manly art. These are but few Of the
many fads and diversions of ministers.
The Methodist Alliance is soon to be
known as the Methodist Union of the Dis
trict, and with the change Of name is to
come a gradual change in the organization
and makeup Of the society. Since its for
nation. not SO long ago, IL has been made
Up of the pastors OF ali the Methodist Epis-
q
bers of the official boards and other promi-
Eent persons in the various congregations,
with the laudable object of strengthening
Methodism in the District. bringing the
churches and people into closer bonds and
aiding needy churches far as possible.
It's object has surely been good enough, but
mainly through its influence, as the object
itself has been found a very stern one, in
deed, when brought into practical use. To
help needy churches and to build up a de-
nomination sounds well, but, unfortunately,
costs money. As the alliance was not en-
dowed by any charitable millionaire. and
has not been in the receipt of a stipulated
annual support. 1t has felt this truism pinch
from the start So, in order to make the
organization more truly what II purports
to be, and to enable IL TO do what 1t might
do, IL has been decided to change its forma-
ton and extend its membership to all Meth
odiSts in Washington. Ii is estimated that
there are about 1000 adults and as many
children belonging to the denomination
here, and 1t Is now proposed not only to in
vite but to actively arouse and urge each
and every one of these to come in. The
dues will be one dollar year. and as it is
thought that at least as many as 5000 may
be induced to join, this will give the or
ganiZation $1,000 year with which to
work This will be enough to do something
with Another plan has for some time been
cherished by the presiding elder of the Dis
trict and the president OF the alliance, DR..
Henry R. Naylor, which is nothing short
of persuading the churches to pool their
ishing Methodist churches in the city, and a
number quite the opposite. as well. If they
We're to all take up the yoke together the
debts on some churches might be easily
paid, additions and repairs could be made to
others and new structures could be built
where needed The poor churches would
hardly object to such an arrangement. but
the ones better off might not be so enthu-
siastic about the idea DIR. Naylor has done
nothing so far in pushing the matter. but
he is of the opinion that if the stronger
congregations really wish to do some mis-
sionary work they could do nothing better
than to join together and lend their sister
churches hand.
However. if the society as now planned is
recruited thoroughly from all over the city,
and receives the membership and support
that is hoped, great deal will have been
done toward common unity and feeling, and
a sufficient annual sum will be guaranteed
to make much work in the general interest
OF the denomination possible
At present the North Capitol NJ E
Church, corner of North Capitol and X
streets, is the one thought of principally as
Leeding neip- hne and adequate brick
structure has within little time taken the
place Of the old one-story wooden building
but in so doing the congregation has in
CURED large debt, which it is bravely
wrestling with, but which clings to ii in a
most fraternal fashion. Another church is
the Twelfth Street VI. f. Church, corner of
18th and streets southeast, which de-
serves help in the way of a new and larger
hoeing its own row, but the present frame
house OF worship Is too small, and bigger
better church is sorely needed. The Fiji
teerth Street Church. on 18th street north
west. Is In a growing part of the city, where
there are no other churches OF its denomi-
nation. and a larger edifice will be required
at an early date.
Tomorrow in all the Roman Catholic
churches of this archdiocese the annual
collection for the negro and Indian mis-
sions viii be taken up. 1t has been notice
able that there has been a diminution In
these collections each year since they were
ordered.
Last Sunday night the Young PEOPLES So
c1ety or Christian Endeavor of the Central
Methodist Protestant Church, corner of 18th
and NJ streets northwest held their thir-
teenth anniversary. pleasant order of
exercises was carried out, including songs
and instrumental music and an address by
the pastor and others. An anniversary of
the Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deavor OF the Union Methodist Episcopal
CHURCH. on 10th street northwest was also
held last Sunday night
Rev Russell Verbrycke the new pas.or
OF the Guriey Presbyterian Church will he
installed on March 13. 1t has been decided
py the presbytery that Rev B. F. Bittenger
D. d.. pastor Of the Westminster Presby-
terrain Church. shall preside and propose the
constitutional questions; Rev. W. A. Bart
lett ID. d., pastor of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. will preach the ser
mon: Rev. c. B. Ramsdell, D. D., pastor of
the North Presbyterian Church. will deliver
n he Sta