Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-10
THE METHODIST UNION
New Constitution and Name Adopted at
Last Nights Meeting.
Efforts to Relieve the North Capitol
Church From Dig Debt-A
Church Collection.

The Methodist Alliance, or what is to
hereafter be the Methodist Union, met
last night at Wesley Chapel corner of 9th
and + streets northwest. The meeting was
an important one for several reasons. In
the first place a new constitution was
adopted and the name of the organization
changed, and in the second place the even
ing was largely given up to the consi1era-
ton of the condition and the future of the
North Capitol Methodist Episcopal Church,
corner of North Capitol and X streets
northwest.
For some time the matter of changing
the name Of the organization has been be-
fore the members and for the past month
or so has been in the hands of a committee,
who looked favorabiy on the change of the
name and suggested that the members be
known hereafter the Methodist Union,
which is, they think, a more comprehen-
slVe ana suitable name. The change was
accordingly made and a new constitution
adopted, similar to the old one, however,
and setting forth as the purpose of the
society the advancement of Methodism in
the District and more particularly the
helping OF needy churches
But the chief event of Importance was the
consideration of the condition and the action
In regard to the North Capitol Church The
situation at this church has been a some
what peculiar one. 1t was rebuilt only
Few years ago from a small frame structure
to the present handsome and costly brick
editice, but in so doing a large debt was in
CURED, which has been no small drag on the
congregation. Under the former pastor of
the church, Rev. Charles O. Cook this debt
had not been announced, and the financial
dlinculueS of the church, although the con-
gregation were braVely working to relieve
them, were not, for various reasons. made
public. The new pastor, Rev. Charles l..
Pate, formerly of the Twelfth Street Church,
however, determined on a different course,
and last Sunday made a statement of the
financial condition of the church and has
called upon the people to work toward rails
Ing the debt. Although the exact figures
could not be obtained last Sabbath on ac-
count of the absence of the treasurer on
business, it was stated that the church was
carrying debt of between $4,000 and 49,
600. OF this amount S1o,Uo is a mortgage
loan, and so long the interest is paid may
be repaid as the church sees fit. There is
however, a floating Indebtedness OF about
$500 for the church furniture and other ex-
penses incurred In the occupation of the new
church which must be wiped out.
1t was accordingly voted to take up a
special collection in all the Methodist
churches Of the city within the next thirty
days, probably some Sunday of May,
although the date has not yet been Set,
for the North Capitol Church to relieve il
of the financial troubles which are now
staring II in the face Besides this, Mr..
Pate has already begun a systematic can
vass for money through various means,
and 1t is expected that the church will be
the richer within the next month or SO.
Mr.. G. w. +. Swartzell, the vice president
of the alliance, will act as president for a
time, and the successor of DIR. Henry r.
Naylor, the former chief executive, will
not be elected just yet The Methodist
Union was one of the pet schemes of DR.
Nayior and an organization in which he
was deeply interested, as well as the lead
ing worker, and it has been thought that
his retirement might occasion some change
in the work or plans OF the society. But
this will not be the case, and the work
will so right ahead along the old lines and
before,