The Washington times., 1894-11-04

congregation by number OF years. The
little brick chapel used for worship is orna-
mental as well a. comfortable. and some day
soon handsome new church is to he erected
on the front Of the two lots. on the back of
which stands the chapel On the third lot
owned by the church is erected the parson-
age, & most comfortable home for the pastor
In 1877 notices appeared in the daily papers
calling a meeting Of all VINO desired to join a
Reformed Church. The Board of Missions
known as the Tri-Synodic Board of the Re-
formed Church. had caused the notices TO be
printed. Rev. i. x. Leyan. the missionary
superintendent Of the board had been work
ing for some time in the city. and had found
4 number of followers scattered throughout
the departments ard in business. The meet
ing was held in st. Georges Hall, Eighth and
X streets. and was very well attended. OF the
charter members of the congregation some
are still living. and are active members of the
church yet. They are; 3ir- George /. Benner,
Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Lesh, Mrs. A. NJ Albright.
and Mr.. James Z. Albright. All the others
have passed across or have moved away.
Tbs first pastor was Rev. George B. Rus
sell, who took up the work begun by Mr.
Levan. He was followed by Rev. c. S. Sun
tag and be 10y the present pastor, Rev. A.
Thomas G. Apple. Mr.. Apple began his pas
torate December !. 1889. and has built up the
church wonderfully since then. He is a young
TO keep his congregation working all the
time. He thinks all the members should be
alive and has work mapped out for each of
them. he was born in Pennsylvania and has
brought soma of the stir of that State with
him. He was educated at Franklin and
Marshall College, Lancaster, and at the East
eTn Theological Seminary.
His first pastorate was at Bedford Springs,
but he was called from this charge to the
chair Of natural sciences at PaIitanate Col
lege. Lebanon county. He was filing this
position most acceptably when called to the
church here. The duties of his college pro-
fessorship were very pleasant to him, aud he
was loath TO leave them. That he did not
make mistake is evidenced by his success In
the Fifteenth Street Church.
STILL A MISSION CHURCH.
The congregation only worshiped in halls
for four years While it is still mission
church it Is nearly self-supporring and it is
permitted to choose its own pastor. BY the
help OF the mission fund the lots on Fifteenth
street were purchased in 1882 and the pleas
ant little brick chapel erected. At present
the membership is 40 and services are held
each Sunday morning and evening. The reg
ular Thursday evening meeting differs great
deal from those held by the other churches of
the city. While not opposed in any way
to prayer meetings, Dir. Apple has found
il expedient to have this evening of
each week devoted 10 Bible study. He
has also found that these gatherings
are much more pleasant when held at
the homes of the members. and this plan is
followed. Last Thursday the meeting was
held in the primary department ofthe chapel,
but next time it goes TO the home of one of
the members. In this way it is possible to
remove much stiffness and 20 become more
social The study of the evening is always
the lesson for the following Sunday.
The Sunday-school is held each Sunday
morning at $50 O'Clock. and has an enroll
ment OF III. The officers are II. w. H.
Shook, superintendent; a. G. Apple, assis-