The Washington times., 1894-08-12
ORIGIN OF WAUGH CHURCH
Organized "in Little Shanty Around
the Corner" from c Street.
HANSON BROWNS GOOD WORK
He Provided the First Meeting Places-His
Daughter Acted as Janitor-Rapid In
crease in Membership Worshipers
Named After the Late Bishop Waugh.

i kNaAAou AAto2 tno AhtV OAoaeP
| From a modest beginning as mission Sab
bath-school, organized in the spring of 1858
| in "a little shanty around the corner" from
| street northeast, the use of which wa
| gratuitously permitted by its owner. Hanson
Brown, sprang the influential society now
known as Waugh NJ. E. Church, that worship!
in 4 handsome building at the corner OF A anc
| Third streets northeast.
A meeting of representatives of Wesley
| Chapel, Foundry Union, and McKendret
| Chapel stations was held in the church first
named ill the fall Of 1852 to organize home
| missionary society for the city OF Washington
| and among the first sections considered by
the society, after its organization. as aiTording
an inviting field. was Capitol Hill. For want
of building in which to hold the meetings,
nothing definite was done toward carrying
out the purpose of the society until in the fol-
lowing spring, when the offer came from Mr..
Brown to provide a meeting place Ii was a
small building, OF but one story, and contain
ing two rooms, fronting on Massachusetts
avenue. between Third and Fourth streets
northeast.
Twelve persons assembled on Wednesday
March 16. 1858, and organized the Sabbath
school, electing Charles ii. Lane supcrin-
tendent. and on July 26. of the same year,
the Rev. James H. Brown. of Wesley Chapel,
formed the first church class of the following
persons. viz: Hanson Brown, his wife and
daughter. both named Mary, Amand Porter,
George Bivins his wife Mary and two daugh-
tiers, John Taylor. Harriet Taylor, wife OF
John. and Miss Mayhew. The class was put
in charge of John r. Zimmerman. The in
crease in the members attending the school,
the added interest which led to revival sery-
ices and the prospect OF further auSmenta-
ton made it necessary that the society
should have more room. and the meeting
place was then transferred to the front room
of Hanson Browns dwelling on street in
the rear OF the building previously occupied.
Later, when it became necessary to have
still more room. a camp meeting tent. be-
longing TO Wesley Chapel, was procured and
erected on the lot adjoining Hanson Browns
premises.
HANSON BROWNS ZEAL.
As the interest in the society deepened it
became apparent that other quarters would
be necessary, especially as winter was ap-
preaching. and for the third time Hanson
Brown proved his zeal and met the emer-
frame building for the use OF the church that
would comfortably hold not to exceed 100
people. and gratuitously supplied fuel and
lights and other requisites. His daughter
volunteered 10 do the work OF the ianitor.
Thus was the first meeting house" provided
for the express use OF Waugh Church.
Among the earliest worshippers with the
congregation in the modest little ediiice oc-
cupied for the first time in October, 1853. was
Associate Justice Mclean. OF the Uuited
States Supreme Court.
Before the close OF the first year the Sab
bath-school numbered seventy and the in
crease in membership was so rapid that the
congregation began arrangements for the
construction of larger building. Wesley
Chapel appointed committee 10 purchase "a
lot and to take such steps as might De neces-
sary for the erection OF a new house of wor-
ship. That committee consisted ofCharles II.
Lane. Charles f. Walker. Hanson Brown,
John VI. Jameson, q. Mcknew, J. d. Latham,
and ". b. Waugh. The committee at first
estimated the cost of the new building in
elusive of the price of the lot. at IS 600. but
the plans were afterwards enlarged part
OF the lot upon which the church now stands
was purchased at a cost OF S6lS, or at the rate
of Is cents per square foot. The deed was
executed March II. 1854, to the following
named trustees: Z. Mchnew. John VI. Jane
son, Hanson Brown, n. N.McGregor. Charles
L. Walker. John Z. Zimmerman. and W. B.
Waugh.
The building was erected and the basement
completed and fitted for occupancy for 50 700.
1t was forty-fve by sixty-lve feet in dimen-
sions, quite large enough for the accommoda-
ton OF the worshipers and TO admit OF con-
siderable growth in the congregation.
The Rev. G. H. Day, OF the Baltimore con-
ference, succeeded the Rev. r.. L. Dashiell as
pastor, the latter having charge as assistant
nf a=la T. n,,- a
upon his duties on the third Sabbath in
March. 1855, and the basement of the church
was dedicated May 13 OF the same year.
MEMBERSHIP RAPIDLY INCREASED.
The inrease in membership was so rapid
that at the meeting of the third quarterly
January H. 1856, the class lead
ers numbered ten, instead of the one in serv-
ice at the time of the dedication. and forty
three communicants were enrolled. In June,
1855, the Capitol Hill Church. as it was
then called, was made an independent charge
and had connected with it the colored con-
afterwards known as Ebenezer
Church. The first quarterly meeting of the
new charge was held July 10. 1855. At this
meeting the report from the Sabbath school
had grown in a little over two years from /
l teacher. and u scholars, !
March 16, 1853 to 3 officers 9 male teachers.
female teachers. and 156 pupils, with an
average attendance of about so. 4 library OF /!
l25 volumes had been added
In the summer of 1869 a Waugh Methodist |
Episcopal Church mission was established bv |
he church, near the corner of Tenth street |
IN Maryland avenue. which was continued ,
or about two years and was abandoned only |
because of the injury sustained to the property |
occupied on account Of extensive grading op-
'rations in the immediate vicinity. The up
per portion of the church was completed in
IS57-5S at a cost of S1.700, and the dedica-
ion took ploce February Z, 1855 At this
dedication the name of the church was
changed TO Waugh Chapel, in honor of the
ate Bishop Waugh, by direction of the board
VI tru stees. In March. 1866, the ediiice was
ordered to be remodeled and repaired. at
.ost not to exceed $4,000. The frescoing,
and carpeting We're accordingly re-
lewed, and the interior of the building
,reatly improved and beautified The re-
opening occurred July IA. 1857. the services
'eing of most impressive character.
ENLARGISG THE CHURCH.
The project of enlarging the church was
!ecided upon in January, 1873, and three lots.
me improved, were purchased at a cost of !
y, 500. the first active step towards the pro-
,osed improvements was the acceptance of
he plan presented by Architect j. II. McGill.
resolution was adopted to proceed with the
work upon completion of a subscription to
he amount of $1,000. For the second time
n its brief history the congregation in the
ummer of 1874 was obliged to worship in
ent. The canvass roof was kindly supplied
y the War Department.
The obrral, r-,, tba, or,;, |