Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
The Diamond Anniversary of the
Dunbarton Avenue Sunday School.
GEORGETOWN'S EARLY METHODISM
Reunion Tomorrow of Former Pas
tors, Teachers and Scholars.
THE PROGRAM AS ARRANGED

of the establishment of the Methodist Epis-
copal Sunday school in Georgetown will
begin tomorrow morning at $50 o'clock at
the Dunbarton Avenue NJ. Z. Church, and
for a space of three days, at stated hours.
the event will meet with interesting recog
milton.
Invitations to the exercises have been
sent by the busy committee in charge far
and wide. In almost every state in the
Union, in Europe, Africa and Japan, the
old pastors of the Dunbarton Church, for
mer superintendent and pupils whose
presence is particularly desired, have been
traced. 1t has been the aim of the Sunday
schools present leaders to make the occa-
sion a grand reunion.
Many, Of course, those in distant coun-
tries. have found it impossible to attend. but
some surprising journeys have been made
by those who received their first lessons
in Methodism here. in addition to those who
c1ficiated as ministers and ministers par
ticular aids. All the leading names on the
program are those of men who have at
some time been of invaluable assistance in
brir gng the school to its present condition
OF power.
Program of the Meetings.
The exercises will begin on Sunday at $50
u.
B. H. Stinemetz. former superintendent.
will preside. At IL a. m. there will be
preaching by the Rev. Lyttleton F. Morgan.
ID. D., and at p. m. addresses made by
Charles H. Stocking, A w. Eastlack. John
T. Mitchell and Jesse II. Wilson. In the
evening. at o'clock. there will be plat
form meeting, at which addresses will be
made by Rev. James A. McCauley, ID. D..
~ Ioh no Shiall n
On Monday at 2 pm. Revs. VIM. II.
Chapman, j. Mex. Kelley and NJ. F. b.
Rice will talk reminiscently, at pm.
there will be platform addresses by Revs.
b. p. Brown, W. l. Mckinney and Richard
Norris and at 9:30 reception will be held.
Tuesday, the third day of the celebra-
ton, will be devoted principally to the CIV
ing of an entertainment to the present
membership. The church has been eiabo-
rately decorated and presents a beautiful
appearance.
Committees in Charge.
The committees to be in charge of the
exercises are as follows: On invitations.
Joseph b. Slit, d. D., pastor: ]. w. Kirk
ley, superintendent; John Hieston, secre-
tary: Isaac Birch treasurer: Edward II.
Brown. Charles Z. Birch. S. Emma Waugh:
on the entertainment of guests Mrs. Chas.
II. VI.
Waugh; on decorations. j. Albert Haughton.
Charles r.. Birch. Frank b. Stewart, II. w.
Frankland, Miss Ella Cunningham, Miss
Annie Brooke. Miss Alice Blackford and
Miss Bessie Miller. The refreshment COM
mittee will be composed of all the female
teachers. with Mrs. Susan BuzZee as chair
man; and on finances, Isaac Birch and
Misses Annie Brooke, Clara Bremmernan.
Lena Sommerville and Fannie Jackson.
The reception committee. of which Mr..
WPll9 nd Fisher Is chairman Ia COmnOSPi
of the following members of the present
Sunday school: Messrs. Littel. George FL
lott, Louis Hieston, Raymond Frisby,
Walter Birch Edward Smith, David Rey-
nolds Willie Fisher. Halves, Lucas, Alfred
Fisher, VIM. Hudson, James Thornburg,
Vinton Birch. Fred Blacilford J. Fred
Gatchel. Clinton Tribbey. Vim. Artz, Robert
Layton, Charles Brenmerman, Smith, Allie
Craig and Walter Brown.
Early Lights of the Faith.
Methodisn in Georgetown dates back al
most to the laying out of the city, it being
recorded that Methodist preaching was in
troduced within her boundaries as early as
1T12. by Robert Williams. an Englishman
while on his way to one of the coast towns
of Virginia. He was accompanied at the
time by William Walters, d native preach
er. who one year later was received into
the regular ministry, becoming the first ma
tive American itine-ant. 1t is recorded that
en- the occasion of this visit Mr. Williams
was listened to by large roomful of pao-
pie. who behaved with decency. The first
Methodists who worked for the establish
ment of the church in Georgetowns vicin-
ity were Robert Strawbridge and Richard
Owings. the father OF American Methodism
ana the first native local preacher. Their
labors were, in a measure, successful. il be-
ing claimed that through their efforts the
seed, which later grew and bore substantial
fruit, was planted. Four converts are said
to have been made in lI1..
Georgetown Methodspl. it is therefore
seen. was honored by the presence and la
bors of three of the most prominent of the
early lights of the faith-Strawbridge, who
built the first American chapel; Owings
the first American local preacher, and Wal
tiers. the first native itinerant
ut the second annual fIethodist confer
enee held in America May -. lT7D
Georgetown was included In a circuit TO
he known as the Frederick circuit and
Philip Catch and William Duke were APP
pointed to labor within the limits pre-
scribed. On their arrival they found within
the circuit but 115 followers and they scat
tered in places far from each other.
The EARLY Beginnings.
The first great revival of religion in the
Frederick circuit occurred in May, ITS
under William Walters. Two hundred new
members were obtained for the church
Afte- having work ed in various ways and
in various places for the church until 1902
he was sent to Georgetown, then a sepa-
rate station. He found the congregation
large and respectable" The first Metho-
dist meetings In Georgetown. tradition
says, were held in cooper shop located
near the corner of the present sd and n
streets.
The first house built especially for re-
ligious worship by the Methodists in
Georgetown was erected on MONTGOMERY
t2Sth) street in about 1875. The first Meth
odist Sunday school, whose establishment
Is to be celebrated tomorrow. Monday and
Tuesday. was opened on jefferson street
west side, between the buildings known IS
the old Masonic Hall and Wheatley's dive
house, the site having been recently re-
built upon. 1t was opened mainly through
the efforts of John Dickson and Samuel
McKenny and designed to morally and
religiously instruct the young.
Mrs. Mckinney had charge of the school
till lS22, when ii was taken under tho
fostering care of the church. On the 3lst of
May, 1872. at a meeting in the Morlgo
Street Church, it was decided TO
organize "A Sabbath School Society" On
that occasion Rev. Joseph s. Collins pre-
sided, and William c. Lirscomb acted as
secretary. After the usual deliberations a
constitution was adopted, with the follow
inS preamble:
We. abe Subscribers. being DESTROYS to be
beneficial to our fellow beings, and belicy-
ing that the welfare of the rising genera
ton will be very much promoted by the
Lob. Of ,l,N.