Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-19
NEW DISPLACES OLD
Fifteenth Street Methodist Church
to Go.
LAST SERVICES Reid YESTERDAY
A Fine New Building to Be
Erected.
LOOK ACK w A RID

tearing down the building begins were held
in the old Fifteenth Street NJ. E. Church
yesterday morning, Rev. W. w. Van Ars-
dale. the pastor presiding. The regular
Sunday school exercises took place at $50,
and large number of the old scholars and
teachers were present. Addresses were
made, in addition to the regular Sabbath
school exercises, by James l.. Ewin, SUI
perintende1,t of the Foundry M. E. Sunday
school; G. Rowzee, W. H. Houghton and
DR.. William Pitts, all formerly officially
prominent in the church, and DIR. c. r.
Clark. the present superintendent of the
school. DR.. Van Arsdale made brief adj
dress relating to the church's history. He
Incorporated in hisl remarks a list of the
subscriptions, amounting to $4,000 already
received for the erection of the new editice.
collection was then taken up. which is to
go toward the cost of the new church, the
amount contributed being 1872.
In the evening at s o'clock an old-fash-
icned love feast was held The church was
well filled, and the "reminiscences told by
some of the Oldest members of the church,
which were of an interesting nature. were
enjoyed by all present Addresses We're made
by w. H. Houghton,@ DIR. Charles l.. Pate,
James L. Ewin and the pastor. The clos
ing address was delivered by DR.. Van Ars-
dale. snts
Brief History.
The origin of the present church dates
back to 1865. when a number of the parish
toner's of the McKendree Methodist Episco-
pal Church. situated on Massachusetts, ave-
rue between 9th and 10th streets north
west, withdrew, and a year later organized
and built small frame church at the
corner of 9th and streets northwest. In
1874 the present edifice was constructed by
the congregation, and at the same time
negotiations were made with DR.. John M.
Greene and Edward Owen for the purchase
of the small frame church. which, after its
removal became the home of the Mount
Zion NJ. E. Church, at the corner of 18th
ard r streets northwest 1t was through
the efforts Of Mr.. Owen and DR.. Greene,
who were aided by board of trustees. that
the frame building formerly occupied by
the Hamline M. E. Church and the lot on
the northeast corner of 18th and R streets
northwest were secured and the improve
ments made. The board of trustees con-
sisted of Rev. John NJ. Greene, B. H. Slime
metz, A. F. Moulden. j. r. Narrower, Ed
ward owen, E. w. Wakefield, ]. M. Dunn
Thomas p. Morgan and H. r. Rowles. The
first class leaders consisted of s. H. Nc
Closkey and Rev. DR.. John NJ. Greene
The original board of stewards were Rev.
John M. Greene, Edward Owen, James L.
Ewin, now superintendent Of the Foundry
NJ. E. Sunday school, corner 14th and G
streets; w. M Clayton, G. Rowzee, w. H.
Gaines, s. H. McCloskey and ]. H. Thomp
son.
After the officers had been selected and
the church organized the subject of needed
improvements was decided upon and ap-
proved by committee. During the earlier
part of 1874 small brick class room was
added to the rear building, and a tower
was erected on the southwest corner of the
church. The Interior of the church was
painted, frescoed and carpeted and new
pews arranged.
The First Service.
On the morning Of March %, 1874 the
church was thrown open for public wor-
ship; the dedicatory sermon being preach
ed by the Rev. DIR. w. +. Speak, then
presiding elder. Rev. DR.. H. A. Cleveland,
then pastor of the Foundry NJ. E. Church.
preached at the afternoon service and at
night the new pastor, Rev. DR.. L. c. Null
Ter, presided. The first service Of the Sab
bath school was held under the auspices
of James L. EwiD, the superintendent,
with roll call of sixty-two members. At
the end of the year the roll call contained
the names of one hundred and two who
were active members. The offertory of the
first day amounted to over 81 900, which
went toward paying for the new church
was changed from that of the Mount Zion
Methodist Episcopal Church to the Fiji
teenth Street Methodist Church. Rev. DR..
). H. Dashiell was then pastor Of the
church. During the pastorate of Rev.
DIR. L. A. Thirlkeld the subject of a snew
church was freely discussed, insomuch
that the plans had been submitted, but
were laid aside and finally dropped. At
the beginning of the present year the mat
ter of rebuilding was again discussed, and
the plans submitted to a committe and ap-
proved. The building committee consisted
Of Rev. DIR. W. W. Van Arsdale, DR.. P. H.
Eaton, G. Rowzee, w. H. Houghton. L.
W. Funk, Miss Jennie Reeder, G. G. WohI-
forth, and DR.. N. b. Shade, all officers of
the church. The spacious parsonage, which
was erected during the pastorate of Rev.
wi in he
when the new church. is completed.
Officers and Pastors.
The following is list of the present Off
GERS of the church,: Pastor, Rev. DR.. w.
w. Van Arsdale; supernumerary, Rev. c.
H. Mytinger; local preachers, Rev. w. G.
Thomas. H. Farmer Aand ]. A. Winner;
stewards. G. H. Rice, H. Farmer, w. H.
Houghton, j. A. WINNER, NJ. G. Robertson,
Miss Jennie Reeder, Dr. N. B. Shade, John
R. Croggin, Mrs. J. A. Winner and G. Row
zee; Sunday school superintendent, DR.. c:
R. Clark; Rev. J. A. Winner, president of
the Epworth League; Mrs. Albert Osborn,
trustees. DR.. P. H. Eaton. Mrs. J. A. Win
ner, L. w. Funk. A. 3. Brown, G. Wohl-
forth, N. T. Bickford, John B. Daish, w.
N Clayton and W. H. Houghton.
During the existence of the church the
following pastors have presided: Revs. L.
c. Muller, w. !. Mckinney. 2. D. Owens,
J. H. Dashiell, L. A. Thirlkeld. ]. N. Da-
are now living. w. S. Holland and Charles
L. Pate, both of whom were members of
the Sabbath school and church, have en-
tered into the Christian ministry from this
who have held the position as superinten-
dent of the church Sunday school:
James L. Ewin, now of the Foundry
Church. w. A. Gaines. P. Garretson. w.