The Washington times., 1895-02-18
Reopening Services at Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church.
THEY LASTED ALL DAY LONG
Fifty three Years of Patient but Unremitting
Effort Crowned with Gratifying Success
One Of the Oldest Presbyterian Churches
in the City Eloquent Sermons by the
Pastor and Other Well-known Clergymen.

The reopening services at the Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church yesterday morn
ing attracted large congregation OF the lead
ing colored people OF Washington. The beau
tiful interior of the church as remodeied,
with its new interior architecture and bright
furnishings, gladdened The hearts OF the pas
tor and members OF this, one of the oldest,
Presbyterian churches OF the city.
The services were conducted by the pastor,
Rev. DR.. Francis j. Grimke. assisted by the
Rev. DR.. James Craighead. Rev. William War
ing. and Prof. Ewel, OF Howard University.
The venerable DIR. Crummel, q graduate OF
Queens College, and one Of the most schol-
arly men OF his race, was seated with the
clergy.
The music was furnished by the church
and temperance choirs, directed by Prof.
Samuels, OF the United States Marine Band,
assisted by Mrs. Lena Miller Mckinney and
the Christian Endeavor Choir. The musical
programme consisted OF 1.-THE Heavens Are
Telling Haydn; kyrie. by Thomas, and
Sovereign Ruler of the Skies" by A. Sam
uels. The singing was excellent.
The sermon of Rev. Mr.. Grimke who is a
graduate OF Princeton. was preached from
Psalms cvi:1-"0, give thanks unto the Lord,
! for He is good
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
God had shown His goodness to the church
where he was preaching Last year that
goodness had been shown by additions to
the church membership. At one time over
1 fifty members were received.
! Fifty-three years ago this church WAS
/ founded, with Rev. John L. Cook as pastor.
/ He was then one of the most influential MEM
1 bers Of his race. The first place OF nesting
had been an old schoolhouse on the corner of
! Fourteenth and II streets. In 1851 the pres
! ent site was purchased. and frame church
| was erected.
Afterward the frame building was replaced
| by a brick church. In 1871 this was re-
modelled and enlarged. The building of
hotel shut out the light, and from then until
/ now more light has been the need of the
church. A meeting was called and building
committee was appointed 10 make the neces-
/ sary alterations. BIDS were called for but
all were TOO high go the committee took
I charge of the work.
These changes were made because of de-
/ sire for enlarged usefulness, not of purely
/ denominationai influence, but of that which
| will promote the glory OF God. There is no
| more virtue in Presbyterianism than in any
other ism. The saving virtue is faith ID God.
OTHER SERVICES.
At the afternoon services the sermon was
preached by the Rev. DR.. Brooks. assisted by
| Rev. DR.. Byron Sunderland, of the First
/ Presbyterian Church. and Rev. Eugene John
son, of the Lincoln Memorial Church.
/ The sermon at the night services was
/ preached by Rev. DR. William b. Tunnel,
professor of Kings Theological Department
/ of Howard University, and Rev. DR.. samuel
4 b. Wallace OF Israel &. NJ E Church, and
/ Rev. DR.. John Chester assisted at the sery-
| ices.
The church, as remodeled, has a seating
/ capacity for 500. There has been added in the
rear OF the old building what is practically a
new one. forty by twenty-five feet in dimen-
sion. AS the interior is newly painted and
/ decorated the view inside is that OF an en-
! tirely new church. The architectural designs
were prepared by Mr.. N L. Haller.
The arch over the pulpit is modelled after
the dome of the Capitol. At the sides and
! back beautiful stained glass windows OF tes-
selated and other designs have been placed.
Triangular skylights. set in inches in the
ceiling, add 10 the so much-needed light.
The pulpit and furniture are OF oak.
The church has been newly painted inside
| and out, the walls and ceiling newly frescoed,
/ and new carpetings and upholstery Bur-
! chased. concrete floor has been laid in
the lecture-room. and a large cellar exca-
waited for the new steam heating apparatus.
! New gas fixtures have been added, and the
/ lighting and heating facilities are now as
| good as those of any church in the city.
ORGAN TO BE ENLARGED.
The organ is being enlarged from one to
two manuals. and, when completed. will be
furnished with water power. The cost will
be about 81 200.
The entire cost Of the repairs and changes
| will be between IS, 900 and $4,000, the larger
part of which has yet TO be raised. The
| building committee was composed OF the fol-
! lowing gentlemen: James H. Meriwether
! chairman: Rev. F. J. Grimke. Aaron Russell
| William d. Montague. Henry W. Lee, DR.. T.
J. Shadd, Warner Hurley aud Samuel ii.
| Williams.
! All of the services were largely attended
/ In the morning among many others were
present Hon. Frederick Douglass, ex-Gov
2. S. Pinehback, Prof A. F. Hillyer. of How
ard University; ex-senator b. X Bruce, and
Miss Lucy Moten, principal of the Normal
! School.