The morning times., 1895-11-21

One OF the Interesting evenings with the
Presbytcrians as historians was enJuyed
last night at the First Presbyterian Church.
IL was the fourth of the events with which
they have been celebrating the first hun
dred years OF their history in the ,fty of
washington and Notwithstanding Tie III
tensity or the cold weather there wasa large
audience present, but by no means such as
the rare interest OF the occasion demanded.
Rev George o. Little, d. D., presided and
made short address, in which he Instituted
comparison of church statistics In the Dis
trict or Columbia. He showed that IN the
District there were 2I7 church oTganiza.
tiOifs, 2O5 cndrcii edifices, an grcg;IIc seat
tg capacity or ia, ,42O, cnurch vaiues tu
the amount Of six and a third million dol
lars and Il membership OF 81, 2c3. The ratio
OF membership to total population was
larger than that OF rJrty-tbrce States and
Territories.
DIR. BiTTINGER'S ADDRESS.
Rev. Dr. Bittinger delivered a singuIarly
instructive address on Presbyterianism In
the District of Columbia. He paraphrased
the inscription in st. Paui's Cathedral. iuH-
don, by saying IL You would seek the history
OF PresDyterlansm in the District of Co
iuiilbia, look around you Its stamp was
visible In all the departments OF life. sJcial,
religious, literary aud political -.
The earlier Presidents, Washington and
jefferson, worsiiipped in t.e First PEtsiy-
terian Church II Georgetown and the last
President worshppetl in the First Pres0y-
terian Church of Washington. He dis
cussed tho faith from the standpolnts
mat IL stood for education and civil and
po littcal liberty, his obi ect being Ito
magnify our heritage.n blt not to claim
for 1t exciusiveness in the fields noted.
He was willing to share the heritage of
the church with all other denominations.
He divided the history OF the church into
three periods, first, from the beginning
of the faith In the District down to 1923;
thence to 1870. and from that year 10 the
present time. He said that The first church
was organized in 1850 in Georgetown, al
though there had been a church at Captain
Johns, which is now kno wn as Cabin John
Bridge. -l- D.
OLDEST OF THE CHURCHES.
The Oldest OF the well established churches
was the Bride Street Church. In George
town, which was visited by Washington
from Mount Vernon and by Jefferson.
There was no other organized church here
at the that time. all denominations holding
union services, a practical denlonstra ton
OF the disputed possibility OF organic de-
nonnnaticnal union. --- -.af.
ADojher part cf Ihediscourse was sketches
Of the earliest pastors and then he took
up tue educational achievements of the
church. beginning with the pastors schools
ana the Young Ladies Seminary, of George
town, at date when the new woman
had found neither her sphere nor her
apparel TIE rest Of Dr. Bittinger's dis-
course. the serious parts Of which were
freely g3rnished with flashes OF excellent
humor, WAS devoted TO a brief description
OF all the prese Mt churches. including the one
in which he was speaking. He touched on
the oTgo niza,ions OF the varlous assemblies
and the causes of separation OF the Northern
and Southern assemblies and closed with
grand aspiration for the future progress
and prosperity of the raith. s---
He was succeeded by the Hon. John W.
Foster, who first conveyed TO the assem-
bIagc tue greetings of the PRESBYTERIAN
Alliance. OF which he is the president.
His theme WAS why did Presbyterianism
antolate the foundation of the government,
and why was it now celebrating a period
of prosperity and progress7"
REVIEW OF PREsBYTERIANIsM.
The form OF government. he maintained,
was the logical consequences OF the history
and traditions Of Calvlnism. to which he
cited as proof the opinions or DeToCQue-
vile. Butler, Greene ard other authorities.
especially Hume and Taine. Presbyterians
were revoiutioBists before the revolution.
while Episcopdlians alta clled them selves
to the interests OF the crown.
iir. Foster contended that the spirit of
the Presbyterian Church was the spirit OF
the declaration OF independence, and that
its principles were the basic principles
Uo 10
vcloped the ideas of free speech. freedom
of conscience. social and POLITICAL liberty
having been derived from the great orig
inator OF these modern ideas. the philosa-,
pher and divine OF Geneva which came to
US through the channels OF the Huguenuts,
the Dutch, the PUritaus and the Scotch
Irish.
Rev. j. G. Butler. pastor Of Luther Me-
mortal Church. spoke but few minutes,
but in the most cordial language OF the
centennial, and the relations his people
had to the undertaking.
WORDS FROM A LUTHERAN.
DR.. Butler is the oldest pastor In service
in the city and spoke in high praise of the
masterful address OF DR.. Bittlnger. He
gave the Presbyterians hearty God speed
In their mission and prayed for universal
baptism of fire and of the spirit on all the
il the name of the Savior
of mankind.
The audience was dismissed with the
benediction by Rev. DR.. Little. The pro-
gramme for the historical part of the cele
bration has been concluded. Tomorrow
night the social feature will entertain the
of the city. The reception
viii be given at half past 7 O'Clock and
will close about 10 p. n. This particular
celebration will include that of the birth
day of the Rev. DR.. Sunderland --f 'r
One of the special features will be an
organ recital In which Mr.. T. Ward. the
organst of the church; Miss johnson, Mrs.
Byram, Mr.. Gibest and Mr.. Toof will take
part. The singing will be by Prof. Pear
man, accompanied on the org an by Mr.. Toof.
Didn't Steal the Mule.