Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-10-26
WHERE DR.. TALMAeE WILL PREACH


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great e mef sca'' g early Gays ana tiie I
beginnings Of oul Toysfnment- Inc nrst
meeting place OF the church was car
penter shop in the grounds Of the White
House. which vas being used dnrinq the
crection of tint building IN 1895. The
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corning 70 aceoui'ss, Ais. Auaiiis' 'n0
vito OF the presluent, used TO nave her
cloihesline stretched across the east room.
The Adamses occasionally attended the
little carnenter's church near them in
fine woods After the completion of the
xy,,;+o uonso IN 1900 and tie Ett1a car
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80 alep '','s - - - -
bAaion Whit i's's' pe''' io' = = 'Aoio iai''
AZ an oia puiiu'ns WHICH was aseu as
schoolhouse, near the northeast corner
OF zenith aud streets.
After that they removed to what was
then known as the academy east,
near the present site Of the Washington
navy gard. Up to this time Dr. Suiider-
land, the present pastor, SAID that the
church was KIND OF nomadlc lDstitu-
ton, the congregation worshiplng Where
they might. When the large block on
First street, northeast. was built, con-
sisting now 81 three private residences,
but then used or the sessions OF congress
while the capitol was IN process OF build
ing, the elders OF the church obtained
leave to meet there on Sunday and also
in the room OF the supreme court IN the
basement OF the capitol, Where then 1lrst
communion was observed. The pastor OF
the church at this time was John Brack-
enridge, who served until 1919. While
occupying the room OF the supreme court
in the basement of the capitol they &C.
t. srmined to erect church to the south
OF the capitol. This was subsequently
dore, and the church was first occupied i'll
1872 1t was known for long time as
NThe Little White Chapel Under the
Hill. " 1t is on pennsylvania avenue,
between First street and South Capitol,
where some OF its walls, still standing,
are buried by the debris deposited there.
In the course OF time, the congregation
increasing and the city growing to the
west and north. 1t was decided to pur-
chase the site OF the present church on
-Four and a Half street on whichto erect
a larger edifice. TWAS dedicated in De-
cember, 1927, at which time the Rev.
Reuben Post was the pastor. The main
audience room was entered directly from
the street between four massive pillars,
which formed porch, and is the por-
ton now used as the Sunday school
The auditorium extended 60 feet to the
west, where a fine old mahogany pulpit
stood, reached by flight of circular
steps on either side. Back of the pulpit
was window recess hung with scarlet
damasl. curtains A gallery extended on
three sides of the auditorium. There
was no organ, only a huge bass viol.
Side lights furnished the illumination,
and the old church was most pictur-
esque place.
DR.. Sunderland became the pastor in
1858, and i'll 1860 the church was much
enlarged and put into the condition in
which it is at present. 1t is now large,
well lighted edifice, we'll fitted and fur
nished, aud the audience hall, with
good acoustic properties, is particularly
inviting to a pastor The roll of men,
bership is not large, nor has it ever
been, although it has contained the
names Of many noted public men. The
first record, so years ago, shows men,
bership Of IS. In 1853 the roll of mem
bers was 269. During the pastorate the
whole number Of names added to the
roll was 1,126, Of whom 1,05l have
been removed by dismission, exclusion
or death, leaving 344 as the present
membership. If an estimate were made
of the aggregate number of church men,
bers from the beginning, it would prob
ably not be more than 2,000, while the