The Washington times., 1895-01-07
Gunton Temple Memorial and Its
Work for Presbyterianism.
HANDSOME STONE STRUCTURE
The Gift of Wealthy Lady Who Helped
Struggling Congregation Along Known
at First as the Unity Church-Ihe Chris
tain Endeavor Society the Oldest and
Most Active in the District of Columbia.


one of the landmarks now out Fourteenth
street. 1t is a handsome stone structure,
perhaps the most ornamental church build
ing in the northwest. Everything has been
built with special reference TO the needs OF a
congregation. The ventilation is Of the best,
the heating apparatus the most approved,
and the seating the most comfortable. A bet
ter equipped church cannot be found in the
city.
In 1881 Rev. G. B. Patch, then pastor of
the Eastern Presbyterian Church, was in
yited TO undertake the work OF establishing
the Unity Pres 5yterian Church in the then
barren field of the northwest. MAJOR Joseph
Il. Power contributed the first money toward
the enterprise and continued its firm supporter
while he lived. Standing with him in the be-
ginning were Messrs. ". II. II. Warman. Jo-
sah Mcleod, John II. Thompson, Emerson
Hodges. n. Z. Young. and Mrs. Louisa Du
Bois. Other friends promised aid, and thus
encouraged Rev. Sir. Patch engaged Ga
Eaush Hall, Fourteenth street, between Cor
coraE AMI Il streets northwest, published no
tice OF Il meeting. and held the iirst religious
service Sunday, II a. m. September 4, 1881
At this service twenty-eight persons were
present.
The Sunday-schooI was organized by Rev.
Mr. Patch at 3 O'Clock ON the same day. Nine
teen persons wer3 present, Of whom FIVE pre-
sented themselves rs scholars. viz: Fred
Warman Lizzie Warman, Winnie Hodges, Zue
Brockett. and Viola Broekett. and six offered
their services as teachers. viz; Dr. W II. II.
Warman Mrs. Warman. Miss Jennie Hodges,
Mr.. George r. Thompson. Miss Rebecca Il.
Miller, and Miss Jennie Tustin.
F,FyTI nr<E
Thus began, the work advanced rapidly
increasing each week. both in numbers and
interest. I'LL March Is. 1892, when an organi-
cation was formed under the name OF the
Unity Presbyterian Church, with fifty mem
bPrs.
The following were apo nted elders: J. H.
Thompson, B. f. Broekelt. Emerson Hodges,
and ". H. II. Warnan. The trustees were
J. I. Iower, II. c. EamliD, A. b. Clax on,
and \. Z. Young. Rev. q. b. Patch
unanimously called TO the pastorate of the
new churcn. Cia5augh Hail was soon
crowded and iii july, 1882, the property cor
ner Fourteenth aud Il streets purchased
for church site. A commod-oa5 chapel was
erected thereon and was duly oc. upied Sep
teG9ter Z. 1884.
Freed from debt and the chapel being
crowded at each service the congregation be-
gan to make arrangements Tor more conf
modious ecifye. Plans were prepared and
were ready for rec 1nmenG alton to the con-
srecaticn 10y the building committee, who
Leiaved such recommendation however. IN
ii they should also Ia prepared - recon-
mend the ways aad means tor the erection of
the contemplated edifce. Rev. e. B. Patch
and Messrs. George Ii. Brown, j. S. SworTn-
/ s.eat. Frank A. Warlield and William L.
Turpin constituted the bu Idlng committee. to
whith were added later Dir. George A.
7 Provost aud Dr. W g. Wright
I Pending TIE difficulties III the way o. "a s.
I in- the necessary funds to buiid The church,
I which seemed almost too burdensome TO IN
| dertaie. Mrs. Mary Gunton Tempe offered
/ 10 erect the church at her own expense. This
/ offer was acceited by the trustees and the
name of the church changed from Unity to
/ Gunton Temple Memorial. This WIS done
( Apr.I7, 1882, and uptolthai time 333 persons
hal joined the church. The cornerstone
was lad in November. 1892 aud the church
I dedicated in October, 1873. lot WIS pur-
I chased on the OPT osite side of Fourteenth
/ street, and the chapel moved to that place.
( Here the Sundayschoo meets and prayer
meeting is held, as well as all the social gath
/ erings of the congregation.
THE cBuRcH WORKERS
Strangers are looked after in this church.
/ Such are asked to remain and be introduced
7 to the Iastor and some OF the members
The church is full Of this home feeling, and
/ the memi ers are all the greatest kind OF
/ hus;lers. The elders are Messrs. J. II.
! Thompson ". II. H. Warman, B. I. Broc kett,
/ Samuel Snow. aud ]. S. Swormstedt. The
/ tru.tees ate Messrs. George II. Brown, A. G..
7 ". Prev ost. \. 3. Claxton, August Peterson,
/ W. W. Heron Charles L. Baldwin. Robert j.
Eoyd. and c. North. Vernon L. Hodges is
the deacon: Mr.. George I. Provost the pre-
I canter: Mr. Charles s. Elliot the organist, and
NJ tD.a s1rn 10 IL
( consre satioual entirely. The organ issa very
fine one and the organist an artist but the
I congregation en- oys lis present kind OF sing
! ing so congregational 1t remains. The chGrh
/ is urospcriEg. though it feels the pressure OF
the "hard times" The people are laboring
together In harmony, and the energy used
makes up Tor any mistakes. The present
membersh p is 365.
The Sunday-sciool IS $50 Stron e and grow
. ing There are thirty teachers, wide awake
and active, and the library is one Of the best
( in tte city. Mr.. George A. Preyost is the
/ SUPERINTENDENT and has been for u number
OF years. The primary department Is che OF
the most interesting of all .be features o. the
work in this church. 1t is under the charge
OF Mrs. Warman and Mrs. Cornwell. A roll
of honor is kept, and each scholar who is
neither absent nor tardy for three months
has his name placed on it. 1t Is said that
each quarter shows a large number OF names.
The Sunday-school meets each Sunday
morning in the chapel, where all the other
young peoples meetings are held. This
chapel is the especial care OF the Ladies' Aid
Society, of which the officers are: Mrs. B. I.
Brockett president; Mrs. Gen. Eaton secre-
tary, ond Mrs. E. NJ. Power. treasurer. The
society has forty members, and it aids in ar
ranging the finances of the church. There is
a debt of $4,000 on the chapel and the ladies
keep up the interest. Besides this they help
in other matters.
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAyERoBs.
The Young Peoples Society Christian En-
deavor has the honor of beng the first one
organized in any of the white schools in the
District The pastor thought for long
time it was the first organized but found out
some time ago that one OF the colored
churches was ahead of him. Besides being
the oldest. the society is one OF the most ac-
tive in the District Whenever the Ladies'
Aid Society gets IN trouble it calls on the
Christian Endeaverors and is helped out.
Whenever any other society gets in trouble
the same call is made, and is always re-
sponded to. This help is rendered, it must
be remembered, by young people who have
to gather up for themselves as best they can.
Dr. Patch says this society is one OF the
strong arms of the church. Besides this So
ciety aids in the regular weekly prayer-meet-
ing, and once month holds services at Fort
Myer. Four Presbyterian churches have
these services in charge. They found out
that there was no chaplain at this post and
the young people have taken charge. Eight
of them go over when their turn comes and
conduct an evenings service for the benefit
| of the soldiers The other eocie-