The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-18
Opening Of the Celebration Of
the Presbyterian Church.
DIR. sUNDERLAND's SERMON
Interesting Review of the History of
the Church In the District OF Co
lumbiu-Many Pathetic Passages
and References That Caused Tears
10 Come-Dr. Thompson Tonight


byterianism in the city OF Washington was
marked primarily by large coDcaurse
of the citizens of Washington yesterday
morning at the First Presbyterian Church.
The object and scnpe of this celebration
has been given so fully In The Times that
II Is not necessary tai say more on those
subjects. 1t is pleasing 10 n"tc, however
that the great crowd present yesterday,
and the fact nat nearly all DENOMINATIONS
were represented, are a happy anGury for
the continuing success of the undertaking.
Nothing could he simpler or yet more
imposing than the opening scene. on the
| platform were Rev. DR.. Byron Sunderland,
] pastor of the church Since 1853, and the
/ Rev. Adde'S Allen, Copastor, VINO ilas
! directed the arrangements for the cen
! tennial. Around the front of the stage
were tardinlercS filled with White anu
yellow chrysanthcmums. Grouped AROUND
/ the stage were the elders and deacons of
! the church. and near them representatives
/ of many Of the churches.
Rev. DR.. Talmage and family occu-
pied seats among the general audience
! SOUVENIR PROGRAMME.
The special souvenir programmes when
! were distributed contained a history or
| Presbyterian Church architecture Tor
| one hundred years, and ais. the names OF
ali the pastors of this church from 1903
down to date. The first outside page
rs. Another page holds two specimens
of the antique, one being the little
! wooden building used as a shop 10y The
| carpenters and builders who were work
ing on the White House In 1898, and the
| other the church OF 1872, which looks
! for all the world like backwoods school
house. Another cut gives the appearance
OF the First Presbyterian Church in 1910,
| at which time the present sunday-schooI
room was the auditorium, story and the
present bell tower having been erected later.
The following list OF the pastors with
their terms Of service viii he read with
interest by the older and present generation:
John HracEen ridge, ls09-1SiS; Reuben
Post ls19-lS37: William McLain, 1887
1910; Charles Rich 1s40-1S43: William
4. SpTO!e. lS11-lSi7: Elisha Fall en-
tine, iS4T-IS5I; Byron Sunderland, 1913;
Samuel Van Vranken-Holmes, 1890
tober. 1898; Adolos Allen, 1s4a; I. De
Witt Talniage, 1895.
DIR. sUNDERLAND's CENTENNIAL SER
MON.
DR. Sunderland's sermon was termed a
centennial discourse. Il was rich and in
tercstlu- and told well, and ut times with
great force aud pathos. Many OF the con
grezatiun wcpt at certain passages. The
very appropriate text was Psalm SI.3-
Glorious things are spoken Of thee, city
of God"
This city" lie began, lis the heart Of
the world, as II is with the great capitals
OF all nations. Piety ana patriotism for
ever IGud their seat Of government, both m
church aud state. 1t is so with us today,
for now we begin to commemorate the
| founding of our city ana or that line oil
religious evolution in Washington from
which we trace the development or this old
church back through Q hundred years.
Traditions clear and undisputcd couples
this church and the capital in their found
lug and progress"
Dr. Sunderland spoke here of Washing
tomas the Tahoga or the NacOStianS After
wards came the pioneers, Primer Lang
worth, Trooh aud Francis Pope. the lattei
of whom gave his estate the uame of Rome
and the adjacent creek the name or Tlbcr
WASHINGTON IN 1875.
DR.. Sunderland then drew clIarinin;
picture Of the landscape from Capitol Hi
in 1895 ana an equally animated pictur'
OF the increasing life of tue capital. III
traced the original Presbyterians Of Wash
iugton to the churches Of Masanie, The
synod OF which was organized N lISS- The
local Presbytcriaus obi tanned the use OF
the carpenter shop at the White House
Tben they went to n frame building on i
Z street. near the corner of Tenth street
| northwest.
In 1903 The Covenauters Withdrew and
! organized the street church. their
| pas;or being the Rev. Dr.. James Lowrie.
| This hniiiing is now known as Willard:
| Hall Tie rest of the congregation subsc'
uucntly moved to the Academy East, v
| near tile Navy Yard. where they worshipped
| i'm the Capitol and later on the church oi
1872 was dedicated. the first spadeful OF
| earth being removed 10y John Cnyle, one oil
| the first elders. The church organization
? was perfected in ISL, as the First fresbS'
terrain Church, with Rev. John Bracken
| ridge as pastor In 1927 tile present build
ing, enlarged In, 1860, was built, the
e | dCdication sermon being by Rev. DR..
2 Gardcnerspring OF New York. Tie church
= was renovated in / S92, the present building
e being the result.
GENESIS OF REsBYTERIANISM.
DIR. Sunderland next spoke OF the genesis
of PresbyterianIsm. and its Repubiicanisn
being the basis of the American protestant
Church. The first PTcsbytery was form
I'd in PhiIadelpnia in 1905, the first synod
iu1716, He next elaborated the effect the
slavery question had on the councils OF The
church, until 1t ended in the secession II
1897 of tile Southern from the Northern
!. Church, the Presbytery OF the Potomac az
, herring to the Northern WIRE
He next smoke of the effect OF the loca
church ON the growth of the city, Presby
, terianism has been charged with holding tn
, most repurnant views ana yet no churci
has been practically more Tree or broa'
or liberal 1t needs not the pity or cbarit.
= of posterity. 1t has stood for the Bible
> for the divine sovereignty and human nc
= countability, for the covenant of grace
= executed hy Christ, for the Christian Sab
bath, for the parity of the clergy, for tn
right and necessity of universal education
/, for free Investigation, free speech ant
: nrivate Judgment individual conscience, til
!. liberty OF the press, purity In politics am
. public morals. reformationo OF human soclet
9 and evangelization.
a HISTORICAL CONTRASTS.
Q The closing part of the sermon was
n rraphic contrast of the carly with tn
{ nreseut life of the republic and the man.
changes it and It's national neighburs hav
Il undergone. He referred complimentary t
J. DR.. TaImag e and the new era for the churcl
!. thus:
x at seems to the like vision let dow
II from heaven to cheer US as we close tn
e present century and enter ON the vas
It career of the years. 1t is Ia me PERSONAL
d the final sunburst of my evening sky an
o / feel like saying with Simon: Lord nos
lettest thy servant depart IN peace, ior MIN
ewes have seen thy salvation
1t This evening the subject VIII be pre-
byterIanism and the Nation" the speaSe
being Rev Charles L. Thompson, ID.
q, q LII. D., OF New York.