Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-10-18
WHERE Or. TALMAGE WILL PREACr. ,

WHERE Or. TALMAGE WILL PREACr.
Interesting History OF the First Presbyts-
rian Church Of Washington.
The First Presbyterian church Of
Washington is historic building, and
its history is closely identified with the
great Americans Of early days and the
beginnings Of our government. The first
meeting place Of the church was a car
penter shop in the grounds Of the White
House, which was being used during the
erection Of that building in 1898. The
shop as well as the White House itself,
was then known as way up town, and.
in fact, in the woods. In those days, sc-
cording to accounts, Mrs. Adams, the
wife Of the president, used to have her
clOthesline stretched across the east room.
The Adamses occasionally attended the
little carpenters church near them in
the woods After the completion Of the
White House in 1902, and the little car
penter shop was torn down, the congre-
CATION which had been formed there met
in an old building which was used rs
schoolhouse, near the northeast corner
of Tenth and + streets.
After that they removed to what was
then known as "the academy east"
near the present site Of the Washington
navy yard. Up to this time DR.. Sunder-
land, the present pastor, said that the
church was kind Of nomadic institu-
ton, the congregation worshiping where
they might When the large block on
First street, northeast, was built, con-
sisting now Of three private residences.
but then used for 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 their first
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 de-
termined to erect church to the south
Of the capitol This was subsequently
done, and the church was first occupied in
1919. 1t was known for long time as
The 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, it was decided to pur-
chase the site Of the present church on
Four and a Half street on which to erect
a larger edifice. 1t was dedicated in De-
cember, 1921, 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 a porch, and is the por-
ton now used as the Sunday school. |
The auditorium extended 60 feet 10 the |
west, where a fine old mahogany pulpit |
stood, reached by fight of circular |
steps on either side Back Of the pulpit |
was a window recess hung with scarlet
damask curtains. A gallery extended on
three sides Of the auditorium. There |
was no organ, only huge bass VOL
Side lights furnished the illumination,
and the old church was a most pictur-
esque place.
Dr. Sunderland became the pastor in
1853, and in 1860 the church was much |
enlarged and put into the condition in
which it is at present. 1t is now large,
well lighted edifce, we'll fitted and fur
nished, and the audience hall, with
good acoustic properties, is particularly
inviting to a pastor. The roll Of men,
bership is lot 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 80. In 1853 the roll Of mem |
bers was 200. During the pastoratc the
whole number Of names added 10 the
roll was 1925, Of whom 1851 have
been removed by dismissiOn, exclusion
OF 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 1000, while the
number of pewholders would reach g.
900 or 4, 900. In this number there have
been many men and women Of pIomi-
hence in church and state.
During the four years Of civil war.
situated as it was at the very center Of
although the capital Of the
Union, the church was foremost for the
government and emancipation. In July,
1868, it was the scene Of a great confer
ence, when DR.. Massey Of London pre-
scented an address from the French and
English clergy on the question Of eman-
cipation and the issues Of the pending
struggle. One Of the most notable and
events in the history Of the
church occurred in the winter Of 1866.
The late Hon. Frederick Douglass then
delivered from the pulpit his lecture on
the life and death Of Lincoln. It was
the only door then open TO him in Wash
ngton. 1t cost the church dearly among
certain classes of people who had been
It's supporters, but it was the first step
10 establish the prestige Of free speech
'or the colored people as a race in this
country. Washington Cor. New York
sun.