Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-21
SUBURBAN NEWS
ANACOSTIA.

The announcement by the excise board,
through The Star, that Messrs. ]. c. Leon
ard and j. NJ. Beall have applied for
license to sell liquor at retail IN Anacostia
has had the effect of renewing the fight
which existed for many months between
those who favored saloon and those who
opposed 1t, and was only ended by the re-
lection by the excise board of the applca-
ton of Messrs. Rose and Mundel
The indications, judging from the talk of
representative men on both sides Of the
question, are that Messrs. Leonard ard
Beall will have as bitter fight before them
to secure the license they ask for as had
either Mr. Rose or Mr. Mundell. One Of the
leading temperance men of the town last
night told a Star reporter that. while the
temperance people are prepared to admit
that Messrs. Leonard and Beall are emil
nently respectable men, the anti-saloon peo-
pie will fight the issuance of the license
Just as bitterly as though they were not,
and that they will take the ground that
saloon conducted by men of the character
enjoyed by Messrs. Leonard and Beall is
to some extent and in some particulars
more dangerous affair than one operated by
persons who do not enjoy the confidence of
the community to such degree as do
Messrs. Leonard and Beall. 1T is the saloon,
not the individuals" said he, that we are
opposed to, and which we shall fight until
either the license is rejected we are de-
feated."
A prominent merchant who Is an advo-
cate of the saloon said that almost every
business man in Anacostia intends to send
a letter to the excise board, in which he
will take the position that one or more sa-
looms are needed in the town, and give his
reasons therefor.
Mr.. b. E. Messer. one of the oldest resi-
dents of Anacostia. died yesterday morn
Ing, in his eighty-fourth year. Mr.. Messer
was devotedly fond of music. and for
number of years was the instructor of a
quartet of young men, who were called the
"Messer Quartet" by which name the or
ganization became widely known. The wife
of Mr.. Messer died about three years ago,
and the only surviving members of his
family are a son and daughter. He was
very highly esteemed by large circle of
friends.
Since his ordination to the ministry, less
than two weeks ago, Rev. George E. Ste
venson. pastor of East Washington Heights
cessful in inducing persons in hts neighbor-
hood to form a resolution to lead Chris
tian life In the future. He now has eleven
applications for admission to the member
ship of the church, and they will be bap-
tized and received into full connection as
soon as a baptistry, now in course of con-
struction, is completed. Heretofore 1t has
been the custom to baptize persons who
professed conversion and desired to join
the East Washington Heights Church at
either the Anacostia Baptist Church
Grace Baptist Church, Washington. but
this was because Mr.. Stevenson was not
then authorized to perform the ceremony;
but as he is now clothed with full author
sty to conduct all the rites apDertaining
to the office OF a minister of the Gospel, 1t
has been decided that he ought to have
the privilege of baptizing his own members.