Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-12
IN THEIR NEW CHURCH,
Rev. w. Bishop Johnson's Consresa-
ton Take PosAeSxinn


ton Take PossesxiOn.
Since last October the congregation of
the Second baptist Church (coiored) has
been worshiping at the o street armory
yesterday they returned to the old site, Sd
street between H and l northwest, upon
which has been erected a spacious ediice.
The building has not been entirely COM
pleted, but yesterday was a day of much
jubilation for the members and friends of
the congregation. The congregations dur
ing the day were large ones. Special mu-
steal features were introduced in connec-
ton with the morning service at which the
pastor of the church, the Rev. Dr. W.
Bishop Johnson, preached. His sermon Of
the morning was devoted to a review of the
history of the church. At the afternoon SER
vice the sacrament of the Lords supper
was administered. The members of the
church told their Christian experiences
and afterward broke bread" together. In
the evening a colored divine from Florida
delivered the sermon. The reopening was
success from financial standpoint, as
the members and friends of the church
contributed literally to the fund to carry
the work on the new edifice to completion.
The Second Baptist Church is one of the
Oldest church organizations among the col
ored people of the District of Columbia.
Nearly half a century ago the church was
founded. At that time the congregation
was Of little Importance numerically, but
since that time, and especially under the
regime OF the present pastor, 1t has grown
In influence and membership until it is
among the largest Organizations here. in
1S4S some dissatisfaction having arisen in
the congregation of the First Baptist
Church, which was then located on 10Th
and X streets, part OF the congregation
withdrew and organized the Second Bap-
fist Church. The church has had many
changes in it's pastorate since its organiza-
frs REt-
Ter, Who after serving one year, was Sue
ceeded 10y the Rev. jeremiah Asher. The
church was then located on Capitol Hill,
but every new pastor Of the church wanted
new location until in 1885, when the
church was finally located on Sd street be-
tween H and 1.-The present location. Since
its location upon this ground Revs. Gus
tava Brown, Jeremiah Butler, Sandy Alex
ander, Caleb Woodgard, Chauncey Leon
ard, John Gaines and Madison Caskins
have presided over the flock until 1881,
when the Rev. w. Bishop johnson. the
present pastor, assumed charge. Under his
ministration the membership of the church
has increased in numbers from 100 to 1 200.
All OF the earlier members of the congre-
cation have been called from their labor
to their reward, and the present congrega-
ton is composed mostly of young people.
In fact, 1t is known as the Young Peoples
Church. The aim OF the present pastor las
been to surround himself with aggressive
young Christian people.
The New Building.
The new church edifice Is to be complete
in all of its appointments. The building
fronts fifty-seven feet on Sd street and has
depth of ninety feet. The first floor is on
level with the street and is devoted in
main to the Sunday school and infant de-
partment, which can be thrown together by
sliding screens. The baptistry is also 10
Gated in the Sunday school room. All the
conveniences of modern church. sucn as
parlors, kitchen and library, occupy the
remainder Of the floor. The main audi
forum is on the second floor and has a
seating capacity Of 1900. There is gal
lery across the rear Of the church. A large
pipe organ occupies one side of the pulpit,
with choir room sufficient in size for the
seating of thirty singers. The pulpit stands
in a large semi-circular archway, the back
of which will be filed with a large cathe-
is an ornamental feature, the trusses of the
roof showing partly through, with the pan
els filled with wood tracery.
The entire front of the building and sides
of the towers are of white Indiana lime
stone, with the roof covered with Spanish
tiles. Each tower has all entrance through
it, and both are covered with gabled
porches, supported by richly carved col
umns. In the center Of the front beauti-
full feature is formed by large bay, with
pinnacles on each side and ending in a
gable at the top. A large cathedral glass
window occupies the front of the bay, with
carried up to the height of 112 feet, with
an open belfry of stone in the top and
pinnacles on each corner. The building is
heated with steam and thoroughly equipped
with modern appliances. The church was
designed by Mr.. Appleton P. Clark and
Nicholas Eckhart is under contract to
carry it to completion for $4,000.
The money which has been secured thus
far for the work on the church has been
raised through the efforts of financial
committee of the building committee. This
committee has interested the women of the
church in the erection Of the new building,
and they have given entertainments, Sc
cured lecturers and devised other means
for the raising of funds. Associated with
Rev. Mr.. johnson on the financial COM
mittee are Messrs James F. Bundy, Lewis
Collins, A. F. Hicks, Wilson Smith, Geo.
E. Brown, Peter Wilkins, Wesley Brown
Abraham Rawles, Scott Luckett, Johnson
Carey, Matthew Brown, James Gaskins,
Noble Ware, Stewart Minor. ]. F. Davis,
Austin Fickley, ]. T. c. Newsome, Austin
Robinson, John Mart, Ludwell Parker, Rob-
ert Scott, William NJ. Reeves, Spencer Nor
ris, William H. Young, Aaron Curley and