The Washington bee., 1896-12-25
AN APPEAL. TO THE PEOPLE

The Metropolitan Baptist church
was organized, in May, 1853, by
Rev. Henry Bailey VIII built y
frame structure on the ground
where the church now stands. Al
that time there was but small lot
and dilapidated frame structur
which To doubt, corresponded with
the times and condition of the peo
pie in that vicinity. 1t was neigh
borhood that will he long remem-
bered and one of which hist ry re-
cords many offenses which were
me- aces to civilization.
The founder of the structure
failed to reform the condition of
the people in that vicinity. Not un-
til the late Rev. John Brooks, one
of the apostles of reform, arrived on
the scene and in connection with
Rev. johnson. this great divine.
was the section that was christeneG
with the name that became obnox
ious to the ears of the people.
What can now be said of this great
citizen and this section where the
Metropolitan church is located !?
it is dedicated as Paradise
Found" The property of all
classes is valuable. Instead of one
or two churches there are many
in the places of tie huts and novels,
we witness gifted palaces and mag
niicent edlficts which will bc
handed down to posterity, or to our
children and chiIdren's children.
The towering forms of the pioneers
will be only shadows and their
deeds will be emblazoned on the
scroll of fame.
The Metropolitan Baptist church
was formerly known as the Fourth
Baptist church. Rev. Rob, rt john
SON was elected pastor in June,
1870 and in 1882 the old frame
structure was torn down on. acc punt
of its weakness. The church was
35 by 80 feet. Rev. johnson by
push and energy succeeded in ln-
crtasing its membership The
church became TOO small. The
people We're enlightened in the
great truths of church reform.
Rev. johnson saw an opportunity
to enlarge so he purchased two lots
west of the church and now lis
present capacity is ten thousand
(lo,O ,OOO)<quare feet of good ground.
The present brick structure cost
forty-five thousand ($45, ,oO0) dol
lars and its dimension is IS 10y ITO
feet, two (2) story press brick front,
on when there is u mortgage of
twenty-five thousand 1922 ,000) dol
lars. 1t is no doubt the largest
colored Baptist church in this city
and structure that Is monument
t" the great Bapt st denomination.
The church is about to be sold be-
Cause its membership has not, on
account of the grea fna cial crash,
been able to meet its notes.
We have endeavored to do our
duty and to uphold this Christian
congregation we have worked as
siduousy to maintain our credit
and promote the Christian religion.
Necessity now compels u3 to make
all appeal to The Christian people
for help. We need help and we
must have it. We believe that the
dissemination Of the Christian doc
trine in this country does rs much
TO reform an immoral people as the
! laws that are enacted to punish
crime.
The moral effect of the Christian
ministry upon con munity has
demonstrated its power in he
nelghborhood in which our church
is locat, d. No one knows this bet
ter than those who are aware of the
mast history Of our church and the
great work Of form that has
been instituted by our pastor and
his coworkers.
Must our work stop here on &C
count IF our Inability to liquldate
our church Indebtedness ? Our
| government has been made strong
on account Of its crusad's against
crime and offenses. Our rulers
have been more or less Christian
advocates aud promoters of good
government.
The laws of church and state
have kept the people III tact.
Our Emancipation has taught us
to go Oh ward and upward and what
we haze gained since Emancipation
by our industry and adherence tu
The laws of church and state should
not be lost in this era of our Chris
lian government and r.foru be-
cause We are powtrless to help our
selves. The God who controls the
idestiny of nations, religious. reeds,
ETC., is asked to aid us in this hour
of distress. We make this appeal
to the Christian people.
1st. Because the METROPOLITAN
church is in need of financial aid
End. Because we can not pay
off the present indebtedness of the