The morning times., 1896-10-12
EIGHTY YEARS OLD.
Mount Zion Church Has Prospered
In That Time.

The Mount Zion Al. T. church, IN George
town. began the celebration OF its eight
:eth anniversary at O'Clock yesterday
morning, when the members OF the church
to the number of 200 assembled ut the
sunrise prayer service, which was to
mark the beginning OF the anniversary
exercises.
For a long time preparations for the
celebration OF the event have been in
progress Besides the services of yester-
uay, exercises will be conducted every
evening this week, and they Will close
with an all day service next Sunday.
The history of the Mount Zion NJ. E.
Church goes back TO 1916. Methodism in
This city, however, dates back to 1Su2.
wien III members, including number
TO the doctrines as established by John
Wesley. The real organization of the
colored population dates back to 1912.
when 125 colored Methodlsts wOrshiped
with the white people in the old church.
the site of which at present Is marked
by the Corcoran public school building, on
ored Methodists had increased to such
degree that steps were taken to secure
place OF worship OF their own, and the
plans as decided on by the colored people
were approved by large number oil the
white people. A lot on Mill street, just
above West, now p street, was bought
and a brick structure was erected thereon.
the church being organized in October.
1916.
For a long time the colored people were
unable to nave pastor OF their own-
Inc DdSlOES Vi dit montgomery
Church had charge OF the new church
and maintained control until 1872. when
the Baltimore conference sent the Rev. MIR.
Hansburgh to take charge of the church.
which was then known us the meeting
house of the colored members OF the
Georgetown station.
No official records of the church we.e
kept from its organization up TO 1890.
when the Rev. Robert s. Vinton took
| charge. Upon the suggestion OF the Rev.
Mr. Roszei,. in 1914. who was then in
the church might appropriately be called
| Mount Zion, this name was adopted. In
| that year the membership was $40, with
| two local preac hers, seven exhorters. two
| stewards, and fourteen class leaders. Rev.
| William Taylor, afterward bishop Taylor
was pastor in 1916.
In 1S55-'6 the church underwent ex-
| tensiye improvements, which put the CON
gregatiOD heavily in debt. Rev. John W.
| Hoover was appointed to take charge in
| l SGT, and he found an Indebtedness of
organized among the, female members.
and it not only paid the debt, but fur
nished the church with a magnificent silver
| service for communion purposes.
1t was in 1864 that the members de-
cided to have a colored minister, and at
| the first session of the Washington an
nual conference held in Sharp StreetM. E
Bishop Levi Scott presiding. Rev. John
II. Brice was appointed to Mount Zion,
| and was the fist colored pastor of the
| l.
November /, 1864, and remained a year
and half, the membership then being
| 3l7 and 33 probatiOners AT the third
session of the Washington annual CON
| ference, held in Baltimore March l, 1865
the Rev. N. NJ. Carroll was appointed TO
| take Mr.. Brices place as pastor.
/ tne cnurcn has nad a varied existence
hut was always prosperous and never with.
| out a pastor. AT meeting held March 20
1875, the church resolved to secure an
othersitc and erect O new building. The lot
on which the present edifce is erected was
purchased at a cost Of S2,5S1. 1t Is To-
| Gated ON the West side of Twenty-nintll
street, between Dumharton avenue and
Beall now o street. The cornerstone OF
the new church was laid in July, $40, by
the Grand Council of Good Samaritans and
the ministers OF the NJ. T.. church.
The present pastor was appointed In
March, of the present year, and today the
churcn. after passing through numerous diff
ficulties, dissensiOns, changes, law suits
and fires, numbers 100 members and has
/ fifteen probationers. The church is free
from debt.
Tne .beginning OF the eightieth anni-
4 versary yesterday morning was a fitting
one. The prayer meeting was led by Mr.
John Berry. At9:30 in the morning there
| were reunionexerciseS OF the Sunday school
| Mr. Thomas Brown, an eX-Superintendent
presiding. These were followed by de.
4 levotional exercises. led by another ex.
superintendent, Mr.. John w. Lee. The
4 study of the Sunday school and the Bible
lessons were next on the program, and a