Evening star., 1896-08-22
G0RSUCH CHURCH
Plans for Remodeling the South
Washington Meeting House.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
Started as a Sunday School, Then
Became Mission.
A SUCCESSFUL HISTORY y

Soon after the close of the Baltimore con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
held last March, the congregation of Cor
such Church of this city decided to begin
arrangements looking to the erection of a
new house of worship. Last week a con-
tract was let for the remodeling of the
present structure. While there will be no
cornerstone laying or other ceremony in
cident to the beginning of a new church,
still to all intents and purposes, the re-
modelled structure of Gorsuch will be prac-
tically new. as of the old structure there
will be only portions of the two side walls
left remaining. The contractor broke
ground this week, and expects 10 have the
church ready for dedication by the middle
OF October.
About the year 1850 Mr.. George /. Hall
was appointed a class leader by Rev. j. S.
Gorsuch who was then stationed at Ry-
land Church. Mr.. Hall held his first class
in the neigEborhood of AZ and l. streets
southwest, the present location OF the
church. at the home of Mrs. Gill, and here
the class met regularly for some time, but
afterward moved 10 the residences of
Messrs. King and Prather. The little band
of worshipers continued to grow, and in
the same year they moved into the little
frame school house where now stands
Greeneaf School. Here a Sabbath school
was organized, with George w. Garret as
superintendent and George Hall as assist
ant. The church was recognized as mis-
sion of Ryland, and the following ministers,
who served successfully as pastors of the
latter church, had supervision over it:
Revs. ]. S. Gorsuch, John Hedges, n. c.
Schlosson, Alfred Griffith, w. +. Speake
and w. c. Steel.
An Organization Formed.
In 1856 the organization. having gained
sufficient strength, withdrew from Ryland
D.,-
]. H. Ryland as pastor. Previous to this,
in 1850 a building site was purchased and
the present brick structure erected. being
named after the Rev. ]. S. Gorsuch. The
church now began an active existence and
in 1867 Rev. Henry SipeS was appointed
pastor, and was reappointed in 1853. Dur
ing the war the organization had a hard
struggle, and at one time their pastor re-
tired, leaving the church without a head.
So that the official body engaged Rev. Geo.
V. Leech, who is the present pastor of
Grace Church of this city, to take charge
os GorSuch. During the pastorate of Rev.
]. N. Davis, 1S6S-67, the building was re-
paired, and again in 1S6S the congregation
further expended $1,000. The church has
had a great deal to contend against, but
everything seems to be clear ahead now.
The congregation is large and growing,
many new members having recently been
added, and the social meetings are well
attended.
One of the oldest members of the church
is Mr.. w. r. Hunt, who has been the faith
full superintendent of the Sunday school
continuously since 1869. The congregation
has strong working senior and Junior Ep-
worth Leagues. the Junior League being
the largest in the Baltimore conference.
During the nearly fifty years of the his
tory of the church the following have
served it as pastors: Revs. ]. S. Gorsuch.
J. Hedges. N. Schosson, Alfred Griffith
W. F. Speake and W. c. Steel {as pastors
of Ryland). II. N. Sipes. J. II. M. Lemon.
r rnYnalnS II Hnnyar
J. N Davis, w. H. Laney. G. w. Hobbs,
J. s. James. w. c. Mullen, J. w. Moore. A.
]. Bender. ]. A. McLaren, j. c. Starr and
W. NJ. Osborn.
The Present Pastor.
The present pastor, Rev. w. H. Richard
son, is just twenty-eight years of age, hav
ing been born in Washington in 1865 The
family of Mr.. Richardson removed from
this city to Baltimore and in 1876 removed
again to McDonough county, Illinois.
where at the age of twelve, the future
pastor Of GorSuch was converted and join
ed the Methodist Church. At the age of
eighteen he entered Hedding College.
Abingdon, ILL.,, completing the course and
graduating with a bachelors degree in
1923. In his ;Unior year he won The thao-
logical prize over thirty-three contestants
and in May, 1888, he was elected state sec
retary Of the Illinois Intercollegiate Prohi-
bition Association. In the following year
he was appointed president of the associa-
ton, and during his term OF office was
lecturer for the National Association. All
this time he was fitting himself for the
legal profession. but feeling it his duty to
preach he applied for and received a IL
cense in February, 1885, and in March of
the same year entered the Baltimore con-
ference. His first charge was Great Falls
circuit. East Baltimore district. which
| charge he served one year. At the last ses-
| sion of the conference Mr. Richardson was
assigned to Gaithersburg, Washington dis
| trict, but by order OF the presiding bishop