The morning times., 1896-09-14
IS TH|RTY-4Wo YEARS OLD
Anniversary of the Founding
of Zion Baptist Church.
NINE MEMBERS AT FIRST
Now Its COMMANDMENTS Number Over
Two Thousand-A Sunday School
With Over One Thousand Mem
b-rs-Its Present Pastor In Charge
Yen Years-A Week of Praise.

The thirty second anniversary of the
Zion Baptist Church, Colored, on F street,
between Third and sour and a-half streets
southwest, was celebrated yesterday. The
members of this church have every reason
TO be thankful at this time for their efforts
in building up the cturch, which WAS es,ab-
lished thirty-two years ago.
The Zion Baptist Church, when organized
September II, 1864, was composed OF but
nine members, these being baptized by the
late Rev. w. }. Walker, first pastor OF the
church. Tae meetings were then hcld
in the jackson school house at delaware
avenue and l. street southwest. The nInc
members were as follo ws: Mrs. Betsy Bran
son. Mrs Hannah Matthews, Mr. Andrew
Jackson, Mrs. Jane GwiUn, Mrs. Susan
Landon Mr.. Nelson Elliot, Mrs. Harriet
Harris, Mrs Fannie Syduor, Mr.. Henry
Coneway.
4 NEW EDIFICE.
From thai tine on the church grew and
pruspercd. aud finally, after the member
ship became SO large that the Schooihouse
became too small to hold the meetings, II
moved into the little fran. house which
stood on the site of the present church edi
flee. Here, too, the church grew and pres
pered under the pas,uratcs of the Revs. w.
j Walker and William Gibbons. During
the latter's administration he frame house
WAS torn down and larger one was erected
in its place. Since the pastcrate of the
Rev. w. j. Howard, the present pastor, the
church has grown TO mighty proportions
and today enjoys Il membership OF 2,Ols.
great change frcin the little band oi
nine in September, "a.
Not only has the church grown in mem
bcrShip but it las grown in wealth, and
today stands a S one of the richest and most
distinguished colored churches in the city
The church cdifice, which was begun in
June, 1892, and completed i'll October OF
the same year, : Il handsome brick structure
and meets the requirements OF the con
gregation equally as well as Il luildinG
Of more preteDtiouS proportions II Is IL
building well and comfortably furnished
and contains rooms and apartmcntstha are
III every way adapted 10 tie demands that
can be made.
The church people are united and are
devoted TO the work which the connection
with the church gives them to do. The
Sunday-School is in a most prosperous
condition and has i'll membership over 900
scholars, which lis Gui'e us large as any
o;ncr school in the city. There are two
Christian Endcavor societies and one ms
sion and Sunda V school in the northeast.
In all of these branches of the church the
work has been especially successful and
the best results have been attained
TEN YEARS A PASTOR.
In connection with the thirty second
anniversary of the church, the pastor, the
Rev Mr.. Howard, is celebrating his tenth
anniversary. He is especially grateful a
this time that lie has been successful in
his labors, and in View of The situation
there " i'll tc a week or prayer and praise,
i'll which the congregation Will lie asked
TO contribute something toward the church
fund, the same to he used i'll paying OFF
the remaining Indebtedness.
During the ten years OF Mr.. Howard's
pastorate the congregation has raised over
sos, geo. which has beenused in maintain
ing the good name and its good relations
which it has borne since its organization.
This it has kept up and is keeping up to
the satisfaction of its congregation and
the church generally and by the help OF
friends it Will continue to maintain as
long as there is a church to support.
The anniversary services yesterday IN
Guided a praise meeting at O'Clock in
the morning under tine leadership Of
Deacon j. r. Nelson. AT IL O'Clock the pas
tor preached a sermon from jeremiah
vi:3 The theme was, "Amendatory Re
ligion Necessary To Perpetuity." In the
afternoon a sermon WAS preached by the
Rev. Robert Johnson, pastor of the Met
ropulitan Baptist Church, and at B clock
last night the Rev c. A. Leftwich preached.
Praise services will he held every even
ing this week, followed by Il sermon. Next
Sunday there will lie services at q aud /
a. III and ut 3, 7:30 AMI p. m.