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


The Metropolitan Baptist church
was organized, in May, 1863, by
Rev. Henry Bailey wh' built a
frame structure on the ground
where the church now stands. At
that time there was but small lot
and a dilapidated frame structure
which no doubt, corresponded with
the times and condition of the peo-
pie In that vicinity. 1t was neigh
borhood that will be long remem-
bered and one of which hist Try re-
cords many offenses which were
menaces to civilization.
The founder Of the structure
failed to reform the condition OF
the people in that vicinity. Not un.
i'll 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 christened
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 !?
1t is dedicated as " Paradise
Found" The property of all
classes is valuable, Instead of on
or two churches there are many :;
in the places of tue huts and novels,
we witness gifted palaces and mag
nifcent edfc,s which will be
handed down to posterity, or to our
children and children's children.
The towering fnrms 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. Robert John
son was elected pastor in June,
1870 and in 1882 the old frame
structure was torn dowa on account
of its weakness. The church was
35 by 60 feet. Rev. johnson by
push and energy succeeded in in-
creasing its membership. The
church became TOO small. The
people were 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 its
present capacity is ten thousand
| 1O,O0O)square feet of good ground.
The present brick structure cost
forty-five thousand (S45, 000) dol
lars and its dimensio'' is 65 by ITO
feet, two (2) story press brick front,
on whicn there is a mortgage OF
TWENTY-FIVE thousand (s22, ,000) dol
lars 1t is no doubt the largest
colored Baptist church in this city
and structure that is Il monument
to the great Bapt st denomination.
The church is about to be sold be-
cause it's membership has MT, on
account of the grea ina 'cial crash,
been able To meet its notes.
We have endeayOred to do our
duty and to uphold this Christian
congregation we have worked as
siduously to maintain our credit
and promote the Christian religion.
Necessity now compels us to make
an 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 as much
to reform an immoral people as the
laws that are enacted to punish
crime.
The moral effect of the Christian
ministry upon community has
demonstrated its power IN ihe
neIghborhood in which our church
is located. 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 ac'
count of our inability to liquidat,
| our church Indebtedness Our
government has been made strong
ON account of its crusades against
crime and -offenses. Our ruler,
have been more or less Christian
advocates and promoters of good
government,
The laws of church and state
have kept the people III tact.
Our Emancipation has taught us
to 90 onward and upward and what
we haze gained since Emancipation
by our industry and adherence t.
the laws of church and state should
not be lost in this era of our Chris
tian government and form be-
cause we are powerless to help our
selves. The God who controls the
DESTINY of nations, religions, creeds,
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.
2nd. Because we can not pay
.Lo ,,raeapt Indebtedness of the