The evening times., 1897-03-16

| streets northwest, was begun in the
church auditorium last night, and far
1 exceeded any former rental of seats in that
house of worship. OF course, this Was
| largely due TO the announcement that
| President Mckinley had decided to attend
church here during his administration.
| The sale began at 7:30 O'Clock, and when
the books were closed for the evening ct
10 O'Clock fully three-foIrths of the
pews were taken. The book viii toe
! kept open until April / the present pew
holders retaining their seats until tn IN.
| In all cases, those who had pews in IA
yorite quarters were given precedence
over other bidders, and many OF the seats
were retained by those who had occupied
them last year. In all cases, however,
the quest after seats was lively, and nat
nrally those at the front OF the church went
| first.
Some pews have been added since the last
| rental. There is little doubt that almost
every seat outside the galleries will be
| engaged before the list of the month. The
wnIddle seats, each containing two pews,
| Were scheduled at from 500 to SIS each
pew, running from the front of the church
| This would mean $500 per seat for the
| front rows. The seats on the sides were
ranged from SEQ to $40 per pew one pew
! 60 the seat. In the galleries the prices
ranged from $40 TO SO. TWO OF iitee
| gallery pews had been rented wnen the
books were closed last night.
The committee in charge or the rentals
| consisted uf MeSsTs. A. Il. DuYaIl, q. w.
| Gray and John n. Holmes. without reser-
walton aud without price. pew No. 60 was
set aside for President Mckinley This
is known as the PRESIDENTS pew and is the
| fourth seat from the front on the right side
! Of tie center aisle. There Is a neat silver
plate on the end OF the scat, bearing the
| simple inscription: president" For tile
past year Mrs L. A. Haiues, a lady on
Capitol Hin, has rented the pew.
It il the samepew occupied by Gen. Grant
and his family when he was in the White
House. At the time the church was con-
structed Thomas NJ. kelso, OF Baltimore,
contributed $4,000, with the proyiso that
a pew in the house OF worship should be
set aside for the Chief Executive OF the
, nation Mr. kelso was the man who also
contributed thc funds for the recent repair
or tue church steeple.
At the time of the contribution numerous
other gifts were made by non-Iesideuts.
Metropolitan is a national church. It's
pastor is chosen by board OF bishops
and is not controlledby the same laws that
regulate other pastors in the Methodist
church. John 3. Berry, also of Baltimore,
contributed So 900 for pew that was
to be reserved for the chief justice of the
Supreme Court. Chief Justice Chase at
tended services at this church.
Mrs Haincs has moved across the diyis-
ion board of the seat with the President,
and will occupy pew 112, Col. T II.
Anderson, of Ohio, win occupy pew 60,
Immediately in front of President Mckinley
Mrs John A. Logan has selected Go, di-
rectlyi n the rear of the White House party.
Mrs 7. L. Tullock has the seat immediately
behind Mrs. Logan. I. W. Talmadge viii
have the pew across the aisle. Bisht p
Hurst and family viii have pew ia, in
the near neIghbOrhood. Other neighbors
of the President win be: Dr johnson, the
pastor, 50; Hon. J. b. Taylor, 116, Mrs
Sarah u. La Fetra, Is; Thomas II Mckee,
9S: H III. Twomblcy, 48; James Somerrille,
Al; A ID. Duvall, 81: and N q. Emery. %.
The rear pews OF the church have been
dedicated to various States and cities
that contributed 20 the building of the
church Under the great pressure that
has been brought to bear upon the COM
mttee these will Doubtless be rented and
the names OF States will be replaced on the
ends of the seats by the names OF citizens.
The leaders iut the Metropolitan Church as
ser rthat il has been general yunderstoodal
along that President Mckinley would make
il his church on his arrival IN Washington
Nevertheless it is known that committee
from Foundry Church visited the President
elect before his Inauguration and asked hIm
TO attend services at the church at the
corner of Fourteenth and e streets. he
is reported TO have given this significant
answer:
There is no use for carriage in a
church that near"
President Mckinley is reported to have
realized at that time that he and Mrs. Nc
Kinley would become the regular weekly
center Of hundreds OF inquisitiye eyes did
they attend church so near to the White
House. where they would certainly walk
TO church every Sunday. Ash is they may
walk or ride at option, and there will he
no certainty as to their time OF appearance,
and consequently no fixed loungers.
Though the Metropolitan mas been put to
great expense of late for improvements, it
is probable that further changes ill be
made in the house OF worship. Its interior
will probably be newly painted and Tres
coed, and electric lights will doubtless be
added in the course OF short time.
Everything possible will be done hy ras-