Evening star., 1897-03-15
Mr.. MckINLEYS CHURCH
He Will Attend Metropolitan NJ. E. Church
Regularly.
The Presidents Pew. Which Grant
Occupied. Will BE His-What
Led to the Choice.

President Mckinley will attend the Me
tropolitan NJ. f. Church during his admin
istration- His decision to do so, it is said.
was made six weeks ago in Ohio where ne
was visited by Col L. II. Anderson of the
metropolitan Church. and the matter given
fuil consideration. AT that time all the ar
fangements were made. Mr.. Mckinley
SAID ne should go to the Metropolitan
Church. and he requested that no publicity
De given to the matter until after he had
come to Washington.
The expectation that he would worshin
al Foundry Church was suggested by the
fact that he ana Mrs. Mckinley were r.gl-
iai attendants there while he was in Con-
sfeSs This selection at that time Was
aae 20 the circumstances that Foundry
Cnurch was near the E,bbitt house where
Mr. ana Mrs. Mckinney lived and il was
convenient for Mrs. MCKINLEY 10 walk
there, and the hard-w orked Coner,ssman
Who had only his SUNDAYS to spend with
MS invalid wife in freedom from the pres
sure of callers and public business ii was
d pleasure to take a short outing to and
from the church
10 60 there now when Mr. Mckinley is
PRESIDENT would be another matter. 1t is
100 snort a distance from the White House
i - uINe. ana TO walk through the hotel
Stctloii OF town would only invite, from
sunday to Sunday, an aggregation of per
sons curious TO look at the President on
his way to churcn.
several reasons. Ii is far enough from IN.
Executive ManSion to give the President
good walk il lie chooses 10 20 without :,
carnage, and ii is said he intends as often
az .iie "a 'htf ana his engagements permit
10 walk to clCrch. 1t Is neither too near
lor too FAR for a pleasant drive when Mrs
Mch hinley feels like going out
ID ;Si'leS the Metropolitan is the national
church OF the Methodist Episcopal ,ienom-
nation. Of which Mr. McKinIey is a n.n,
per ! ne eulhce was not built by Washing
ION MsthodiStS. bui by contributions fram
al over the country. The government ,f
tle church is exceptional in the Narbcai-r
1hurch system. Its pastor is not ameuaola
me local conference
lie is selected by the board of bishon,,
~, ioNai conference simply ratiiies The
cholce of the board. During Cen. Grants
o tl.tiiiiiist ttatioh "a pew was set apart for The
ireSiuent OF the United States E~iends of
the church gave S1,0DD that this pev :ba,Il5
be SO dedicated 10 the use and convenience
OF the PRESIDENT. A silver plate bearing IN.
"ord President marks this pew. when
IL Is not occupied by a Presideu. of the
thiteo STATES member of the consrega-
tloh may rent il, subject to the wishes al
whoever may be the President of the
nlted States. Recently Mrs r. \. Haipcs
OF 'apitol Hlll has rented and occupied The
Presidents pew.
Yesterday Mr.. Mckinley. in conpanv
with Secretary John Addison Porter and
Hr. aud Mrs. Abner Mckinley occupied H..
pew II had been the Presidents p,au 10
lctLe from the church during the singing
OF Inc GoXoloey, but he changed his mind
ana walked out with the congregation in
d manner which was thoroughly democrat
ic ana pleasant. He was treated like ary
ciher member of the congregation and
there was no unseemly staring or crsniny
of necks to catch a look al him sin,,,is
because he was the President of Tho I,,i,..I
States my"