Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-14
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The New Edifce to Be Dedicated
With Imposing Exercises.
DESCRIPTION OF TEE STRUCTURE
Unique and Attractive Features
Have Been Introduced.
PROGRESSIVE CONGREGATION

PROGRESSIVE CONGREGATION
In comparison with the other denomina-
tons, the Christian Church is numerically
small in Washington, but will not seem so
to an observer in the neighborhood of 9th
and D streets northeast next Saturday af-
ternoon, September IS, for at 5 clock that
day the corner stone of the new Ninth
Street Christian Church is to be laid in the
presence of a large number of the church.
who will come not only. from Washing
ton, but from the neighboring towns in
Maryland and Virginia, as well. The pro-
gram of exercises will be opened by the as
semblage singing the hymn, "An Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" after which the
Rev. w. H. Book of Clifton Forge. Va,
will offer up prayer. The rest Of the pro-
gram prepared is as follows: Anthem
Grateful Notes Prolong," by the choir Of
the church; reading of the Scriptures by
the Rev. w. ]. Wright, state evangelist OF
the Maryland Christian missionary con-
vention; hymn, How Firm Foundation"
addresses by Rev. F. d. Power. pastor of
the Vermont Avenue Christian Church;
Masonic ceremonies, including the laying
of the corner stone, by the Grand Lodge of
Masons of the District of Columbia; ad-
dress by the pastor, Rev. Edward b. Bag
by. 3D.: anthem, Forward, Christian
Warriors" Macy, by the choir, and closing
with the benedicticn. delivered by the Rev.
Charles H. Butler, pastor Of the Keller
Memorial Lutheran Church
The corner stone of granite is to be
placed at the northeast corner of the build
ing, and within receptacle carved in 1t
will be placed the usual articles. A large
number CT invitations to the ceremony
have been issued under The supervision of
the building committee of the church,
composed of the following gentlemen J. A.
Scott, chairman; George w. Pratt, secre-
tary; F. NJ. Bradley, Frank Morrison and
W. M. wager.
Excellent Arrangement.
The new house of worship is being erected
at the southwest corner of 9th and d
streets northeast, and the architects.
Messrs. Lawrence B. Walk. & Son of Phil
adelphia. prepared plans, making good use
of the sixty by seventy-five feet of ground
at their disposal What might be called a
three-Story church is being erected, and
on the ground floor. partly below grade.
will be the dining room and kitchen the
ladies' parlor. and space for the develop
ment of institutional features of the
church. The scholars of the Sunday school
are to occupy bright, comfortable quarters
on the second floor.
The room will have n seating capacity Of
more than six hundred. Provision has been
made for library, infant class and Bible
class rooms Above the Sunday school is
to be the main auditorium. which. with the
gallery, will accommodate more than eight
hundred. This gallery Is to be circular in
form. extending around three sides of the
auditorium, and will be easy of access
either from the floor or the outside vesti-
bules. To the rear Of the pulpit. which
faces the north, will be the organ and
choir loft, with a music room at the side.
The ceilings of the auditorium are to be
80 and 80 feet above the floor, and will be
finished in adamant plaster with wood
holdings and panels.
other Attractive Points.
From the exterior, more than from the
interior. the Gothic style of architecture is
discernible. Although the church faces on
D street, it will retain its present name of
the Ninth Street Christian Church. En-
trance is through two vestibules. each
thirteen by thirteen feet. from which there
are stairways leading up to the gallery and
down to the Sunday school room. From
these veStibules doors will open directly
into the auditorium. There is also to be an
entrance to the basement at the rear of
the church. Special attention has been CIV
en- to ventilation and the construction of
| the baptistry, the latter feature of which
being so arranged that the entrance and
exit of the candidate will be easy and who'll
ly private. Just back OF the baptistry will
be space for bed of flowers, while the ar
rangement of the baptistry and the dress
ing rooms on either side will form another
unique feature The architect has pattern
ed a device which insures a constant supply
of fresh air without the disagreeable ac-
compartment Of cold draft The building
Is to be heated throughout by steam and
will be otherwise supplied with all modern
appliances for an institutional church.
Enthusiasm of the Congregation.
1t usually takes years of hard and steady
work for congregation to erect such a
handsome building as the Ninth Street
people are doing, but the Ninth Street is
an exception to the rule, and mainly SO
because enthusiasm has marked the work
from the very start. In the fall of 1887
Rev. DIR. Power Of the Vermont Avenue
Church conceived the idea of starting a
mission school of his denomination in
ly carried into effect by the Christian En-
deavor Society of that denomination, and
from January to May of the following year
the infant congregation was served by the
Rev. P. B. Ball as first pastor Cottage
prayer meetings and other similar church
devices kept up the interest of the men,
bers, and in the summer of 1885 through
the efforts of DR.. Power and Messrs Hill
man and Hall, an amount was raised suffi-
cient to warrant the purchase of a lot and
the erection of a house of worship Ground
was broken on the present site on the oath
day of November, 1890, and the work of
erection was pushed as rapidly as possi-
Bile, so that on Sunday, the 9Th day of April
1891, the first Divine service was held in
the then new church. The church or
ganization was perfected the second Sun
day after the building was completed and
occupied. the membership was made up
OF sixty-two persons, who withdrew from
the Vermont Avenue Church, and OF sixty
seven acquisitions as the result of the pro-
tracted services. Rev. E. B. Bagby was
chosen first pastor of the church April
II. 1891. and although his jealous efforts
and the efficient aid of his co-workers,- the
congregation has enjoyed a wonderfully
rapid and steady growth. 1t now num-
bers 627 persons. and the Sunday school
512 pupils, the latter winning the banner
Of the Maryland Christian Association four
years In succession and standing a good
show to win 1t again this year.
An Eloquent Young Pastor.
The pastor of the church. Rev. Edward
B. Bagby, was born thirty-two years ago
in King and Queen county. Va, but was
reared In Richmond. He is graduate of
the College Of Arts of Kentucky University,
and has had conferred upon him. in course,
the degree Of bachelor Of divinity from
Yale. Mr.. Bagby was chosen chaplain of
the last democratic House of Representa-