The times., 1897-03-15
A NOTABLE HOUSE OF COD
An Interesting History of the
Metropolitan NJ. d. Church.
HOW 1T CAME TO BE BUILT
The Methodists in All Parts OF
the Country Contributed to It's
Construction-How Mrs. Grant
Raised Funds-Many Distinguished
People Have Worshiped in 1t.

feUpie daFo HorSnfped in 1t.
The attendance OF President Mckinley
at the MetropolitanCh Church. corner of Four.
and-a-halr and G streets yesterday. will
| probably settle the discussion as to where
he will worship in Washington
| There is no question in the matter now
and really, DR.. Johnston says, has been
none for six months past President Nc
| Kinley may, however, attend at Foundry
occasionally, it is'saiu
| The President has'not brought any let
| ters from Dr. Lancaster, his pastor in
| Canton, and will Inot sever his connection
| with his home church. This is said TO
| be the usual way bCohgressmeu and OIL
| sometimes live here many years, and go
| to church, while still belonging to their
home churches, and helping support them.
1t is thought by many Methodists to
he peculiarly fitting that President Nc
Kinley should attend church at the Metro
politan, on account OF the national char.
aeter of that edifice In manner it be-
longs to all the Methodists In the United
tory dates back a far as 1852. and has
been Il most remarkable one. 1t is unlike.
that OF any other erected in the country. In
that the general conferences have adopted
it from its inception and dealt with it In
an altogether exceptional manner. On
May 10, 1862, when the ground was
bought. the general conference passed the
following resolutions:
That regarding the success Of the en-
terpIise as Of high Importance to the in
terests OF Methodism throughout the coun-
try, we will give it our individual infIll-
ence in our respective annual conferences
and by all appropriate means aid in It's
promotion"
The corner stone was laid in 1854 with
imposing ceremonies, Bishop Matthew
Simpson presiding The church was not
Immediately built, however, although
money was collected all over the country
The matter was taken up again in 1885,
and another general conference resolved:
That we erect in the capital a large,
attractive denominational church edifice,
which shall be regarded as a correctional
monument 10 our beloved Methadism, as
expressive of our gratitude to GOD for the
honor he has vOuchsafed to confer on us
in making us the instruments of spreading
SCripturai holiness so extensively through
the land, that the honor OF the church is
pledged to the accomplishment of this
enterprise, and so pledged that its failure
would subject the church to merited re-
pToach.' 1t was also decided that the
bishops, in making appointments should,
by transfers, supply the church when it
was built, with pastors successiyeiy from
all parts of the country.
There was another time Of depression
and of tagging until after the war, but
in S66. Bishops Simpson and A mes, whose
personal interest in the enterprise never
tagged, induced Rev F. S. DeHaas. d. D.,
of the New York East Conference, u under
take the building Of the church. DR.. De
Haas went all over the United States in
his laborious and earnest efforts, visit
ing the conferences and eloquently pre-
senting the cause OF the church.
The present edifice was then constructed |
upon the old foundations, although it !
was under the burden OF the immense debt. |
Of $4,000 The structure cost altogether |
$500 900 The story OF how this immense |
was wiped out is also the |
story of work all over the Uuited states |
and of contributions from every State and
Territory, and from wealthy and poor and |
and obscure people.
There was floating Indebtedness Of
S25, 900 in the total debt when rr New
man first became pastor OF the church, Mrs.
Grant. wife of Gen. Grant, afterward
resident Grant, was one of the chief
workers in wiping this out. She was the
chairman of n national committee which |
sent out an appeal n the shape OF an auto
graph letter from herself and secured inI-
me,se contributions. The bonded debt of
$50, 900 was tackled soon after. and was
partially vanquiShed by another unique me
mortal, signed by the President of the
United States and the Chief Justice OF the |
United States, then members of the con-
yregation, together with the other trus-
.ees of the church.
. But still there hung over the Metropoli
an Church heavy residue of this amount
DR.. Newman took this up in the midst OF
is pastoratc, and went out on lecture
onr, securing several thousand dollars. 1t
vas necessary, however, again to appeal
q the country.
The finances of the church Were at
his time in a most deporable condition.
init had been brought against the truS- I
ees for interest and crisis seemed
The bishops OF the general
onference authorized Chaplain McCabe
D clear the church OF debt if possible. |
haplain McCabe raised by popular Subscrip- |
ions from all over the country the sum
$50, 900, which, with bscriptions :
rom members of the congregation, wiped
ut the whole amount, allowing the cele-
ration of Emancipation Day on January
Z. 1854.
This Metropolitan Church fittingly has
pew for the President of the United
tates. 1t was set apart as the gift of
Ir. Thomas Kelso, of Baltimore, and is
le fourth on the left center aisle. There
al so a pew for the Vice President, one
,r the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
nd also many set apart and marked for {
tates and larger cities Of the country. ,
resident Grant occupied his pew for eight {
ears. Vice President ColfaX sat in the {
ice Presidents S pew for four years. Chief
usticc Chase was an occupant of the pew
IT aside for him several years.
The Rev. DR.. Newman's pastorate or the
etropolitan Church, or rather his sue
assive pastorates, did much to make 1T J
lown throughout the United States. /
Y
A Send Off for Mr. Bowden. I