Evening star., 1897-04-10


and is completely, paid for. dollar for dol
lar. A unique feature of the church con-
sists in the fact that<its pastor. Rev. An
drew G. HARRISON, IS the architect the
superintendent Off construction, and the
general foreman OF the laborers and me-
chanics. who are employed by the day.
St Johns Church was organized nine
years ago by Rev. Jacob d. Wilson. who
had been for several years pastor of the
First Methodist Protestant Church. and
small building. thirty feet by twenty. was
erected on the site of the present edifce.
The Salvation Army, bought the church
after while. but finally it came back into
the hands of It's original owners who en-
larged it and built up congregation with
a membership CT $40. Mr.. Wilson died
last November and as his dying request to
his congregation asked that they call as
their new pastor Rev. Andrew q. Harri-
son. Mr.. Harrison, is native of London.
England, but came to this country al the
age of fourteen.
He was converted and joined the Metho-
DIST Episcopal Church at the age of six
teen, and net many years later entered the
ministry of that church. During the past
twenty-one years he has seen much of
any lands and many strange faces, hav-
ing been with Bishop Taylor in Africa.
through several countries of the orient and
in 4 number of the states of the Union.
Four years ago he came to Washington
from Texas and accepted a position as
general foreman Of an electric light COM
pany During his residence in this city
he has been engaged in the work of the
ministry as far as his time would allow
and has erected and fully paid for two
churches, costing $500 called Faith
Chapel, on the Bowen road. and the other
costing $1,000 and fully paid for, at Merri-
field, Va, called Bruen Chapel. ST. Johns
Church is the eighteenth Mr.. Harrison has
built. all without dollar of Indebtedness
been designed by himself personally.
Th. present church costs So, 600 complete.
including ground, and a large portion of the
money has been given by Mr.. w. Livings-
hand before a spade was stuck in the
ground, that being Mr.. Harrison's policy in
building all his previous edifices. The build
ing is of red brick trimmed with brown
stone, and stands nthe east side of 11th
street. with five-foot alley on each side.
1t Is 100 feet long and 80 feet wide and is
of one story and basement. with two stories
In the rear. At the northwest and SOUTH
west corners there are towers. the former
81 feet high, terminating in a steeple. and
the latter 10 feet high, with dome
The side walls are buttressed and SC
strengthened with girders and steel plates
that If the roof were to be blown Off the
whole upper portion of the walls would
have to go too, so thick are they
The interior has been plastered and is to
be frescoed, while the wood used is oak
Passing through the main entrance one ON
ters the auditorium through a vestibule.
which has winding stairways in the north
end. formed by the towers. At the extreme
right end of the vestibule there Is a large
room, intended for an office, and also for
the use Of Mr.. Bruen when he visits the
church. Above this room, on the gallery
ponding to 1t at the other side is the secre-
tary's room. Thesprineipal feature of the
auditorium is large gallery. occupying the
entire west end Of offn 1hss church. and which.
modate LOO people. Small doorways in
the north and southeast corners of the au-
ditorium lead into sthe Sunday school room
in the rear. which Is fffty-two by twenty
by f1fty-two. There is 10 be finished base
ment under the Sunday school section,
with two hot air furnaces Two features
Of the church will be electric lights and
In many respects the, church work is as
unique as is the ,rpastor and church. In
the new church SERVICES are to be held
every night of the, year. and in addition Mr..
Harrison conducts. regular services in the
two chapels mentiDned,i During the winter
weather the congffgatAon are in the habit
OF holding what na.s es PRAYER
homes Of the congregation, and every one
brings a pound OF some food, which, alter
the meeting Is over. Is distributed to the
poor 1amlles OF the helghDorhood by the
members. who go out in parties Of five or
six. Since the old church was torn down
the congregation has been worshiping In
Odd Fellows Hall. on Sth street southeast.
The church officers are as follows: Sec
retary Of. the congregation, William E.
Clark: secretary of the Sabbath school.
George Wilson; superintendent of the Sab
bath school. J. W. Wachter: leader Of the
choir. w. c. Brittower, and church coun-
ell, the pastor, Rev. A. G. Harrison. and
Messrs. Talbert. Hall, Bris.ower, Clark,
Atherton and Offert.