Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
Ninth Street Christian Structure
Ready for Occupancy.
WILL Be STRICTLY INSTITUTIONAL
Origin of the Denominations Work
in Northeast Washington.
ETCH OF THE PASTOR

The first strictly institutional church edi-
flee south of Philadelphia the Ninth Street
Christian of this city, is now practically
completed, and the first service will be held
there tomorrow.
With the exception of some trifling de-
tails, the structure is finished, and it will
be formally turned over to the pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Bagby, and the building committee
within three weeks.
The program to be observed at the dedi-
cation, which will be in April, will consist
of a sermon by DIR. F. M. Rains of .Cincin-
nati, followed by revival of two weeks,
conducted by Rev. Peter Ainslie of Balti-
more. Mr.. Ainslie will be assisted by Mr..
Bagby and other ministers.
The building, which is one of the hand
soonest of the denomination in the United
States, and claimed to be the finest 'edifice
owned by the members Of that belief in
Washington, has been under construction
for a number of months. The location is
an admirable one, the lot being on the brow
of a hill, while from the towers of the
church there is a fine view of the north
western section of the city and the HIS be-
yond.
Selection of the Plan.
In selecting a plan for the new church
the building committee had somewhat
difficult task, since the edifice was de-
signed to carry out the features of an in
stitutienal church. In order to meet the
demands which are expected to be made
upon it the building has been made three
stories high. These comprise a Sunday
school room above grade, basement
which is partly below grade and a main
audience room with gallery. The church
covers the entire lot, which is 60 by 70
feet, except three feet in the rear reserved
to give light and air from the south. There
is room on the floor for the seating of
500 persons, while the galleries will accom-
modate 300 more, total Of 500 in the au-
dience room and gallery combined.
Entrance to the church is obtained
through two vestibules, each 10 by 13 feet,
from which there are stairways leading
up to the gallery or down to the Sunday
school room. From these vestbules doors
open directly into the auditorium, and in
addition there is an entrance to the rear
of the church from each vestibuIe The
floor of the audience room inclines toward
the pulpit. The seats are arranged in cir
cular FORM and at the rear is the platform
and baptistry, the latter placed directly
behind the former and so arranged as to
admit of an adornment with flowers. There
are also on the main floor the pastors
study, ladies' dressing room and mems
dressing room. A passage in the rear of
the baptistry connects these three rooms
and also leads to the vestibule
Inc gallery extends around three sides
OF the auditorium and will accommodate
~ NC eAttCt, three nunUreQ and tflrtV-twO
persons. There are four entrances and
exits to and from the gallery two from
the main vestibules on D street and two
from near the pulpit. In the rear of the
pulpit are the organ and choir gallery, with
music room and choir room at the side.
The ceilings of the audience room are
about thirty-three feet above the floor.
finished In adamant plaster; with wood
work is of North Carolina pine and the
walls In adamant plaster with sand finish.
A Church Home
Occupying the second floor, directly UNI
der the main auditorium, is the Sunday
school room. which Is large, bright, COM
Portable and convenient. The spirit of thu
Institutional church being to minister
rather than to be ministered unto, there
mas been introduced into the Ninth Street
Church everything considered necessary
20 make 1t church home. In the base
r mene PROVISION has been xS1de for dining
ana ladies' parlor together with heating
arrangements. fuel room and toilet room.
The building will be heated by steam Gas
material used in the erection of the struc-
ture is red brick, trimmed with lime stone.
while in the numerous windows are cathed-
raj and opalescent glass. So
The Ninth Street Christian Church ia
one of the best-known congregations
among the Protestant churches of WASH
ington. The organization grew out of a
suggestion made by Rev. F. D. Power, pas
tor Of the Vermont Aysnue Christian
Church, in 1887. that mission Sunday
school Of the Christian denomination be
started in Northeast Washington. This
was ultimately carried into effect by the
Christian Endeavor Society of the church.
with the assistance and cooperation Of
the church membership.
Several of the leading members of Dr.
Powers Church, with others interested,
met at Odd Fellows Hall on 9Th street
southeast. January /. 1888. for the purpose
of enecting the organization OF the school,
and to take steps to increase the interest
and enlarge the usefulness Of the church
with the view to organizing another society
of the Christian denomination in that Sec
ton.
The First Assembly.
Those at this Meeting were Rev. r. d.
Power. Mr.. p. b. Hall, Mr.. and Mrs. N. =.
Hillman. Mr., and Mrs H C. arier. Mr.. B,
F. Moore. Mr.. Frank Sunny. Mrs. Henry
Gihey. Mr.. and Mrs. J. A. Scott, the Misses
Alice and Alma Knowles, Mr.. Henry Ralph.
Mr.. Asa Piper. Miss Annie Rohsrts and