Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

after the beginning of the new year. Its
membership was at that time quite small:
but it has since had an almost phenomenal
growth. During January Rev. E. Bradford
Leavitt was installed as pastor of All
Souls Church. ard Grace Lutheran Church
was dedicated. Not long after this the fac
ticnal troubles in the Salem Baptist Church
were taken into court, and finally adjusted
by judicial authority. The corner stone or
the North Carolina Avenue Methodist
Protestant Church, of which Rev. Louis
Randall Is pastor, was laid February %.
This church, when completed, will, 1t Is ex-
pected, be among the handsomest within
the limits of the Maryland annual confer
ence. The annual meetings of the Balti-
more conference of the NJ. E. Church South
and of the NJ. f. Church, respectively,
which met during March, caused a number
of changes TO be made in the assignment
OF pastors to different churches in this
city. and several surprises were the result.
AS the effect of this there will probably be
but two changes made among the ministers
of the NJ. E. Church at the conference
which meets at Waugh Church in March,
and none in those Of the churches con-
nected with the Southern Methodist Church.
During the same month ground was broken
for a new NJ. e. Church at Kensington. the
corner stone of which was laid the follow
ing month, and which was dedicated later
in the year The spring meeting Of the
Washington city presbytery was held April
6. and delegates elected to the general as
sembly, which met during the summer in
the west. The annual meeting of the Mary
which the churches of that denomination
in this city are connected, began in Balti-
more early in April, and the appointments
were announced on the 14th. New pastors
were assigned to each of the Washington
churches. The election for vestrymen in
each of the Episcopalian parishes was held
April 20, and two days later a new parson-
age for the pastor of Mount Zion Church,
Georgetown, was formally occupied as a
residence by that official. May l internal
dssensions. which had long existed i'm
Shiloh Baptist Church, became so violent
as TO cause the police authorities to inter-
fere for the preservation Of the peace, and
1t was not until the dissatisfied members
withdrew and formed a separate organza-
ton that peace was restored. During the
same month there was talk in prominent
quarters of change of site for the pro-
posed Episcopal Cathedral, but nothing Sc
rious resulted. The history Of the old Jew
ish Synagogue was printed in The Star of
June >, and few days later the corner
stone of the new Hebrew Temple was laid.
This temple, which Is now rapidly ap-
preaching completion, will. it is believed,
be one of the handsomest in the south. If
not in the entire country. The corner
stone of the new Ninth Street Christian
Church, also now almost ready for service,
was laid June &c.
Archbishop Keane, after a residence of
many months In Rome. returned to Wash
1ngton to spend his vacation, August IL.
He was received by his friends and the
citizens generally with great enthusiasm.
and on the eve of his departure for Rome,
about two months later. was rendered a
banquet. which proved to be a magnificent
affair. A splendid new Congregational
Church, Rev. NJ. Ross Fishburn. pastor.
was dedicated August II. During the same
month steps were taken to build a Catholic
Church at Colonial Beach and to rebuild
the Dumbarton Avenue NJ. E. Church, West
Washington.
The annual sessions of the Lutheran
synod of Maryland, the Sunday School AS
sociation and of the synod of Baltimore
We're all held in Washington during Octo-
Der In which month, also the case of Mon
sisnor Schroeder. who was removed from
a professorship in the Catholic University
by the trustees, and who disputed their
authority to do so. was referred to the
Vatican for settlement. The Sunday School
Association of the Christian Church held its
annual convention here November 30 On
December II Keller Memorial Church. cor
ner OF Maryland avenue and 9th street
northeast, Rev. c. II. Butler, pastor was
dedicated with imposing ceremonies
Fire Department..
The fire record for the year shows "a
smaller number Of big fires than some pre-
Central power house increased the amount
lars. During the year the total losses
amounted to $S7O.977, while the insurance
was $44S, 423. Human life was DESTROYED
in six instances, the victims being William
I. Slason, who lost his life in January at
No. BID Delaware avenue northeast; Mrs.
Carrie Dornof, who was fatally burned on
the 18th Of January at No. 1906 Kirby
street Mrs r. Burke dress caught from
stove on March l at 2032 nth street; Miss
Annie Ward, victim of gasoline, at 3OS T.
street, in April: Mrs. Dora Upshur at GOT
23d street, April IS, and Mrs. Susan Nc
Gee. at No. 0ii F street southwest on the
Sth of last month. There were many mar
row escapes, and in several instances the
bravery of firemen notably Chief Paris
and members of No. company, prevented
the sacrificing of human life Gasoline ex-
rlosions caused many fires. while kerosene
lamps also furnished material for starting
a number of confiagrations. During the
year the fire department was enlarged so
as to cover territory in the county outside
the fire limits, and the city is now pro-
tected from fire better than it has been
at any time previous In the annual re-
port of Chief Paris he told of the needs
of the department at length and of the
many improvements that had been made.
Among them was the introduction of q
new fire alarm system, which was put In
operation only about twenty days ago.
Early in the year dangerous overhead cleo
trio wires came in contact with wires of
the fire department and caused damage
which may have resulted in more serious
damage by fire because many fire alarm
boxes were burned out. Fortunately for
the city no fires of any consequence hap
pened while the boxes were disabled.
Twice during the year the navy yard
was visited by fire. and the naval exam
iEers' building was virtually destroyed by
fire. While the second fire did not do so
much damage as the first there was n
mystery surrounding it that caused the be-
lief that an incendiary had been at work.
and there was an official investigation
made. About this time Douglass Hall,
Hilsdale, named after the late Frederick
Douglass, was destroyed. During the early
part of June a company of the local fire
department was called to Alexandria,
where several large buildings along the
river front were destroyed at a total loss
of about 100000 On July the Anthony
Buchly building at No. 80 Pennsylvania
avenue was mysteriously fired, but not
much damage was done. An investiga-
ton by the police did not result in the ar
rest Of the fire bugs. Criswell's drug store,
On 18th street, a square south of Florida
avenue. was the scene of a destructive fire,
which resulted from explosion of ben
zine or gasoline. In September there was
a fire at Takoma which threatened to do
considerable damage, but the flames were
quickly subdued and the park was not dis
figured. The same month fire visited the
neighborhood Of Four Corners in Mont
gomery county, Md, few miles north of
Takcma, and burned to the ground the
magnificent Bryant mansion. Besson's dye