Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-26
Grace Church.


in the regular services while the work on
the new building progressed. Owing to the
scarcity of funds only the lower story
containing the Sunday school, infant class
and church class rooms--was completed,
and here the congregation was content to
worship for several years This improve
ment entailed on the congregation several
thousand dollars ebtedness, for which
one Of the members, Mr.. ]. r. Riggles, be-
came personally responsible. They, how
ever, struggled on and have managed to
gradually reduce it. :
An Expedient.
The public schools requiring accommodate
tfons in the neighborhood an arrangement
was made to partition off several school
rooms on the second floor of the church
edifce; and for several years in the 70s
secular instruction was dispensed on week
days, as well as religious instruction on
Sundays, some of the teachers and many
of the pupils participating in both.
There are yet in the church some whose
parents were married by the mission
preacher and they We're baptized, educated
in day and Sunday school were converted
and have worshiped in the same building
The wisdom Of Mr.. Riggs and the origi-
nal trustees. in having the religious condi-
ton stricken out of the deed, made it posi-
bic to use part of the building for the pub
lie schools, and the revenue derived from
the rent enabled the little band to tide over
their financial troubles
This was not done without some Sacri-
fees, however, and 1T was not until the
~ that the upper portion of the building
was completed, when parsonage was also
erected.
This Improvement was mainly due to Mr.
Diller b. Croft, who had become a mem
Der, who made large contributions. Still
there is considerable Indebtedness on the
property, which it is desired to reduce in
the confident belief that with the loan paid
off the church's usefulness win be in
creased. Indeed in anticipation of so happy
an event there are already promising onens
for the future in disposition TO branch
out and aid in the establishment of mis-
sions or churches elsewhere.
Record of Sunday school.
The Sunday school, which was the foun-
dation of this charge was superintendent
first by Rev. John Riggles, and he was fol-
lowed by Mark Woodward, S. A. Terry, L.
L. Bugbee, j. r. Galliher Lincoln Green,
George s. Gibson and is now under Mr.. Gal
liner. From the first 1t has been a success
full school, an object of interest to many
of the residents of the section and the nurs-
cry of the church, the membership now be-
ing nearly 300
Ever since the days of Pap" Henning
with but short intervals, Grace Church
has had a choir-Messrs. W. II. Tucker, W.
II. Pope, George Galliher, w. G. Toner,
author of God Be With Us Till We Meet
Again. Charles 7. Chase, well known as
an organist; Prof. Stephens of Howard Uni
varsty and j. r. Galliher having success
sively filled the place of leader.
When the present pastor. Rev. E. L. Wat
son. succeeded Rev. DR.. G. " Leech, who,
after about fifty years of active service,
took supernumerary relation last March
closing his active work in his native city,
he found about 1855 members en- the lists,
and since he has received ninety more uen
Sunday LAST, and like number is expected
tomorrow. A mission has been established
at Cropley, Nd, about three miles from
Cabin John bridge. where the pastor
breaches at 3 o'clock every Sunday to a
membership of thirty, with a Sunday school
of sixty. They have also the prospect of
opening work north of the city. There
is an Epworth League of eght-five men,
bers, a Junior League of saVenty-five, a
Woman,s Foreign Missionary Society,
Home Missionary Society, Try Society for
young women and five classes meeting reg
ui&ry; and next week kindergarten will
be established in the basement of the
church.