The times., 1898-10-19
THE CORNERSTONE laid
Impressive Ceremonies at the
Douglass Memorial Church.
DIR. HARTSOCK's GOOD WORK
The Services Conducted by the
Grand Lodge of Musons-History
OF the Church and the Growth of
the CONGREGATIONAL BeautifuI Ed
ifce-An Ornament to the City.

The cornerstone to the magnificent new
edifice under erection by the congregation
of the Douglass Memorial Church was
set in place yesterday afternoon at 5
o'clock, at the corner of Eleventh and II
Streets northeast. Despite the fact that
the day was most unsuited for outdoor
ceremonies, there was quite a number OF
members of the church who did not allow
the inclement weather to prevent their
being present.
Over two hundred people stood with
barred heads through part of the SER
vices, and even when the drizzling rain
increased to a downpour, their interest
was not diminished nor did they leave
until the program had been carried out
The exercises were divided into two
parts for the occasion. The preliminary
ceremonies We're conducted in the North
east Temple, and consisted Of addresses
by prominent ministers and hymns by
the choir and congregation. The laying
of the cornerstone was conducted by the
Grand Lodge of Masons in the open air.
In the temple Rev. DR.. Hartsock, the
pastor of the Douglass Memorial Church,
delivered a brief address. and introduced
the chairman of the occasion, DIR. VII
son, the presiding elder of the Washing
ton District of the Maryland conference.
The choir, under the leadership of Wilson
Harvey, and assisted by Miss HoCchen at
the piano followed the first address with
song. DIR. Nailor, pastor of the Mchen-
dree Church, then led tine congregation IN
prayer. The Scripture reading was con-
Quoted by DR.. Huntley, OF Trinity Church
DIR. Clark, of the Foundry Church, was
then introduced and made a very co
quent and earnest appeal to the assem-
bly, to carry on the good work now being
accomplished among the members ot
their denomination.
A letter was read by the pastor from
Commissioner Ross, expressing his ie-
prets in not being abe TO attend the cere-
monies in person, but wishing the con-
grepation God speed with its new "ork-
The services In the temple concludei with
an address by DR.. Wilson. Tie congre-
CATION then adjourned to the street.
where they awaited the coming oil the
Masons.
Al the cornerstone the Masonic cere-
monies were brief but impressive. Inc
Grand Lodge, escorted by the Myroh M
Parker Lodge, marched from the nan 10
the corner and surrounded the stone
Grand Master Samuel c. Palmer oiii-
ciated.
,rba ooening PRAYER was made by Grand
Chaplain Smith, venerable Mason VINO
bas sean much service at such proceed
ings. .,,.,,,,
ed a Holy Bible. Methodist Discipline the
Christian Advocate, the Baltimore Metho-
dist the Washington Times, Star ana
Post a brief history of the church, tell
ing when and by whom built, the names
of ministers who served when ouiIt' the
names of the building committee anu
builder, list of official Masons ana iodse
of Masons who conducted the services.
The members of the Douglass Church
have long wanted new edifice. as the
congregation had outgrown the limited
space of the small chapel, but nothing
definite was done until DR.. Hartsock was
placed in charge last March. When ne
was ordered to the church he immediate
" set to work to raise funds with winch
to crafty the peoples wish. John Z. fost
a benevolent Methodist, offered TO bulid
the first story of the church, providing
thar DR.. Hartsock should raise $1,000 to-
ward the amount necessary for the erec-
ton. This was quickly done, and it Is
now thought possible that the whole
structure will soon be completed.
On the first floor will be located the lee
ture and the Sunday-school rooms. In
case it is not possible at the present time
to raise money enough to finish another
story a temporary roof will be placed on
it. and the services of the church con-
Quoted in the lower floor until the con-
gregation is enabled to complete the
work
The new building will have frontage
of sixty-five feet and a depth of ninety
feet. and will be one of the handsomest
buildings in the city. when completed
In the early seventies Methodist mis-
sion was started on Capitol Hill and the
present Douglass Church is an outgrowth
of that beginning. Rev. G. G. Markham
WIS in charge there for some time and
married the daughter of Mr. Douglass.
The daughter died, and 1t was in her
memory that the little chapel was erected
at the corner of Eleventh and II Streets.
TO he known as the Douglass Memorial.
From 1878. when the church started. with
a membership of thirty. 1t has now grown
until over four hundred names are upon
its roll.