Evening star., 1898-08-27

ment of the new Douglas Memorial is the
corsummation of hopes that have been en-
tertatned for many years by the people
connected Herewith, the congregation hav-
ing long since outgrown the dimensions of
the present building An insuperable OBJ
stacle in the way of borrowing funds for
the purpose was found in the fact that
when the late Mr.. Douglas gave the
church and ground for a place of worship
he had inserted in the deed a clause which
stated that if the building should cease to
be Methodist church the property should
revert to his heirs. In consequence of this
no capitalists could be found who would
be willing to advance the necessary funds
to erect such a building as is needed and
take a mortgage upon the property for Sc
curity.
DIR. Hartsock's Proposition.
Soon after DR.. Hartsock took charge of
the church pastor, last spring he deter
mined TO make effort to secure a new
church home, and the matter was thor
oughly canvassed by him among the promi-
nent members of the congregation, and it
was finally decided to see how much money
could be raised from individual donations,
these subscriptions to be payable in one
year from the commencement of the con-
strCcticn of the proposed building. One
Sunday not long since DR.. Hartsock called
for subscriptions and in a little while he
had about $1,000 promised.
Subsequent efforts resulted in securing
affairs was laid before Mr. John c. Yost
who is very anxious to see a new Metho-
dist church in the northeast section of the
city After thinking the matter over Mr..
1cSt told Dr. Hartsock that he would fur
nish the money to build the church to the
height of one story and would trust to
getting the money advanced by him returned
when the subscriptions are paid a year
hence. The expectation IS that eventually
building costing about Sl5 o1O will be
erected, but for the present only a lecture
room and accommodations for the Sunday
schools viii be arranged for
The building will be about siytv-fve feet
front and about ninety ieat deem IT is
intended to complete the first story in
most substantial manner, so that il can he
used by the congregation for years should
the FUNDS necessary to carry out the pro-
Jected plan be not forthcoming
Origin of DosgIas Memorial,
The origin of Douglas Memorial Church
dates back to the early '7os. when a Meth
odist mission Sunday school and church
service were conducted by Rev. G. G. Mark
ham and wife in a small frame chanel on
Maryland avenue near 10th street no,.,b
east Here the mission remained untiI
the grade of the avenue was changed and
so much lowered as to leave the building
on nigh embankment and make il nroc
ucally inaccessible Immediatelv foIIou,in,
this few workers from Wesley Chanel
held services in tent on H street near 15tb
street northeast, and in a short time rent
ed rooms on H street between Sth an1 etb
streets, and organized al Sunday scbooI
which subsequently became a mission of
McKendree Church. The few members in
terested IN the work We're constituted a
class, with Mr.. ]. w. Wade as leader Ser
vices were held twice each Sunday the
pulpit being supplied by Methodist Episco-
pal preachers employed in the government
departments and local preachers from the
various charges in the city. This continued
with a promise of success until in the sum
mer of 1878, when, the Sunday school hav-
ing outgrown its quarters, Mr.. John Doug
las proposed to build a church for the class
and Sunday school that would serve their
purpose for several years. and the society
was requested to select a site and adont
plans for the building, which was done in a
public meeting of the membership and the
name Memorial Chapel was adopted in
memory of Mrs. Markham, daughter of Mr.,
Douglas and wife of Rev. G.. G. Markham
The edifice was soon erected and was
dedicated in November 1878 Rev Theo-
dore Stevens of the Philadelphia confer
ence preached morning and evening and
dedicated the church. Great interest was
manifested in the work and growth of the
society, and many eminent Methodists were
present at the dedicatory service including
President and Mrs. Hayes, Judge Miller of
the Supreme Court and others.
At this time the class numbered about
thirty, and the Sunday school about 200
Rev G. G. Markham was given pastoral
charge of the congregation, and Mr. E R
Nneat was leader OF the class. In 1881 the
Baltimore conference appointed Rev. W.
NICK Hammaek pastor, and the society
was constituted a separate charge. Mr.
Hammack served one year, W. Hirst Reed
succeeded and served one year, Chas T
House served three years, VIM. Rodgers
three years, D. NJ. Browning three years
E. O. Eldridge three years and John L.
Walsh three years-up to March. 1S9S
OF the members of the class at the dedi-
cation of the church very few are now con-
nected with the charge. The list is: Mrs.
Douglas, Jos. Palmer and wife, w. w.
Deloe and wife, Mrs. Deakins and E. NJ.
Wheat and wife. A number have Joined |
other churches in the District, some have
left the city and the balance are dead.
The Present Pastor.
Rev. Samuel Mitchell Hartsock. DID,, /
pastor of Douglas Memorial Church. is a
native of Steuben county. New York He
received his education at Dickinson Semi
nary. under the presidency of Rev. DIR. |
Thomas Bowman. now senior bishop of the |
n. q. Church. He was admitted 10 the