Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-10
HIS SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Dr.. John q. Elliott's Service as Rector of
Ascension P. E. Parish.
Review of the Work of Twenty-Five
Years-SermOn Appropriate
to the Occasion.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the rec
torate of Rev. DR.. John H. Elliott of AS
ccnsion p. E. parish occurred yesterday
and an appropriate sermon was delivered
in the church at the II am. service by DR..
Elliott.
The rector paid a tribute to the late Rev.
DR.. VIM. Pinkney,s Who he said, was the
beloved rector of the parish from 1859 to
1863. In the latter year. being chosen hish-
OF of the diocese of Maryland. DR.. Pinkney
re signed the rectorship, but after three and
half years he returned, and for some
years there was a joint ministry of Bish-
op Pinkney and DR.. Elliott, which was
terminated by the death of the former, in
1883.
DR.. Elliott said there were number of
persons in attendance at yesterdays ami
NerSary who were present when he began
his ministry twenty-five years before. Dur.
II this quarter of a century there were
in the parish $50 baptisms. 745 persons
were confirmed ard :5S marriage cere-
monies were performed.
me number OF communicates in 1873 was
$50. Since that day hundreds of commune
cants have temporarily worshiped in the
church, and few years ago the number
in the parish was 67s. The drift of popu-
lation toward the northwest has reduced
the number at present TO about ga.
In 1872 there was but one society for
work in the parish, the Ladies' Associa-
tion. There are now fifteen. To the Sum
day school of Ascension parish there have
been added the Sunday school of Ascension
mission to colored people, the sewing school
OF the same mission and the Sunday school
for Cinnamon. Besides these missionary
agencies tn ere is a service each Sunday
for deaf -nutes. the latter held in co-opera-
ton with the rector of ST. Johns, Wash
irEton.
Progress of the Parish.
The total contributions ave reached the
Of ob w hall of
which is enshrined in the Ascension Church.
The progress of the parish in this respect
has been greater than in any other visible
results. The erection of the present edi-
flee marked an epoch in the history of the
parish. Tie estimated value of the church
property on H street between 9th and
10th streets, where the church occupied in
1873 stood, was $4,000.
In January, 1873, the sum of $4,000 had
been accumulated for the building of
new church. Easter Sunday of that year
an appeal was made for offerings to in
augurate the new enterprise, and the con-
tributions, including the 5000 above men,
toned. amounted to $4,000. Other sub
scriptions quickly followed. and among
them was one of about 100000 from the
late Mr.. w. w. Corcoran. June 7. 1874, the
corner stone of the present edfice was laid
The erection of the new church gave an
impulse to building among Episcopalians
throughout the city. and soon other par
ishes began to add strength and beauty to
their SanctuarieS.
Since 1873 other churches, representing
the early order of architecture in this city,
have been replaced by such structures as
Christ Church, Georgetown. and st. Marks
Pro-Cathedral. New churches have been
erected where none stood before. Such
ediflces St. Stephens and st. Thomas
stand as witnesses to more churchly archi-
lecture.
''Of course" continued DR.. Elliott, cit is
not claimed that all these happy results
n fn hp tod TO tt. ala Of +,
Ascension congregation but that the latter
gave great impulse toward worthier
church architecture there can be no doubt"
Property Values.
Reviewing briefly the history of the Epis-
copal Church in the District during the last
twenty-five years. DR.. Elliott said:
THE estimated value of the churches of
the denomina ton here in 1872 was about
100000. In May, 1897. it was 81, 52s. 600, an
increase almost fourfold There has also
been All increase in the number of COM
municants of nearly threefold, while the
contributions of the churches have in
creased from about 100000 annually to
about S212 JOO.''
DIR. Elliott expressed his deep gratitude
that his wish for rectory by this time. as
stated in letter addressed to the congre-
CATION in March last, was gratified two
months later, long before he expected it,
and in concluding his address said
DO not rest upon the past. Do not be
content with past achievements. The
temptation to do so is very powerful; but
let resist the temptation. Grateful for
the past, let us be hopeful for the future.
Hitherto We have had too little mission
airy spirit. We have given too little be-
yond our own borders. In outstanding for
our own needs we have forgotten the truth
there is that scattereth and yet increas-
eth, have overlooked the fact that, as a
rule, churches that are generous abroad
are also generous at home.
Let us aid our beloved bishop in the
development of his diocese. Let us aid that
branch of the church under whose shelter
we sit, to enlarge her borders in our lands
and beyond the seas"
In commemoration of the twenty-fifth
anniversary Of DR.. Elliott's rectorship of
Ascension Church a reception to the con-
gregation will be given in honor of Dr. Ell
lott at the rectory, 1119 street, Wednes-
day evening from to II o'clock, under the
auspices of the Womans Guild.