Evening star., 1898-04-01


ing.
The New Church.
In January, 1S49, the architect OF the
Smithsonian, MIR. James Renick, presented
the plan for the building Greeted afterward
at Sd ard . streets northwesD and esti-
mates which revived interest. The rector,
DIR. Butler preached special sermon on
the subject, strongly urging the erection
of larger edifice. as duty the congre-
cation owed to the church at large and
the community. meeting of the con-
gregation was held a few days after, al
which General Waiter Jones, then a lead
ing member Of the bar CT the District, pre-
sided, and the situation having been can
vasssed. on motion of ex-Mayor Weight
man, (who was prominent in the original
organization), the plans of the vestry look
ing to the erection of new edifice were
indorsed and approved and the hearty CO.
operation of the congregation pledged. BY
the close of the year subscriptions to the
amo INT of S150g0 had been obtained and
having decided to build on the same site,
1T was determined to commence the de-
molShment of their church home of more
than twenty years in February. 1870. Be-
fore the close of January however, Mr..
w. w. Ccrcoran offered a loan of a suf-
ficient amount to purchase smother site.
and the present site of Trinity, northeast
corner Sd and c streets, was purchased
fl ON the Birth family for si,620. The cor
rer stone of the new Trinity was laid April
= 1880, and in the spring of 1851 what had
before been known Irish Eiir' was CT
Eamented by fine church ediiice, and that
it Is as influential congregation as il was
in the old church home can readily be seen
by the present congregations, Sunday school
missions. the parish hall, &c.
1t would seeem, too, that other congrega-
tions formed here were successful, fer the
Congregational church at 10th and G
streets and the Central Presbyterian at Sd
and L streets are evidence of the fact.
Prominent WOrshipera There.
AS already intimated, there were many
prominent men who worshiped in the old
church. The great leader of the whig
party, Henry Clay was frequent at
tendant. Francis Scott Key, the author of
the Star Spangled Banner" served >as
warden and vestryman for several years
and was an office bearer at The time of
his deat.r, January. 1913. Mr.. Thomas L.
Smith, Mr.. John NJ. Broadhead. Mr. A O.
Dayton. Mr.. A. N. Zeyely and Mr. D. w
Middleton filled important positions under
the government, as also John a. Smith, for
years clerk of the Circuit; Court; William
Noiand and Dr. John b. Blake. who each
served as commissioner of public buildings:
l.. B. Harden of the Navy Department. T
II. Gillis, father Of the admiral who had
previously Served in the vestry of Christ
Church; William Prout. who donated the
site of Christ Church in 1895. John W.
Maury was mayor OF Washington. Drs.
J. Fred May and W: P. Johnston We're
leading physicians. Maj. VIM. Doughty
VIM. Gadsby of hotel fame. The Morri-
sons, Perrys, Todds. Riieys and Bealls were
among the attending families.
In February. 1851 the 9TH street building
was sold by Trinity vcstry to McssrS. Ezra
l.. Stephens. Henry Rockwell. James II.
Durham. VIM. Z. Mcconnell and Nche-
iniah NorthruD as trustees OF the First
CONGREGATIONAL Church and Society of
Washington TOR 5000, nearly $s,5uJ less
II an its origin al cost. The title was in
1850 passed to L. u. Chapman, then to j.
}. Waring. In the early part of the war
for "A few months il was used by the gov
ernmcnt for hospital purposes and the
lower basement as a livery stable. 1t was
purchased in April. 1855, by Rev. DR. Geo.
W. Samson for $4,000. and he for some
time preached regularly on the Sabbath,
but III December, 1865 he conveyed il to
Columbian College. now university.