Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18


about the presiding officer were the honor
ed guest of the evening and those invited to
take part in the program, and they looked
upon an audience which was representative,
not only of the membership of Wesley
Chapel but of all the Methodist churches
Of the city. Of the legal profession and Of
The older residents of the District.
After singing the hymn BLESSED Be the
Tie That Binds prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. Sunderland, who has just retired
from the ministry, having closed his forty
fifth year as pastor of the First Presby
terrain Church. The presiding officer then
spoke words of welcome on behalf of the
official board of Wesley Chapel. solo was
sung by Miss Grace Ahschu. and the first
speaker Of the evening. Mr.. Andrew B. Du-
vail. was introduced as a representative
of the legal profession.
Mr.. Duvall was bright and entertaining
and related some "reminiscences Of his COM
ing to Wesley Chapel when a small boy
and of his finding Mr. Woodward there, and
how his genial manner well his stall
wart frame made a deep impression on his
youthful Imagination. He said he found
that Mr. Woodward's sterling qualities had
the staying qualities which counted so much
in the formation Of character and that he
was good man to tie to. He spoke of
Mr.. Woodward having introduced him as an
applicant for admission to a lawyers office
as Methodist boy. and he found that such
a recommendation from such a source went
good ways.
Service as School Trustee.
Mr.. Woodward served from. 1855 to 1875
as a member of the board of trustees of
the public schools Of the city, and Mr.. A.
r. Stuart, one of the supervising princi-
pals, spoke Of his services in that capacity.
He spoke Of Mr.. Woodward as the success
| sor of Thomas Jefferson. who was the first
president of the board Of school trustees OF
this city, and added that when Mr.. Wood
ward became connected with the schools
changes were taking place which resulted
in the present system. Prior to that period
the development of the school system had
| been retarded by the cultivation of the
false idea that the public school was the
pauper's school.
During the ten years of Mr.. Woodward's
connection with the schools, he said, was
the period of the reorganization, recon-
struction, growth and popularization Of the
system. He spoke specially of the erection
| trict. which was represented by Mr.. Wood
ward. He said that Mr.. Woodward was
one Of the most active men ever connected
with the public schools. He was public
spirited, pfain-spoken, but one In whom all
had confidence.
A colo was sung by Miss Bloodgood. and
then Mr.. ]. Ormond Wilson, formerly su-
| perintendent Of the city schools, was called
upon and responded briefly, calling atten-
ton In the course of his remarks to the
| fact that at the time Mr.. Woodward was
active in the schools the duties of a trustee
differed materially from those that were
performed today, as the members of the
board then were expected to do what the
superintendent, the supervising principals
and the other officers of the schools now
do. They examined teachers and the pu-
pills and also looked after procuring the
supplies needed for the schools.
His Active Sympathy.
Mr.. Wilson went on to say that while
Mr.. Woodward was efficient and attentive
to his duties. yet after all it was his great
big heart and his active sympathy that
made his connection with the schools OF
more value than all the rest He said also
that he had known Mr.. woodward and
Trustee Woodward and Lawyer Woodward
| for good many years, but he had come to
meet for the first time DR.. Woodward. This
reference to the new honor which had been
| SO recently conferred upon the guest Of
honor was greeted with applause, as was
the case when other speakers alluded to 1t.
Brief speeches were made by Rev. Mr.
House. q graduate Of Dickinson Colleges
Rev. DR.. Clark. as representative of the
Ohio Wesleyan University, and Rev. Mr.
| Stitt.
Tributes by Other Speakers,
solo was sung by Mrs. DR.. Leech, and
then Mr.. E. F. Simpson spoke Of his recoi-
lections Of Mr.. Woodward. which extended
| over period beginning In 1882, when they
were boys together in Georgetown. He
| said that when they removed to this city
/
Wesley Chapel. and he (the speaker) went
to Foundry Church. He spoke feeiingly OF
his regard and love for Mr.. Woodward.
| Mr.. Simon Wolf followed with a cordial
speech, in which he referred to his co-op-
| alton with Mr.. Woodward in school work
and In other activities as citizens
| Arose to Welcome Him.
| The guest Of the evening was then called
upon. and the audience arose to welcome
him. After the applause had died away,
Mr.. Woodward spoke, referring modestIy to
what had been said about him during the
evening. and stating that he hardly recog-
mixed his own picture as 1t had been drawn.
He then went ON TO express his apprecia-
ton Of all that had been said, and at times
/ his voice trembled with emotion. He gave
some details of his early life. saying that
he left home when he waa q boy, fourteen
| years Of age. to go to q school In Nassa-
chusetts. On one occasion. AZ he was on
his way back to school. he stopped in Phila-
| delphia, where he saw his grandfather
who was the agent Of the conference for
the transfer Of Dickinson College from the
4 Preehvfarian IN thu Mofhof3faf Church,