Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-18
REOPENlNG EXERCISES
Reunion of Sunday Schoel and Congregation
of McKendree NE Church.
Addresses on Themes Based on Past
Observation-Disclosures of President
Mckinley Causes Regret.

The large congregation which assembled
yesterday morning at the reopening exer-
cises of McKendree M. E. Church. Massa-
chusetts avenue between 9th and 10th
streets northwest, was much disappointed
because of the absence of President Nc
Kinley, who had accepted an invitation to
be present. He was detained by the Ill
ness of Mrs. MsKinley. The attendance of
Mr. Mckinley was especially desired, for
the reason that when the church was
dedicated in 1S45 President James K. Polk
and the Secretary of State, James Buchan-
an, were among those in the audience. the
latter of whom, is well KNOWN after
ward becoming President Of the United
States.
The exercises of the day began at 3:3o
am. with a reunion of the Sunday school
in the basement of the church. At this
Mr. r. V. Belt presided.
The services opened with the singing of
the hymn Building for Eternity. After
Scripture readings by Mr.. F. J. Macken-
zie Mr.. Frank T. Israel offered the invo-
cation. A solo. Take My Heart" was
sung by Miss Chenoweth.
An address on Former Days was de-
lvered by Mr.. A. o. Latham, former su-
perintendent of the Sunday school. In
part he said: This Sunday school was
born June I. 1874, and is therefore more
was carpenter shop at the corner OF Sth
and X streets northwest, which was owned
by Mr.. Walker. and who invited the
young congregation to meet there The
seats for the accommodation of the teach
ers and pupils were rough boards laid on
boxes and kegs. AS winter approached
the weather became too cold for the school
to meet in the shop, and it accepted an in
vitation to meet in Mr.. Norris school
house.
Early the following spring the building
which preceded the present Mckendree
Church was erected. There was never
more faithful set of officers and teachers
than those who started this school Ihelr
sole idea was "Love''-love for each other
and they had constitution for the
school until about twenty-five years ago
Then. at the suggestion of the pastor,
constitution was prepared but 1t soon
found its way into the archives, where it
now is
The Departed.
Mr.. B. F. Fuller spoke of THE De-
parted" and among other things said:
The little company which assembled in
what is now the beautiful Mount Vernon
Square We're denied admission to the engine
house for the purpose of organizing Nc
Kendree, and they willingly accepted the
invitation of Mr.. Walker to meet in his
carpenter shop. French S. Evans was the
speaker at the meeting. 1 once saw him in
a continental uniform and l thought he
bore striking resemblance to the father
of his country. McKendree had princes
and Processes in those days. She has
some yet, and will have them to the end of
time. because God planted this people
After mentioning many personal charac-
teristics of former members of the church
and congregation Mr.. Fuller said:
There was one by the name Of Thomas,
of whom it was said he labored more than
his employers asked him to do. There are
heroes whom the world applauds, and
rightly; there are some of whom the world
has never heard. but they are just as noble,
and you have some of them here
Continuing, Mr.. Fuller referred to the
presence Of President Polk and Secretary
of State Buchanan a the dedication of the
church in 1915 Speaking of Mr.. Thomp-
son, one of the original members of the
church. now dead, he said Mr. Thomson
once spoke to Henry Clay on the subject
of his souls salvation, and subsequently
Mr. Clay told Mr.. Thompson that he would
grant to him anything in his power, but
Mr. Thompson declined to accept any polit-
ical office higher than the one he was then
occupying, which was a clerkship in one of
the departments.
Mr.. Cornelius Cissel. a former assistant
related a number of per-
sonal "reminiscences, and in concluding said:
Mckendree has had a glorious time in
the past and it viii have in the future"
Sermon by DR.. Howell.
At the II o'clock services the sermon was
delivered by Rev. DR.. f. G.. Howell of
Brooklyn, N. Y. The music, which was a
feature of the occasion, was rendered by
a choir under the direction of Miss Joseph
Inc Burton. with Miss Katharine Bow
beer as organist The choir consisted of:
Herbert. Richie, Jennie
Bowbeer, Josephine Burton Mrs. Wesler
Mrs. Sadie Bailey: alto-Miss Sallie Shreve;
bass-Messrs, Hoover, Johnson and Wes-
Ter; teEor-Messrs. Knots and Randolph
The program, in addition to singing of hymns
by the congregation was: Dedication an
them by the choir; trio, Miss Richie and
Messrs. Randolph and Johnson; duet
Lead, Kindly Light" Misses Burton and
Shreve; soprano solo, Miss Hattie Richie
At $50 pm. the following were installed
as officers of the Epworth League for the
ensuing term: President, Frank T. Israel;
first vice president, Bayard Gibson; sec
ond vice president, Mrs. w. p. Noonan;
third vice president, Mrs. J. H. Wesler;
fourth vice president, Miss Jennie Bow
beer; secretary, w. p. Noonan; treasurer
S. S. Culbertson; superintendent Junior
League, Mrs. Bayard Gibson.
Mission Interests.
The evening services embraced a plat
form meeting in the interest of missions
at which addresses were made by DR.
Howell and DIR. Naylor, pastor of the
church. The choir was assisted by the
Cecilian Quartet, Misses Thompson, Bur-
ton, Shreve and Callahan, under the d.
rection of Miss Katie V. Wilson.
The program was: shepherd of Israel"
by Ceclian Quartet; trio, Lift Thine
Eyes" by Misses Thompson, Burton and
Callahan; soprano solo, Il Know That My
Redeemer Liveth," Miss Josephine Burton;
organist, Miss katherine Bowbeer.
SO niagara Falls via II. and o.
Special excursion, $50 am, September
2S. Tickets good ten days. Stop-overs re-
turning at Buffalo. Rochester. Geneva and
Burdett (Watkins Glen) and Mauch Chunk
tGlen Onoko). Reduced rate side trips
ftom Niagara Falls.-Advt.
Dog and Pony Show.
Gentry's Pony and Dog Show, one of the