Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-17
DEDICATION OF CHAPEL
Large Congregation at Westminster Pres
byterian Church.
Addresses by Prominent Minister'S
Statistics Given by the Pas
tor. DIR. Bittinger.

| large congrega ton assembled Sunday
! afternoon to witness the interesting and
! imposing services connected with the for
| nal opening of the Westminster Presbyte-
| rian house of worship. The chapel itself is
| beautiful, commodious and with all mod
! ern convenicnces, admirably adapted to the
| double purpose of mid-week worship and
/ the Sabbath school. 1t Is oblong sixty feet
| in length and thirty feet wide ornamented
| with five handsome windows of pretty de-
| sign AMI of opalescent glass, with end gal
| leries for the accommodation of the pri-
| mary department ana Bible classes. The
| room is lighted by chandeliers of oxidlzed
silver, with appliances for both gas and
| electricity. The floors are covered with a
| rich carpet of pretty design.
| In the dedication services Sunday the VEN
cradle DIR. Sunderland presided and made
the dedfcatory prayer. The music was of
| a high order conducted by the choir of the
church, assisted by Miss Stephens and Miss
Herriot. Appropriate addresses We're made
| on the occasion. the first being by DR..
George y. Luccock. on the use of the house
| by the mid-week worshipers; the second by
| DR.. William c. Alexander. on the claims
! upon the church by the Sabbath school.
and the third by Rev. Daniel w. Skellenger.
| on the work of the Society of Christian
EndeaNor. The Scriptures were read by
| 1hSN- E@d etiu w dIIGll, IllillSlet dl L dlll
Chapel.
From he historical statement made by
the pastor, DR.. Bittinger. many interesting
facts were communicated to the congrega-
ton, among other things the following:
Previol to the year 1852 there was no
Presbyterian Church in South Washingto on.
and only rive in all the city. The + Street
Church, of which Rev. DR. Laurie was pas
| tor and afterward the Second Church, of
| which Rev. DR.. Eckard was pastor. were
| united in the now New York Avenue
Church: the First Church, of which DIR.
| Sunderland was pastor; the Fourth Church,
| of which DIR. John c. Smith was pastor
| and the Fifteenth Street Church. of which
| Rev. John F. Cook was pastor. Since that
| time twelve additional churches represen-
| tative of the denomination have been erect
| ed, embracing at the present time nearly
1900 cor -muniCants.
In the year 1851 certain persons connected
| with the F Street Church-among whom
| We're DIS. Laurie and Junken and Messrs.
Ischiffe!y and Stott. together with DR. At
| kinson of Georgetown-believing that South
| Washington was promising missionary
ground, inaugurated religious services in
| Potomac Hall, on Maryland avenue. and
| also in the Columbia engine house, then
situated south of the Capitol. The congre-
| cations increased. and under the miristra-
| tons of Rev. John NJ Henry steps were
| taken for the organization of a church and
| the erection of a house of worship. the
ground for which was generously donated
| by Mr.. Charles Stott
seven members, none of whom is living 1t
| the present time, and the new church was
| dedicated in December 1853 Historic Jus
| tice, DR.. Bittinger said. requires The hon
| orable mention of three gentlemen-Dr.
Lewis A Edwards. L. s. A: Mr.. William
| Ballantyne and Mr.. Samuel W. X Handy
| who in its early history gave the church
additional impetus. Identifying themselves
| with the new organization and Ievoting
| their means and energy in tine promotion
| of its welfare Mr.. Ballantyne being the
| second superintendent of the Sunday scnool
| and active in every good work.
On a Sunday morning in 1859 the lecture
| room, now replaced by this chapel was
| burned. but the flames We're hardly extir-
| Suished before steps were taken. under the
| lead of Mr.. Ballantyne. for its rebuilding
| The pastors of Westminster Church. in
| the line of succession, have been Revs
| Henry, Cleghorn, Campbell and the fncum-
| bent Rev. DR.. Bittinger. the latter of whom
! has just completed a pastorate of thirty-six
| years, and after next Sunday will retire
| from the active pastorate
| Yesterday the last Sunday service was
| held in the church. the intention being 10
| Immediately proceed to the erection of a
| new building, with the expectation of its
| completion in the early part of next year.