Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-14
OLD-TIME CHURCH EDIFICE
THE BUILDING LONG KNOWN A.
WILLARD HALL
Was Built for Purposes of Public
Worship Over Sixty
Years Ago.

Though the new Improvement of the site
of Willard Hall, on f street west of 18th,
will be pleasing to the eye. and will be APP
reciated by the larger part of the COM
munity, an evidence Of the great strides
the city has made in the past few dec
AIDES, to some the transformation will be
keenly felt. There are living today per-
haps thousands of the descendants of the
old worthless who a century ago formed Il
small congregation which grew to be one
of the most influential churches in the Dis
trict. whose influence was unreasonable,
and there are some living who remember
the first Sunday school lessons they learned
within its walls over sixty years ago.
At the beginning of the century Rev.
James Laurie arrived in this country from
Scotland. and came to this city. He was
invited to gather the scattered Preshvfe-
rians into a church. There We're a number
OF the faith here among the original set
tiers who had had periodical services Rev
John Breckenridge serving them and the
people of Bladensburg. When the govern
ment was moved here 1t brought many of
the denomination to the city, and Dr. Lau-
rie was invited to preach to them in the
old treasury building. on the site of the
present building. Here the church was or
cart, Nourse, Munroc, Wales, McCleary and
other Washington f&mlies-some being
among the sixteen families dismissed from
the Georgetown church-bcing the original
members.
In 1907 1t was resolved to erect a place
of worship. The site selected was part Of
lots II to IA, fronting seventy-five feet on +
street with a depth of 9fia feet, which was
transferred IN May, 1914 by John Law to
Michael Nourse. John MCGOWAN, Tappan
Webster. Joseph Nourse and VIM Mackey
for a nominal consideration.
The title remained in them till 1915. when
Jnl, n
clay and Samuel Stott as trustees. On this
lot the church was erected 1t was quite
a commodious brick edifce for the time
being about IS by 80 feet, with galleries on
the front and sides.
But Few improvements.
At this period there was on the corner of
14th street a two-story dwelling belonging
to Col Kearney, and no other improve
ments on the south side of F street east of
the Cotton residence. adjoining the Corcoran
building while directly opposite the church
was a frame tavern, whose swinging sign
bore painting Of the church This is ex-
planned by the fact that the innkeeper was
who venerated the church. and liquor
drinking was not regarded by the church.
goers as it is now, for there was then but
little drinking to excess.
Under the pastorate of DIR. Laurie the
congregation prospered. From the first,
until In 1923. 1t was connected with the As
sociate Reformed Church, and that year it
united with the general Presbyterian as
sembly under the presbytery of the Dis
trict. Though in close proximity to the
Second NOW New York Avenue) Church.
there was fellowship between them-a
friendly rivalry In doing good-and the older
congregation was satisfied to be known as
the Third Church.
Some of the leading members were the
Aulds, still represented in the New York
Avenue Church; Michael Nourse, Joseph
Nourse S. w. X. Handy Chas Stott
Daniel Munroe Daniel Radcliffe. ]. H.
Hamilton, Mrs. Craven. Moses Campbell
]. L. Cathcart, Judge 7. H. Crawford
Nathaniel Carus, ]. H. Wales, F. A.