New-York tribune., 1901-09-23
PRESIDENT AT CHURCH.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT ATTENDS SERVICE IN
WASHINGTON
rBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

fBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSEl
Washington, Sept. 22.-President Roosevelt
this morning Joined with one of the smallest
church congregations In Washington in worship.
At IL O'Clock ne went to Grace Reformed
Church, at Fifteenth and o SITS, Northwest. and
took part in the simple. devout services that
were conducted in that quaint little building by
the pastor, the Rev. DR.. J. NJ schtck. The
President was accompanied only by his private
secretary, William Loeb and walked m the
church from the house of Commander Covles in
N-st, near Seventeenth. He was dressed in a
plain suit OF black frock coat and trousers, and
wore silk hat with a broad band of crane
around II. Wound around his left arm was also
piece OF Grape. The air was crisp and bracing
and the President set pace which at times
caused Mr.. Loeb almost to run In order to keep
abreast Of him.
The church. with a seating capacity of only
150. was filed with earnest worshippers when
President Roosevelt arrived. and his appearance
caused not the least commotion. He was con-
Quoted 10 a pew in the third row of the middle
aisle. at the outer end Of which space for two
had been reserved by the solemn visaged usher
The rest Of the pew occupied by two men
and two women. who did not seem in the least
disturbed by being in such close proximity to
the President OF the United States.
So soon as he -eated the President bowed
tom Of the church. Then he picked up a small
black volume entitled Forms and Hymns" and
turned its we'll worn pages to the prayer which
he knew the pastor was TO offer on this the
siyteenth Sunday after Trinity. The gray haired
and smooth faced preacher repeated this prayer
which the President followed closely twice ad-
justing his glasses in order to be sure of the
words.
The amen" was spoken by the President in a
Exbfc ia6 n xyofo oup
Htti5 church. Later, when the choir of two men
and four women sang old familiar hymns, Pres-
dent Roosevelts voice, of decided tenor tirnbre,
was heard above the volume Of melody that
created by the entire congregation joining in the
chorus. The only musical instrument employed
by the choir was little melodeon of the pattern
common IN the homes of farmers IN all parts Of
the country.
The Rev. Dr.. schick preached from ST. Paurs
Epistle TO the Ephesians, Ill, Z: THAT Christ
may dwell in your hearts by faith" Dur
ing the delivery Of the sermon the President
gave the closest attention. He was seated only
about ten feet from the pulpit, and while the
minister was expounding the text the Chief
Magistrate kept his eyes riveted upon him. He
frequently nodded his head if in hearty ap-
proval Of some of the more pronounced doctrinal
points enunciated by the pastor.
The congregation Of plainly dressed men and
ioned benches with high. stiff backs. and not
once while the minister expounding the
Gospel was one Of them to look from the
preacher TO the President.
At the close Of the service the congregation
quietly filed out OF the church without paying
any more attention the President than If he
had been of the regular attendants. The
Rev. DR.. Schick, however. shook hands with
Mr.. Roosevelt.
There was no crowd on the sidewalk when
President Roosevelt emerged from the church
in the line of departing worshippers, and
for the activities of the alert and irrepres-
sible photographer the policeman standing at
the front door of the unpretentious little edifice
would have had special duty TO perform.
The photographer Immediately levelled his
camera at the new Chief Magistrate and the
President. turning sharply to the policeman.
said:
Get in front Of that thing"
Then President Roosevelt addressed himself
TO the enterprising photographer
Young man - he said, this is disreputable
more respect for the proprieties and the sancttty
Of the day than to pursue people TO church for
the sole purpose Of snap shotting them
The policeman, manifestly agitated, was
standing with his broad back close to the
while the President speaking to
the photographer, who, evidently accustomed to
rebuffs of this kind smiled bandly at the Presi-
dent and continued unabashed his efforts to get
picture The Presidents fellow worshippers
paid heed to this incident, and proceeded
calmly their way home
President Roosevelt, with Secretary Loeb still
at his side, walked briskly back to the Cowles
residence and there remained the rest of the
day Tomorrow he will take up his residence
at the White House, and will be Joined Wednes-
day afternoon by Mrs. Roosevelt and the chill
dren.
MEMORIAL MEETING HELD.