Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-07
CEREMONY OF INTEREST
CHURCH OF THE COVENANT DEDI-
GATED TO PUBLIC WORSHIP.
The Property Free of Debt-Unveiling
of Window Memorial to Gardf-
ner G. Hubbard.

Church of the Covenant, Connecticut ave-
nue. and n street, which was of great in
terest to the members Of the congregation,
the handsome edifice, which was first oc-
cupied in the year 1882 having been then
dedicated to the service of God. This cere-
| mony has been delayed, as a debt rested
upon the property, but recently, owing to
the personal efforts of the pastor, Rev. DR..
Hamlin who, unaided, secured contribu-
tons amounting to $4,000 in the course of
a few weeks, the last vestige of the indebt-
eGness was wiped out. The entire property
is now unincumbered, and is in every sense
owned by the congregation so that the ex-
ercises of yesterday, by which the edifice
was consecrated to the service of God, had
| particularly pleasing significance to the
membership.
In addition to the dedicatory exercises a
window, which has recently been placed in
the south wall by Mrs. Gardiner Greene
Hubbard, In memory of her husband, was
unveiled. number of the friends of the
late Mr.. Hubbard, who was prominent in
scientific circles in this city, We're present,
and as the members of the congrega ton
We're we'll represented the auditorium was
crowded and some stood throughout the SER
vice.
Order of Exercises.
The order of exercises as arranged by the
pastor, Rev. DR.. Hamlin, and conducted by
him, was impressive. Rev. DIR. Talmage,
who is member of the congregation was
invited to the pulpit and took part in the
opening portion of the service. After a
brief address by Dr. Hamlin during which
H. paid tribute TO the life and character
of Mr. Hubbard. the congregation arose
and facing to the south looked upon the
new window as the curtain slowly fell from
before It, The glass, which is n beautiful
specimen of art. both in its design and
color scheme. represents nv heroic
sower with the last seeds of the days
labor dropping from his hands His head
Is turned toward the setting sun, while in
the rear are seen the figures of the reapers
Directly beneath the panel is the inscrip-
ten:
In Loving Memory Of
ISL. Gardiner Greene Hubbard. 1897.
In the morning SOW thy seed, and at even
ing withhold not thine hand.
Ammo Domini 1900
The sermon of the dedicatory services
was delivered bv Rev. Charles A. Dckey,
ID. of Philadelphia, the moderator Of the
general assembly of the Presbyterian
Church His theme was based on the text
Occupy Till Come
Rev. DR.. Hamlin conducted the dedica-
tory services which COMPOSED n brief adj
dress, recitation of the Apostles Creed by
the congregation and the words of dedica-
ton. Two of the hymns sung were printed
OIL the program, one of which was written
b. Rev. J. E. Rankin, DID, and the other
by Rev. Denis Workman, DID.
Statement of Progress.
The following statement appeared in the
program:
The Church Of the Covenant was Srgan-
lied the 18th Of October 1885 1t the>>
owned the lot on which the building now
stands and twenty-five feet additional to
the east. which was subsequently sold.
The present chapel on N street was then
completed. but debt of some $4,000 rested
upon the property. The chapel was filed
to Overlooking and immediate enlargement
was necessary. The cornerstone of the
church edifice was laid in 1891 and on
February -, 1889, service was first held
in this building. AS bonds to the amount
of $4,000 had been issued and sold, secured
and people did not feel at liberty to offer
to God what was not their own, and ac-
cord!ngly dedication of the edifce was
postponed. The debt was gradually re-
duced from surplus income. In the spring
of 1895 a subscription was raised for a
sinking fund, to run for four years, and
from which $4,000 was realized. Within the
| last few weeks the final balance Of the
debt $4,000 has been subscribed and paid.
The property has cost in all about s215 900,
all Of which has been given outright, with
out resort to any indirect method Of rails
ing money.
Though so heavily incumbered the
church simultaneously with organization
undertook a mission enterprise al Pennsyl-
wanna avenue, VI ana LStn WneTe
ground was purchased and a building. cost
ing some $4,000. was erected. A substan-
| tial and constantly growing work has been
and is maintained there, into which the
church puts about $1,000 annually.
Nor has the Covenant ever felt that its
debt should cripple its benevolences. 1t
has given literally to all UNCONVENTIONAL
| causes to city missions and to a great va
riety of other good objects, a total of some
| 100000. 1t has expended upon its prop
erty. including Peck Memorial Chapel, and
| the lot at the south of the church build
| ing and upon the maintenance of worship
and work about $500. 600
Thus. with many unrecorded gifts. this
people. in the fifteen years of their organ
lied existence as the Church Of the Cove
nant have given to God and to his SER
| vice upward of 100000. There were fifty
| three members at the organization. There
are now 957, Of whom 246 worship at the
Peck Memorial Chapel and enjoy there all
the means of grace and the ordinances of
religion. under the faithful and efficient
| care Of Rev. Charles Alvin Smith,