Evening star., 1901-09-18
THE PRESIDENTS CHURCH
WHERE MR.. ROOSEVELT WILL At
TEND DIVINE SERVICE.
Little Church at 18th and o Streets
Already Too Small fOr Con-
gregatiOn.

The little chapel on the rear Of lot at
the corner of 18th and 0 streets north
west has been selected by President Roose-
Welt as his church home In Washington.
Rev. John NJ. Schick, DID,, win be his
pastor. The President Is a member Of the
Dutch Reformed Church. The congrega-
tion which worships in the little chapel is
of the German Reformed denomination, but
there is no difference in the tenets Of faith
of the two organizations. and there Is no
Dutch Reformed Church In the city.
Mr.. Roosevelt attended service at Grace
Reformed Chapel. as the church is known.
on the only Sunday he has spent In Wash
ington since his Inauguration.
When Mr.. Roosevelt lived here as civil
service commissioner and as assistant sec
retary of the navy, he did not know there
was a church of the denomination of his
belief In the city. How he came to learn
there was one is best told in the language
of DR.. Schick. who in discussing the sub
ject with a Star reporter today, said:
After the election, as / was reading In
the papers about the congratulations ex-
tended to both the President and Vice
President, l was struck by the fact that
they were all from politicians and busi-
ness men. None were reported from the
clergy. / at once sat down and wrote each
letter of congratulation. To Mr.. Roose-
Ntit communicated the Idct oI the cAlSI-
ence of our little church and welcomed him
to worship with us. His reply was most
hearty and. cordial. He said he had be-
lievcd there was no church Of his faith In
Washington, and that he should accept the
invitation to attend.
''On the Sunday after the Inauguration
the Vice President and his family came to
the service in the chapel. / have called
on him since, and he has indicated that he
will make the church his spiritual home In
Washington
In the English Tongue.
The services in Grace Reformed Chapel
are conducted In English. The edifice will
seat but $50 persons. and the regular con-
gregation taxes it to its full capacity.
Since DR.. Schick became pastor Of the
church in February of last year he has
been actively at work in an effort for the
construction of a new building. The con-
gregation owns the lot and the parsona ye
property adjoining. 1t is the desire Of DIR.
Schick to erect a one-story structure cover
ing the entire ground space, so by 100 feet,
which will provide seating capacity for
at least 500 persons. The estimated cost
for the new building is $4,000 and so far
DR.. Schick has pledges for little over
one-third of that amount. 1t was the plan
to have the corner stone laid next May.
when classes of Maryland-the ecclesias-
teal government of the denomination
will hold it's annual meeting in Baltimore.
Since the death of President Mckinley
DR.. Schick is receiving many letters from
clergymen and others urging him to press
the matter of a new building, SO that the
church may accommodate those who will
want to attend.
Mr. Schck's eyes moistened as he dis
cussed this point. Il have answered" ;" he
said, that I cannot take advantage of the
death of President Mckinley to build up
my church. The matter will have to take
it's regular course. AS soon as the way is
opened we will build"
DR.. Schck, the pastor. is a scholarly
man, fifty-three years of age. He is a ma
tive Of Richmond but his college and theo-
logical education were obtained in Penn
sylvania. His charges had all been in that
state and in Ohio.
There Is another church Of the Germs n
Reform denomination, at 9Th and n streets,
but the services there are conducted in the
German language.