Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19

front on E street, and has two secondary
entrances from the rear end toward 61a
street on the one side and the alley on the
other. -.
The auditorium is quadrilateral in form,
intersected by four great arches springing
from the floor and supporting the ceiling
which is deeply ribbed and paneled. In
closed within the great arch at the rear is
the pulpit platform and the baptistry, while
Immediately over 1t is the organ and choir
loft. At the opposite or front end is q spa
ciouS gallery, which Is reached by means
of an ample staircase in the main tower.
The pastors study is conveniently located
near the pulpit and adjacent to the side
entrance, while at the opposite side ample
provision has been made for robing rooms
for the candidates for baptism, while near
the main entrance is located the parlor.
The entire floor Of the audience room is
dished out to form huge bowl, permitting
obstructed vision Of the pulpit and bap-
tistry.
Sunday School House.
Immediately in the rear Of the church
proper is located the Sunday school house,
the planning of which has been accomplish
ed in highly satisfactory manner. It will
be forty-six by seventy-six feet and will
have a gallery around three sides and
basement story below. To the right of the
superintendent stand on the street side
will be located the infant class room, which
is separated from the main school by roll
ing partitions, and on the left will be sew
eral class rooms and the library, all of
which will open into the main school In
similar manner. The galleries are to be
divided into class rooms, separated by
screens, and are so arranged that when
open each scholar will have a direct and
platform on the floor below.
Within the basement are to be located the
fuel and heater rooms, and also finely equip
ped toilet rooms, a large kitchen, a COM
modious committee room and the social
hall, which will occupy the major portion
of the space.
will be complete In all respects. and 1t will
be one of the notable institutions of Wash
ington.
History of the Congregation.
This congregation has quite an interesting
history coincident with the life of the pas
tor, Rev. c. c. Meador, who Of the original
twenty-one members. alone survives, hav-
ing faithfully served the flock for nearly
half century. From his student days he
has had but this one charge. During his
pastorate, begun when in that section of
the city there were extensive stretches of
common, he has witnessed the gradual
growth of the church to upward of 500
members, with over 300 In the Sunday
school. Prior to 1850 that section OF the
city, cut off from the central portion by
the old Washington city canal, was known
far and wide as 1.-The Island" Then there
were but few church facilities for the peo-
ple the Old School Baptists, the Methodists
and German Lutherans only having houses
Of worship. Devotional meetings were held
in private houses. Among these meetings
were those of the regular Baptists, held at
the house of Mrs. ,Drummond on 18th street
near the wharf. Rev. DIR. G. w. Samson
then pastor of the z street church, and
some of his members became interested in
the work. and other meetings were held
on the Island" From these, in 1885, a mis-
sion, established by the e street church
In Island Hall, 9th street and Virginia
avenue. was formed. DR.. Samson, with
Rev s. H. Mirick, Luther L. Gwath-
ney and A. ]. Huntington, had an
oversight of the work, and the present
pastor, Rev. DR.. Meador, then a young STU
dent OF Columbian College from Bedford
county, Va, was relied on to conduct the
meetings. The Sunday school was organ.
lied the following year. In a few months
1t greatly increased in numbers Among
those who were In the work were George
F. Kendall, brother of Amos Kendall;
James Fraser, Richard Farmhouse, T. q,
Campbell. ]. e. r. Carlin, James Scott,
Thos. Norfieet and Mesdames Kendall, Car
lin, Bryan. Houston and Taylor.
quotation From the Records.
The records of the church show that "a
number of members Of the different Bap-
list churches OF the city, residing in the
seventh ward, more commonly known as