The Washington times., 1901-11-04
AN ANNIVERSARY EVENT.
Founding of Mt. Pleasant Congre-
gational Church C0mmemOrated.

Observance Inaugurated Yesterday
with Two Seryices-Addrcssesb by
Pastor and Others-CcIebration to
Continue Throughout the Week.
Services in commemoration of the fif-
teenth anniversary OF the founding of
the church will be held daily, Tuesday
excepted, until Friday night. when the
celebration will end. at the Mount Pleas
ant Congregational Church. Yesterday
the celebration was inaugurated at the
ichurch with Special services in the morn
ing and evening.
Elaborate preparations for the exercises
to be held during the week have been
made by those having the affair in c:s4=ge
The handsome structure at the corner of
Fourteenth Street and Columbia Road
has been tastefuily decorated within for
the coming exercises, and neatly printed
programmes, giving a history of the
church and a biography Of the founder,
the Rev. Charles H. Small have been dis
tributed through the city. The Mount
Pleasant worshippers will not celebrate
their fifteenth anniversary by themselves
The pastors of numerous other churches
in the city will lend their assistance dur
ing the week.
The exercises were formally opened yes
terday morning at II O'Clock by the Rev.
DIR. NJ. Ross Flshburn. the pastor Of the
church, who delivered an unusually inter
osting and impressive sermon taking for
the topic of his discourse: Gratitude for
/ the Past; Courage for the Future" DIR.
Fishburn narrated the history of the
church. starting from the first nights
! meeting held in the little wooden struc-
7 ilgNyp r1 A form.
pied by the congregation, before the erec-
tiun Of the new building. Telling the
story of that first meeting DIR. Fishburn
said:
we pass frame building in one of
our village streets one night. and by ne
light in the windows know that it Z re
cupied. We hear singing. We e1te- s.nd
md score Of men, less one, led ~
young man whom we find to be the Rev.
G. ii: Small. 1t was this night that the
founding of the Mount Pleasant Congre-
gational Church took place, the bylaws
formed constitution framed and the
-s:sifiZatiOn Incorporated.
Indeed TAFT oaks from small acornS
grow. So did our present handsome struc-
ture spring up a result of these few
Christian mems work. That small frame
structure wherein they held their first
meeting still stands on Howard Avenue.
Instead of being ashamed of it, we are
proud Of IT..
Dr. Fishburn related incidents of the
church's career, telling of the grief occa-
sOned its congregation by the resignation
of Mr.. Small. He referred to his own call
to the position left vacant DR.. Fishburn
said it seemed to him as though God had
called him to continue the work left off
by DIR. Small, and that the ties which
bound him to the church grow stronger
with the years. He then bade those mem
bers of the congregation present not to
be satisfied with their present work, but
to push forward to the goal of Christlike
ness.
How do YOU reach 1t? you ask Only
by pressing forward in the name of Christ.
ChHstlikeness has been the incentive for
all great men. Martin Luther built the
first Lutheran church. Christ was in the
farmer boy who afterward turned out to
be the great evangelist, Dwight l.. Moody.
Christ was in the divinity student, sac
rhcing everything to build this church.
refer TO our beloved brother, Charles II.
Small
DR.. Fishburn closed his discourse with
Joaquin Miller's well-known poem. Sail
on" After Mrs. Melvin had rendered a
vocal solo, MY Soul Doth Magnify the
Lord" and the church choir had rendered
| Ave Marie, the morning exercises con-
cluded with the organ postlude.
The evening exercises were of more
elaborate nature, and consisted of a num-
ber of addresses delivered by such we'll
known residents of this city as Gen Ellis
Spear, Albert L. Sturtevant, j. +. Rankin.
u. D., President Of Howard University
The exercises were opened by Rev. j.
1. F.well. D. D., with the invocation. The
Rev II; r Highley, D. D.. conducted
| responsive reading or raaissl essssii \ fter
| hymn by the ChOlr, Ut. isnDufllt IN d
few Introductory remarks. introduced Dr.
| Rankin who delivered an interesting dis
course upon Beginnings of Congrega-
tionalism in Washington: he was 14i-
lowed by the Rey. ]. Chickering, who
chose for his topic, beginnings OF Con
| gregationalism Mount Pleasant. AT
the conclusion OF DR.. Chickering s re
| marks vosal 500 was rendered by MISS
Pond.
Dr. Fishburn sad a long letter from
| the founder OF the church, Rev. Charles
H. Small, in which the latter expressed
his great regret at being unable to at
tend the anniversary exercises ana WISH
ed the membtrs of the conSregatloh Sou-
speed in their work in the future
Gen Ellis Spear talked at some lensth
concerning the ffount Pleasant Consfe-
gational S"clety- one Of the most enter
ltaining speakers 9t the evening was Al
bert L. SturteVant. who narrated cltcuih-
letances connected with the early history
of the church. describing the many oo-
lstaces encountered in the eldeaNor 70
complete the erection of the new church
buildipg Mr. Sturtevaut paid tribute
to the character of the founder. Rev Dr
Small saving he possessed a winning per
scnality, and attached himself to poth the
lold and the Young. Continuing, he said:
Mr. Small was admirably ttt2d to car
lry forward the new enterprise. The
church in all its interests steacliy pros
pered. and when the call came for him
to go to another field. he carried with him
the regrets and best wishes OF ms en-
tire congre CATION.
pastor Mr. Sturtevant said:
without unnecessary delay the church
| and society called our present beloved
| pastor. who has for seven years minis
| tered to us Since March 20, 1898. we
| have wOrshipped in this beautiful home
which is a striking tribute to the fore
| sight courage and persistence of those
| who with the pastor fostered the project
| Of moving and building. This IS not the
time nor the place to eulogize MT ISM ISM
| burn but | am sure | can say Tor you
| that he has given us conscientious ser
| vice. In ioy and sorrow he has been our
| nastor and friend. Not sparinS hImseH.
| he has stimulated us to higher thouShtS
| and to nohler resolves and lives. lie mas
brought To Us in varied forms , Ile orc s
| and the new things ot.t of the word OF
| God This tribute would he very incom-
| ulete II I should fail to mention the dear
| one who has heen to him and to his peo-
pie a constant and efficient helpmeet
| Mr. Sturtcvant was followed by ben
| iamin z. Davis. a member OF the church
who delivered a discourse from the
| theme: The Mount Pleasant Congrega-
tional Church of the Future: Prophecy
| and a Prayer" At the conclusion OF MS
| remarks the exercises were brought to a
| close with the singing OF a hymn ana
| the pronouncing of the benedlction Dy
the Rev. r. n. Seymour
| The members of the church Will hold
| meetings every night until Friday night,
| with the exception Of Tuesday. On Fri
| day night the largest meeting of the week
| has been ARRANGED, and invitations nave
| been sent TO nun arous other local clergy
| men, requesting their participation IN the
| exercises.
| The meeting tonight will be held in
| the church parlor at S:15 o'clock, with