The Washington times., 1901-09-23
THE PRESIDENT At CHURCH
Joins in Divine Service With Grace
Reformed Congregation.
a Christian Life the Only One to BE
Thoroughly Enjoyed. Says the Rev
MFR. Schick-ReproOf Administered
by Executive TO Kodak Fiend.

Thoroughly Enjoyed, Says the Rev
Mr.. Schicts-Reproof Administered
by Executive to Kodak Fiend.
In an transformations manner, and ac-
companied only by his brother-in-law.
Douglas Robinson, President Roosevelt
yesterday morning walked from tn n
Street residence of Commander Cowles
and attended divine worship for the first
time in Washington since becoming the
Executive of tho nation. at the humble
little Grace Reformed Church. on Fif-
teenth Street near Street northwest, of
| which Rev. ]. NJ. Schick is pastor.
President Roosevelt has not a pew in
this church. The small place of worship
is free to all inclined TO attend services
there. but the President has signified his
intention of being worshipper at this
church while Chief Magistrate, and he
will take his place each Sabbath upon
the same footing as the rest of the con-
gregation. He occupied the end seat on
the left of the centre aisle. in the second
row of benches. and it is this place which
win be his for the remainder of his stay
in Washington. While Vice President.
and even before his election to that office.
the President has been a devout worship
that he has been elevated TO the highest
Office in the land he will continue to at
tend religious services there.
The appearance of the President yes
terday at the church was democratic in
the extreme. He arrived promptly at II
o clock. having walked the entire distance
from the home of Commander Cowles.
The small church was packed to the doors
by the time he arrived. In anticipation
of his attending service there pew had
been reserved for him. He passed down
the aisle and took his seat, a quiet, dig
nified gentleman. dressed in black frock
coat. who. judging from the simplicity of
his manner. might have been anything
but President of the United States. He
placed his silk hat beneath the seat to
which he had been shown, and Joined at
once IN the service.
The church of which the President will
be a member during his official life in
Washington is simple both in exterior and
interior. 1t is situated a considerable dis
tance back of the building line of F'if-
teenth Street, a small red brick building
with slate roof, thoroughly in keeping
with the tastes of the devout members of
the congregation. An unfenced lawn,
through which a small footpath leads to
the door. is the only approach to the
building. The side of the church is toward
Fifteenth Street, with the single entrance
in the southwest corner.
Inside the building is plain but home
like, and has the appearance of place
where people go to worship God rather
than for any Interior reasons. The STAIN
ed glass windows are not Of costly mate
rial nor are they formed in any design.
me is &c
To the right of the pulpit is the small
platform upon which the choir is seated,
and a piano furnishes the music The
pulpit is in keeping with the rest of the
tiny church-it is small and unpreten-
tious. The edifice itself has a very limited
seating capacity Every seat was occu-
pied yesterday morning. and many people
were turned away for lack of room, for
even the aisles and rear portion of the
church were filed with standing people.
Although the congregation was unus-
ually large, there was no curiosity mani
Tested on the part of those who were
present. The service was opened by
Scripture reading by the pastor. followed
by the hymn. Jesus. the Hopse of Israel,
the Desired of All Nations" The Presi-
dent Joined in the song Of worship. and
also took part in the responsive prayer
at the cnnclueion oe the hymn.
DR.. Schick offered up a supplication for
a closer bond between mankind and Al
mighty God, and made an earnest plea
for deeper and truer worship. For his SER
mon he took the text Ephesians iii:I7, 10:
THAT Christ may dwell in your
hearts by faith; that We being rooted and
grounded in love may be able to compre-
hend with all saints. what is the
l,,.sa IL p,,l
height; and to know the love of Christ
which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with the fullness of God"
The pastor spoke of the words of the
Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, and drew
a sermon of the Scriptural sort from the
lesson contained in his words. He said
in part:
Our prayerful attention turns this
morning to the prayer of St Pau for the
Ephesiar Church. which he had planted
and with which he had lived three years,
and for his congregation, to which he had
addressed this letter. The epistle is es-
pecially interesting on account of is en-
cyclical character, and because 1t con-
tains the fullest treatise of the origin.
life and purpose Of the Church of Christ
The origin of the Church is the eternal
council of God the Father. while it's life
and progress is through the Son, and its
aim and end is the Holy Spirit The epis-
tie describes the Christian life, its great
endeavors and purposes in the fullest and
broadest sense, and shows Us the means
by which we make ii manifest. Turning
to the prayer itself, we find that II sets
forth the highest ideal of the Church,
which Paul prays may be the experience
of his flock The whole purpose is that
We may be able to do the work of the
Church for the glory of God, and for the
furtherance of his Kingdom upon earth.
The Church life Is the only life which
we can unseltishly enjoy. 1t is the only
existence which absolute
rest, peace and quiet. And by enjoying II
our greatest measure of happiness lies in
our endeavor TO help others across the
difficult places of earth. The life by the
grace OF the Gospel is the only life which
can regenerate. and make mankind anew
Let us do all We can to make the world
better. to advance the religion of God, to
help others, that our lives may reveal a
delightful salvation TO the world"
President Roosevelt was an attentive
listener to the earnest discourse, deliv-
cred in spirit which approached almost
TO eloquence. After the sermon the choir
the congregation, when Lord Jesus Shall |
Be Revealed From Heaven" The Presi- |
dent Joined in the deeply religious words |
and his voice was heard by those seated
within a short distance of him. When |
the benediction had been pronounced the |
President. accompanied by Mr.. Robinson. |
moved toward the door with the rest of |
the congre CATION. DR.. Schick walked to |
upon his shoulder as they |
passed through the small church. At the |
door the President requested DR.. Schick |
10 have sung his fayorite hymn.
Just as the President left the church a
boy with camera nearly as
arge as himself endeavored to obtain |
snapshot of the Executive. President
Roosevelt waved his hand quickly to a po-
iceman near the entrance, who imme-
iiately stepped before the camera As
President @ he ren lyad |