Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-26

In the center on he east side and on the
west side is lecture room, to be set off
from the main auditorium with folding
DOORS On the north and south sides of the
church respectively are high arched win
dows of stained glass There is also
stained-glaSS window in the west side. The
seating capacity of the building is about
three hundred persons. Capt William Nj.
Somerville, an elder of the church, was the
architect ri al .
- The building was commenced in January
of this year and the first service was held
in the structure last Sunday morning.
The beginning of the Washington Heights
Presbyterian Church dates back to the
spring Of 1898, when at a home dinner of
intimate friends the need of Christian work
in that locality was incidentally brought
up. After considerable discussion the mat
ter was seriously considered by those pres
ent. AS result of this conference the
foundation was laid during the summer for
future work by the organization of prayer
circle composed of seven members, VINO
agreed to consider the founding of a
church. This circle continued It's meetings
throughout the summer and into the spring
of 1859, when two prominent ministers were
con Salted and both advised that the build
ing of the church be taken up at once. The
prayer circle continued its meetings, al
though actual encouragement came I'M
til February, 1909, when a small number of
ladies. met to consider the question, and
agreed that there was great need of
Sunday school in the neishborhood. An
Faster Sunday, April s. 1900, with thirty
five persons present The cradle of the
Sunday school was a manager, Col. George
TrueSdells barn being it's home until the
land was sold IN 1901 and the building de-
stroyed to give way to'a large apartment
house.
The loss of their meeting place did not
destroy the faith Of the members and the
announcement was made that services
would be held the following Sunday. notice
of the place Of meeting to be sent by mail.
Their faith was rewarded by nome being
provided for the school by Mrs. William
Belden Noble in the studio over her stable
at 2120 Kalorama avenue. overlooking Rock
Creek Park. The school was thoroughly
equipped for primary, intermediate, adult
and home departments, and weekly prayer
meetings and teachers meetings were held.
The origin and splendid success of the
Sunday school are due almost wholly to
the efforts of Mrs. Henry J. Finley, who
was the first superintendent.
The next important steps were the estab-
lishment of preaching service at the close
of the Sunday school, at the urgent request
of several residents Of the heights. and the
organization of a missionary society The
first preaching services were held seven
months after the organization of the school,
at 4:15 In the afternoon. and the pulpit
supply was volunteered. The average at
tendance at these services was % and at
the Sunday 81. The combined offerings for
the first thirteen months amounted to
$SS6.14, and this sum was raised entirely by
personal contributions, no entertainments
for financial gain being held. The mis-
sionary society also did successful work
and when the Sunday school was only SIX
weeks old, a donation Of SIG was made to
the India famine fund.
Thus far no steps had been taken to or
ganize the Sunday school as a regular
church, although In June, 1900, Mrs. ChaS.
A. Douglass voluntarily contributed $1oO to
assist IN purchasing a lot for church
building, and five small girls. pupils of
Wa ShinQtOn Seminary none OF them MEM
bers of the Sunday school, also contributed
SIS as the proceeds frpm a sale, to apply
to the same purpose.
The Sunday school and congregation were
composed Of members of several denomina-
lions and while tha majority were Presby-
terians. yet there We're Baptists, Episcopa-
lians and Congregatiopalfsts included, ana
the name Of the field eof organization had
not been definitely decided upon until about
Easter of 1901. when a lady living near
New York city, returning from winter In
few days, visited {he iitte Sunday school
and voluntarily offered t4 subscribe $1,000
toward the purchase bf . lot. contingent
upon the. organiza<forf OF a Presbyterian
come to form the ' Church and several meet
ings were held for this purpose. A petit
ton was presented to the presbytery OF
Washington June 2. requesting organiza-
ton. This petition was granted and June
16, 1901. the late DIR. Byron Sunderland, as
chairman Of the committee of the Presby-
terry appointed for that purpose. declared the
church duly organized under the laws of
the presbytery Of Washington. The church
had a membership of seventeen by letter,
four on profession of faith and at the same
service four children were baptized DR..
B. F. Bittinger was the first moderator Of
sessions. At present there are forty-six
communicates.
The pastor, Rev. E. Lawrence Hunt, has
served the congregation since September.
1901. Rev. Mr.. Hunt was born near To-
ronto, Canada. and graduated from the
Toronto University in the class Of 1888.
After graduation he accepted position as
instructor in English In the Ontario Agri-
cultural College of the Toronto University,
but resigned to take up his theological
studies in Knox College. Toronto. Upon
completing the course in the theological
the ministry. but was diverted from this
plan by the very urgent call from the inter-