The Washington times., 1902-01-12

missionary recently returned from China.
the Rev. E. W. Syle, took charge of the
work.
Then the interruption occurred which
made compulsory, for the time being, the
use of the house of God for works OF
mercy On June IA, 1862, the building was
fitted up as an army hospital. This lasted
for ten months.
During this time of enforced absence
from its regular place of worship, the
congregation was compelled to take ad-
vantage of the hospitality of others. meet
ing first in its old home. the city hall,
and afterward in the Wesley Chapel. This
is the second case already chroncIed of
an Episcopal congregation finding shelter
during the civil war under Methodist
roof.
Rector Twenty-nine Years.
Brighter days followed, even before the
war was over, and the Rev. Robert ].
Keeling did much to counteraet the loss
that had been incurred. When he resigned
in 1867. the Rev. Thomas G. Addison un-
dertook the charge he retained until his
death. DR.. Addison was rector OF Trinity
Church twenty nine years.
After DR.. Addison's death the parish
was for a time under the care OF the Rev.
A NJ. Rich, until February "a. 1897, when
the present rector. Rev. Richard j. Will
liams, assumed charge.
DR.. Williams was born in New Orleans
August q, 1855. He graduated from the
College OF the City of New York in 1874,
and in the following year engaged in busi-
ness on the New York Cotton Exchange.
For the next fifteen years he was identined
with that exchange, also the produce ex-
change, the coffee exchange, the consoli-
dated exchange, and the Chicago Board
of Trade.
In 1890 he closed his business and went
TO Richmond, Va. where he studied for
orders, and was ordained in 1898. in his
toric St. Pauls Protestant Episcopal
Church of that city. He was assistant
rector of st. Paul's until 1894, when he re-
ceived a call to the rectorship of the
Church of the Holy Comforter OF Mont
gomery, Ala. where he rema ined until he
assumed charge of Trinity Church in this
city in February, 1897.
DR.. Williams is Archdeacon of the Dis
trict OF Columbia. District secretary of
the Board of Missions for the Middle
States, chairman &C the board OF e1amin-
ing chSplains of the Diocese of Washing
ton. and was delegate from the Diocese
OF Washington TO the general convention
CT the Protestant Episcopal Church, held
in San Francisco last summer.
DR.. Williams a Mason.
He is also q thirty third degree Mason.
and was presented with a handsome jewel
by the Lodge of Strict Observance, No.
2n7, OF Richmond. April 13. 1891
The facilities of Trinity Church are de-
cidedly noteworthy. and their history de-
serves mention. In 1868 the recto-y was
/ built at a cost OF $4,000. The recess
chancel was built in 1874, thus providing
for vestry room below at the same
time. The interior of the church has un-
derEOne various notifications.
The communion table and Iecterns of
black walnut have given way to a new
pattern in beautiful white marble. The
floor OF the chancel has been laid in mo-
sale stone. bow windows added, and the
interior of the church frescoed.
Other changes in arrangement and fit
tings have tecn made. including the re-
moYal Of the organ from the gallery and
the fitting of stalls for the vested choir.
All this has been done during the rector
ship of DR.. Williams. and one of the feel
ings that prompted it was the desire to
supply some suitable memorial for Dr..
Addison
The Parish Hall.
Previous to that and during DR.. Addi-
sons lifetime the parish hall had been
constructed. which is beyond doubt the
/ most adequate of any of which the Epis-
| copal churches OF the city are favored.
( 1t consists OF two stories and basement.
ana its largest room furnishes an audi
! torium which is convenient for large local
meetings. The price of the ground. s11,
| coo. was raised by the Dorca5 Society.
/ The hall itself cost $4,000.
! Owing to a lack OF agreement between
J Bishop Wittingham and the vestTy at a
I time when the church was free from debt
| the parish hall Was not consecrated, and
I today there is small encumbrance stand
+ ing against il.
/ Besides its connection with the Orgari-
! zation OF the diocese, it is interesting to
{ note that Trinity Church welcomed the
! first convention of the Diocese of Wash
ingtcn. and that it Witnessed the first Of
! fetal service OF its Bishop. the Rt. Rev.
Henry Y. SatteTlee. as well Is his first
! ordination and the first marriage cere-
I mcny performed - him alone.
/ From its compact appearance, one
[ would not suppose there were sittings for
/ .2G0 persons. That there are SO many is
| due 10 the galleries on both sides and in
J the west end.
The Comniuaicnnts Numerous.
| The eommuniean5s number S12. while the
Sunday school has 300 scholars. Trinity
I Church is the home of branches Of the va
rious church organizations. including a
chapter of the C. A. 1. L., numbering
/ / twenty.
Many distinguished men of the past
| have been claimed as members of this
| CONGREGATION. but so far as can be learned
the claims hang by very slender thread
Of tradition. Daniel Webster, Henry Clay,
and John Quincy Adams lived within a
suaarc or Two u the church. and the in
fe cnce IS that they attended there. That
Judre Davis, of the United States Supreme
Court. and Judge Joseph Fl. Bradley at
tended there is no doubt. Columbus De-
lano, former Secretary of the Interior
was not only 4 communicate of the
church, but superintendent of the Sunday
school for several years.