Evening star., 1902-03-01

c. c. Meador. of the Fifth Baptist Church.
and The Era of Cooperation" by Rev.
DIR. s. H. Greene, of the Calvary Church.
Mr.. W. 5. Shallenberger. the moderator or
the Columbia Baptist Association. will pre-
side. and the music will be under the dl-
JeCtion of the Calvary Church choir
on Tuesday evening. at the First Bap-
tist Church. corner 10th and o streets
northwest there will be an inter-denOm-
national service. Addresses VII be given
by representa- tivcs of other denominations.
The Baptist Social Union will have
charge of the exercises at the First Church
WCdne eSday evening, when a pleasant pro-
gram will be given.
On Thursday evening the First Church.
ythe mother church" will have a Home
ttVcniug' AT which responses will be given
tor read from absent and former members,
"reminiscences and greetings from former
sons of the church, the chief address of the
tevening being by the Rev. Thomas S Sam
son. D. d., of Philadelphia. a distinguished
;son of the church and son of the late
lamented president of the Columbian Uni
Nersity, Rev. George w. Samson LID.
B. On Friday, March I. at 1:'o pm. the Rev.
Thomas Edwin Brown, ID, of Franklin,
Pa. will deliver the centennial address,
this being the anniversary day. His sub
ject will be: The Century of Baptist Prin-
CipleS DR.. Brown. who was born and
brought up in Washington. is an alumnus
of the Columbian University, class of 81.
and is considered one of the ableSt speak
erS in the Baptist pulpit, having ministered
TO several of the strongest churches in the
denomination. in Rochester. Providence and
in Philadelphia. A collection of portraits
of the early pastors of the First Church
Will be exhibited in the lecture room, and
an informal reception given by the ladies
of the First Church at the close of DR..
Browns address. The two Sundays bor-
dcring upon centennial week-tomorrow
and March 3-wil be observed as each
church sees fit. At the First Church there
Will be appropriate services. Tomorrow
the subject will be "A Glance Backward;"
q lrl nnl- E1n
Century. A centennial ode has been
written by Miss Mary MacMakin and set
to music by Mr. Percy S. Foster. This
hymn will be sung during the centennial
exercises. The public is cordially welcomed
to all of these services.
1t will be one hundred years March 4
since the first church of the Baptist de-
nomination was constituted in the District
of Columbia. On the 9TH of March, 1902,
just fifteen months after the removal of the
national capital to Washington. six persons
OF the Baptist faith constituted themselves
into a Baptist church. They met first in the
hall of the old treasury building. which oc-
cupied a part of the site of the presen.
treasury, and afterward for time in pri-
Vate houses.
The constituent members were mostly
persons who had come to Washington as
employees of the government. and their first
preacher, or supply pastor was the Rev
William Parkinson, a Baptist minister, who
was at that time chaplain to Congress.
One of the first thoughts of the little
church for a house of worship. for
some months most of the meetings having
been held in private houses. BY generous
aid of citizens and of Baptists in other
parts of the country neat house of wor-
ship was erected upon lot on the south
west corner of 18th and | streets. the site
now occupied by cOlored Baptist church.
With the exception of churches IN George
town and in Rock creek parish, already es-
tablished, the first Baptist church was one
of the earliest to be organized in the newly
chosen District of Columbia.
For almost five years there was no regu-
lar pastor. visiting ministers and the chap
lain of Congress furnishing the spiritual
food for the church, al more less regular
Intervals. In those days the churches had
no separate buildings nor separate organza-
ti0ns for the accommodation of colore q
members. A part of the church was set
apart for the colored membership, and they
attended in goodly numbers
In 1907 the little church felt strong enough
to call a regular pastor, and in that year
obtained the services of the Rev. Obadiah
II. Brown Of Newark, n. ]. Ministerial
support in those days was small and pre-
cdrious, and Mr.. Brown accepted a reSpOn-
sible position in the Post Office Department,
which he held for number of years. be-
coming one of the most trusted advisers in
several succeeding administrations. "Par-
son Brown" as all loved to cali him, was a
man of very decided character and Of great
ability, holding his own for many years in
church and state. and continually gather
Ing new influence as the years went by.
For nearly half a century Mr.. Brown min
tstered to the church with distinguished d
ability and success till his successor was
chosen in 1850.
1t was in the year 1910 when the first
colony went out to form new church.
Washington was at the beginning Of the
century rather derisively. but accurately.
termed "a city of magnificent distances''-
an expression Of which its people later be-
came proud. A long stretch Of country
lay between Capitol Hill and the corner
Of 18th and I streets. A little company
Of members decided to withdraw from the
mother church and form . second church.