The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-28
DISTRICT BAPTISTS'
FIRST CENTENNIAL

been followed by large bands Of their de
nomination. Since the early days of the
last century fifteen white churches Of that
faith have been organized in the District
or Columbia. The cOlOred Baptists are
also numerically a strong body Of people.
Has Had -Four Homes.
During its century Of life the First Bap-
fist Church has occupied four different
buildings. The first was a modest little
structure at the corner Of Nineteenth and
] Streets northwest, the site now occupied
by the First Colored Baptist Church. In
the year 1898 a new building was erected
on Tenth Street which was occupied until
1851
This building has a tragic history. for
after IL ceased TO De used as a church
it was .emodeled and became Ford's
Theatre. and it was there that John Wilkes
Booth fired the shot which cut short the
life Of b. great emancipation. Lincoln
From The Old Ford's Theatre building.
which by the year 1861 had become too
small to contain the growing congrega-
ton, the First Baptist Church removed
10 the larger and more comUodious struc-
turC OF the Fourth Baptist Church. on
Thirteenth Street, near II Street. uniting
with that body OF worshipers. The build
ing then occupied is now known as the
Builders Exchange
In 1858 the present handsome building
at the corner Of Sixteenth and o Streets.
in the growing northwest section Of the
city, was erected.
But Five Pastors.
In the century since the church's es-
adjustment there have been but five regu-
lar pastors, a remarkable record. These
II
Brown, the Rev. stephen P. Hin, the Rev
A. D. Gillette, the Rev. J. H. Cuthbert
and the Rev Charles a. Stakely. The lat
ter resigned nearly two years ago, and
since his departure the Rev. Edward B
Pollard Pm. d, has been the acting pas
tor Under his charge the church has
been in a healthful condition in all its
departments.
DR.. Pollard is a native of Virginia, and
began his theological studies early. nc
took bachelors degree at Richmond
College. Richmond, Va, and from there
went 20 Yale. He graduated from Yale
University in 1888 with the degree CT doc
tor OF philosophy. After two years spent
at the Baptist Theological Seminary il
Louisville, Ky.,-Dr. Pollard was called tC
the pastOTste Of the Howard Avenue Bap-
fist Church. New Haven. Conn. From
. there ne went 10 the FIRST BaHllSL AlNTci
az Roanoke, Va For the last six year!
he has occupied the Bible chair at Ia,
Columbian University
Some Of the Older Members.
/ Mr.. John W Clarke the senior deacon
I Of the church. has been member FOR
over sixty years. HIS father. Isaac
+ Clarke. was a member Of the church il
its infancy. Mr.. Clarke has over a hal
f century OF "reminiscences Of The life o
/ the organization.
/ Mr.. Edgar SpeiGon Joined the church il
/ 1852 and has also witnessed a half cen
/ fury Of its growth. Mr.. Spieden was hap
/ tised in the buildilg on Tenth Stree
/ which was afterwards remOdeled and be
. came Ford's Theatre. Mr.. Spieden va
/ employed as a, cIerll in the building at tn
time the foorsg&ve way in 1888. He wa
slightly injurdd
/ Prof. Otis T. Mason and Dr. George c
Samson. OF the Surgeon Generals Office
are two OF the deacons who have been con
nected with the church for more thai
forty years.
Mr.. George ". McLaurin. Of the Treas
ury Department, and Prof. William A
Wilbur, professor OF English literature a