The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-10
Where the President
Goes to Church.

THAT Theodore Roosevelt
should have chosen one OF
Washington's smallest and
least pretentIous churches as
his place Of worship was characteris-
tic Of him as man and President.
Grace Reformed Church occupies the
rear portion Of valuable piece Of lard
at the northeast corner OF Fifteenth
and o streets. Just ut the eastern bOr-
der Of WashingtOn's most fashionable
many other small churches, whether in
city or village. II represents years OF
supreme self-denial on the part OF
few devoted soIls-in this case the de.
scendants Of those sturdy pioneers
who came from the Rhine Palatina,e
early in the eighteenth century. and
settled In Montgomery County and
other eastern counties In Pennsylya-
MIA. The adherents of this denomiEa.
tion. later known as "The German Re-
formed Church In the United States.'
spread upward along the Hudson and
downward into North Carolina. estab-
fishing places Of worship and found
ing institutions Of learning. and other
wise so deeply taking root in the fer.
tile soil Of free country that at It's
second general synod, held In Dayton.
Ohio. In 1869. the word German" was
dropped from Its name, and II became
known as the Reformed Church In
the United States"
Its worship Is liturgical and its gov
ernment presbyterian. The first of It's
ministers who came to this country
brought with them the lIturgies Of those
sections Of Germany and Switzerland
from which they emigrated. preference
being given to that Of the Palatinate.
This. with few notifications. contin.
ued In use until 1866. when the present
order Of worship was reported by
committee appointed for the purpose.
Each congregation Is governed by q
consistory. composed Of pastor. elders
and deacons. The elders and deacons
are ordained by the laying on Of hands.
The Washington congregation was
organized in 1877. and the church at
Fifteenth and o streets was built two
or three years later. II Is small
building, Of red brick. crowned by
modest spire and cross. The sloping
ceiling Is frescoed In a delicate shade
of blue. with friezes In neutral tints.
and the windows are of stained glass
In a simple. yet tasteful design. Over
the altar are three black tablets, bear
Ing in gilt letters the Lords Prayer.
the Apostles Greed and the Ten Com
mandments. At the left Of the altar q
slightly elevated inclosure forms the
choir loft.
Every Sunday morning. Just at the
stroke Of II. n voluntary sounds from
the sweet-toned chapel organ. 1t IL
followed with in anthem by the choir.
during which IN usher escorts to the
second pew In the middle tier the Pres
ident Of the United States. usually ac-
companied by one or two of his chill
dren. He leaves the White House .
few minutes before II. and with rapid
strides passes up Sixteenth street.
scarcely slackening his pace when he
gains the brick walk leadIn. to rho
door Of the church. Taking his place
reverently In his pew Mr. Roosevelt
follows the order Of worship and sings
the hymns with a reverence betting q
descendant Of the sturdy Netherland.
ers who fought kings. popes and the
ocean itself. and during their warfare
planted and nurtured the seeds Of an
undying faith. When the benediction
has been pronounced the worshipers