Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30


the handsome new structure erected at the
corner of 10Th and o streets northwest for
the use of the Grace Reformed congrega-
tion. which has the distinction of number
ing President Roosevelt among it's commu-
nicants. will begin in the new edifice next
wednesday evening, when Rev. DR.. A. r.
bartholomew of Philadelphia, secretary of
foreign missions of the church. will deliver
the sermon. The dedicatory exercises will
continue every evening thereafter through
the week with the exception of Saturday
ovanine and the service of conservation of
tha church will be held Sunday morning,
June Z.
An elaborate program has been prepared
for the event which, it is anticipated, will
he q notable one In the history of the de-
nomination Among the speakers for the
occasion will be President Roosevelt and a
number of clergymen prominent in the
work of the Reformed Church throughout
the United States. 1t had been the original
intention to begin the services tomorrow
night but on account of the unfinished con-
dition of the interior of the structure tbs
first three services which had been previ-
ously arranged will be dispensed with.
The program provides for addresses at
the evening services by ministers and Off
GERS of the general synod of the Reformed
Church as follows:
Wednesday, Rev. DR.. A. r. Bartholomew,
Philadelphia, secretary of foreign missions;
Thursday evening, Rev. Dr. John Sechler,
Phila delphia professor of church history In
the Reformed School of Theology; Friday
evening, Rev. DIR. c. c. Musser of Phila-
delphia editor of the Reformed Church
Messenger.
The most notable service in the series of
meetings will be that attending the con-
secration of the new structure, to be held
Sunday morning. June Z. at IL o'clock. At
oyf do
liver a brief address. and the dedicatory
sermon will be preached by Rev DR.. E. r.
Eschbach of Frederick, Md. president of
the board of missions of the general synod.
In the evening Rev. 1. u. Apple OF Gaia
wissa Pa, formerly pastor of the Grace
Reformed Church. will deliver the sermon.
Special music will be furnished for all the
services attending the conservation of the
edifice by the church choir composed OF Miss
Lewis soprano: Miss Chenowith, alto; Mr..
N l.: Meyer, tenor. and Mr.. j. P. Schick,
bass. In the dedication of the edifice the
form of service prescribed by the church
will be used. The new structure will be
consecrated under the name of the Grace
Memorial Reformed Church.
The Grace Reformed Church is the Eng
fish speaking representative, in this city, OF
a denomination which traces it's outward
history from the reformation OF the SIX
tenth century and is one of the earliest
organization of Professionalism. Original
ing in that great religious revolution, and
from that section which drew its lnspira-
ton from the free life of the Swiss repub
lie, this denomination has always laid
strong stress upon the principle of evan
gelicaI freedom, and from it's beginning
has proclaimed its adherence to the idea of
a free church in a free land.
Coming from Europe the denomination
chung persistently to the use of the German
language in worship, until other denomina-
tons of the same type of religious life be-
gan to speak the message Of evangelical
in
Gradually, however, the church began to
use the English language, and to appreciate
the historic mission of the denomination to
declare the Importance of citizens Of a
free land entering into direct relation
of union with Christ as the only and all
sufficient source of salvation, and as the
one qualification of true citizenship.
Under this conviction the leaders of the
denomination felt that the place to deliver
it's message was. among all Others the
capital of the free nation. So in 1876 a
committee of Maryland classis, the judica-
tory of the Reformed Church covering this
territory, canvaSsed the field, found few
members of the denomination living in this
city and October I, 1877, organized the mis-
sion under the name of st. Stephens Re-
formed Church But this name under the
influence of it's first pastor was changed to
Grace Reformed Church.
The organization was formed in the
chapel of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation building, at the corner of 9th and D
whom but four are in full communion with
the congregation at present. These are Mr..
Peter S. Lesh, Miss Anna Cook, now Mrs.
Lesh; Mrs. A M. Albright and Mr.. j. B.
Albright.
The congregation has been served by four
pastors. Soon after it's organization a call
extended to Rev. G. B. Russell, d. D.,
then serving a charge at East End, Pitts
burg, Pa. On his entering upon the work
regular services were held, and a Sunday
school organized at kindergarten Hall,
corner of X and Sth streets, and a consid
cradle growth in the congregation was
noted, but in less than two years, 1t Is said,
controversies arose between the minister
and a few members and soon the OrganiZa-
ton practically spoiled.
In 1880 Rev. c. f. Sontag, fresh from the
seminary at Lancaster Pa, undertook the
pastorate of the congregation, and for nine
years conducted it's affairs with varying
success The place of worship was changed
first to st. Georges Hall on 18th street be-
tween and F streets northwest, and then
when the chapel which was erected during
this ministry was finished at 18th and o
streets into that structure as permanent
home After nine years of service this
minister entered the communion of another
denomination in this city, and the resulting
confusion again threatened the life of the
congregation
Rev. a. T. G. Apple was then called to the
pastorate of the Reformed Church, and for
ten years successfully carried the work
forward. He succeeded in bringing the con-
gregation into normal working order, and
after his decade of service left many
friends here who were deeply attached to
him.
In February Rev. Dr. John M. Schick. the
present in incumbent, undertook the work.
He found 112 active members of the con-
gregation, who were somewhat discouraged
because OF the urgent necessity of securing
church home worthy of me denomination
for broadening the scope of the society's
work
AS final effort 1t was proposed to ap-
peal to the denomination at large for such
building and the board of missions gave
support to the movement. When the pres
ent pastor began his duties with the church
there was something like 5000 provided
as sort of nest egg for the enterprise. DR..
Sch1ck came into the work with the en-
thus1asm awakened by a successful pastor
ate. in other and important fields, and be-
ievlng that the Reformed Church had
message for the people of this republic and
that the message would be heard. He be-
gan earnestly to canvass among the mem
bers. AT first, it is said less than fifty
attended the services hllt the