Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

DR.. Wallace Radcliffe of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev. DR..
EastOn Of the Eastern Presbyterian Church
and Rev. Dr. Pitzer of the Central Presby-
terrain Church.
A grand social reunion and reception will
bring the celebration to a close Tuesday
evening. This will be held in the church
annex. and will last from o'clock until TO-
The Fourth Presbyterian Church was or
ganized, with twenty-three members, No
vember "a. 1925 1t was then called the
Central Presbyterian Church. The first
meetings were held in school house on
the corner Of 9th and H streets northwest,
but almost Immediately the congregation,
which grew rapidly from the first, began
the construction Of a church ediflce. The
Little White Church." 9th street between
This was occupied for eleven years. dur
ing which there was steady growth, de-
spite many hardships and difficulties
a larger structure, located on the west
side Of 9th street, opposite the Little
White Church." was erected in 1871. This
building, at 9th and Grant place, was &C.
cupied for sixty years.
This section Of the city in the meantime
having become greatly crowded with busi-
ness houses. and many other churches hav-
ing sprung up in the immediate vicinity.
the congregation OF the 9th street church
decided to rebuild and remove to Column
pia Heights where there was no PreSby-
terrain Church. The chapel at 18th and
Yale streets was accordingly built in 1899.
1t is about three miles from the old prop
erty. In spite of the removal to such dis
lance from the former location almost the
entire membership was retained and in
the new location this was soon greatly
augmented.
New House Of Worship.
Plans have been made for large and
handsome structure on this site. and as
soon as the former church property at 9th
street and Grant place Is sold the new
building will be completed. The present
chapel will then form the rear Of the edi-
fee This chapel Is now being used for
church services and the Sunday school.
The pastoral history of the church is not
so varied as that Of many other churches
in the city. There have been but three
regular pastors. and one stated supply to
minister to the people during the entire
three-quarters of the century
Rev Dr. Joshua N. Danforth acted in
the place of a pastor for the first three
years. The first regular pastor was Rev.
Mason Noble, who held the charge from
1882 to 1899 Under his leadership the
church rapidly improved in spiritual and
material way. Rev. Noble was afterward
pastor OF the Sixth Presbyterian Church of
this city.
The second pastor was Rev. DR.. John c.
Smith. 1889 to 1878. A son of one Of DR..
Smiths elders was the young Joseph T.
Kelly, who decided to study for the
ministry, and after a preliminary educa-
ton in this city went to Princeton. He
graduated from the university and later
from the Princeton Theological Semi
nary. and in 1874 came back to his
fathers and his own church as associate
pastor with DR.. Smith, whom he later
succeeded. DR.. Kelly has continued as
pastor ever since. He is native Of
with the life Of the city. He is regarded
as one Of the most popular and success
full pastors In the District.
Out Of this church have come the AS
sembly's Presbyterian Church and the
Eastern Presbyterian Church Of this city
and Mr. David NJ. Wilson, one Of the eld-
ers. aided in the organization of the
Western Presbyterian Church. Members
Sunday school for colOred children that
afterward became the Fifteenth Street
Presbyterian Church. At present the
congregation of the original church sup
ports a fourishing mission at Berwyn
Md.
Ministers and Missionaries.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church has sent
great many persons into the ministry and
missionary fields, the number easily reach
ing twenty. There are 500 members now on
the roll.
The members of the session are R. g. Jor-
don, DR.. Daniel Macfarlan. Joseph A. Ster-
ling, DIR. Henry J. Hunt. Henry P. viles,
Frank L. Middleton. 8. F. Rynex, T. c..
Newton and DR.. W. H. H. Warman.
The deacons are d. P. Wolhaupter, r. c.
Warman. w. H. Stevens, William Tulloch
Harry Blake and w. N. Cromwell.
The trustees are ]. w. Babcock, D. G.
Dixon. wv. Hollyday.- William Tulloch,
William Selby and James B. Henderson
Mr. A. B. Kelly is the musical director
and Mr.. r. G. Warman liz the superintend-
ent of the Sunday school.
The church recently erected a new build
| ing on its lot. This is devoted to q gym
nasum, not only for boys and girls. but for
men and women as well, the object being
to promote athletics among the members OF
the church. 1t Is expected that In time
there will also be reading room In con-
nection with the gymnasium. Here will be
found good books and current literature for
the older members of the congregation and
games and other suitable amusements for
the children.