Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-16
FIFTY YEARS OLD
Anniversary oFwAUaH METH
oD1sr Ep1scdr y CHURCH.
Present and Formlr Pastors Make
Addresses-An Appropriate
Musical 1resAm.

The first days celebration OF the hftieth
anniversary of the founding OF Waugh
Methodist Episcopal Church, Sd and A
streets northeast, was held In that edifice
yesterday. Three services-morning, after
noon and evening-consistng Of an appro-
pirate musical program and addresses by
present and former pastors, were attended
by unusually large numbers Of the men,
bers Of the church and their friends.
In his sermon at the morning services,
Rev. George E. Maydwell. pastor. gave a
brief history of the organization of the
church He took for his text, "A Jubilee
Shall That Fiftieth Year Be Unto You"
He said the text was a law Of God unto
the people of Israel, and that every fiftieth
year was a universal obligation upon the
Jews to be observed in the release Of
debtors from their dues in the liberation of
bondsmen and the pardonng of certain Of
lenses Under the Jewish law, said the
pastor, every one was a brother, and the
result was manifestation of friendship to
all.
Continuing, he said:
This Is the fiftieth year Of the found
ing of our church. 1t is well for to re-
joice. AS the great race of Israel grew
Egypt, so a strong church has grown out
of an organization founded under very
unauspicious circumstances. Fifty years
ago the church had a humble beginning in
a small one-story house on Massachusetts,
avenue between Sd and 4th street north
east, and Sunday school was started with
only seven members Twelve were taken
into the church then; today the member
ship is 600. Five times the place of Wor-
ship was changed, and at last commo-
dious home has been secured"
Exhibit Of Church Work.
Mr.. Maydwell cited figures showing the
amount Of money the church had contrib
uted to missionary and benevolent enter
prises and toward the support Of aged min
isters declaring that these acts were but
a return In a measure for the blessing of
God He spoke of the holy purpose the
founders Of the church had in the effort to
save precious souls and of their sacrifices
to that end. He declared that they We're
not men who despised small things, and be-
cause Of them and their worthy successors
the church had grown to be a power for
God. The pastor admonished the members
not to be intoxicated with the joy Of sue
cess, but that they must apply themselves
to the problems Of today and provide
against disintegration. That they must
keep the spirit of God In their hearts and
their affairs burning with the fire of love.
Reunion Exercises.
The exercises of the afternoon included
reunion of former pastors and the members
of the church. Rev. CIV. .Leech, who was
pastor Of the church in 1863 addressed the
meeting, and, in part said: In March,
1868, 1 became your pastor. 1t was just
after the commencement of my ministry
that that great and good man. President
Lincoln, was assassinated. Those were IN
tense times and were not fruitful for re-
ligious matters However, I recall with
pleasure the inspiring associations which
l had with some of your noble men, such
as Mr. Middleton, Mr.. Dyer and Mr.
Hayghe. Since my pastorate you have en-
Nnytt, md no,
ward. There are three things for which L
am grateful First, that l had pious par
ents; secondly, that I gave my heart to
God very early in life; thirdly, that join
ed the Methodist Church. j love other de-
nomination but l love the church of my
choice the best
A short address was made by Rev w. c..
Mullen and brief talks by Mr.. Asker of
Brightwood, Mr.. w. b. Williamson of the
Douglas Memorial Church, Mr.. James Dyer
of Trinity Church, Mr.. f. II. Ripley, Mr.
o. f. Edgar, Mrs. Mary Laycock and Mr..
j. r. Zimmerman of the Metropolitan Pres
byterian Church.
The Evening Program.
The evening service consisted of excellent
musical selections and address by Mr.
MaydweIl, the pastor, who spoke on The
House of God
The necessity. of erecting a new parsonage
was called to attention during the days
celebration, and subscriptions were asked
for Almost one-half of the desired amount
was subscribed at the morning services, and
before the close of the evenings exercises
sufficient money had been raised to insure
the beginning of the work at an early day.
The Waugh Church had its beginning in
a small structure on Massachusetts avenue,
between Sd and 4th streets northwest,
March 10, 1853, when a Sunday school was
organized by Mr.. Charles Lane. Later in
the same year Rev. James H. Brown, pas
tor of the Wesley Chapel, formed the first
class consisting of twelve members. This
was the commencement Of the church or
ganizaton. Through Mr.. Hanson Brown,
Waugh Church was enabled to obtain thrse
of the five structures which have housed il
He offered the house on Massachusetts ave-
nue. first. Next he gave front room In his
house on street. Ere long more room was
necessary, and during the summer the meet
ngs were held in a tent. But when winter
came on they were obliged to return to Mr..
Browns house. In May, 1855, the little So
city Of forty-three members removed to
small church on the site of the present one,
which was named in honor of prominent
Methodist bishop.
The membership gradually grew, and In
October, 1874 the present church was dedl-
Gated For a number Of years there was a
mort gagged Indebtedness to worry over, but
the church is now free from financial IN
cumbrance.