Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03

its services were and have been conducted
for the most part in the German language.
The organization of st. Paul's was due to
the desire of English-speaking Lutherans to
have church whose services were conduct
ed in English. The congregation held its
first service January 8, 1913, In Odd Fellows
Hall, then located on Pennsylvania avenue.
Rev. DR.. A. II. Muller was the first pastor
Of the church, and officiated at the first
service.
The lot upon which the church and par
sonage now stand was donated by Gen.
John p. Van Ness. On June Is, 1874. the
corner stone of the church was laid. Among
those present on this occasion were ex-
President John Quincy Adams, Gen. Van
Ness, Rev. Septimus Tustln, chaplain of the
United States Senate; Rev. DR.. ]. G. Morris
and Rev. DR.. Benjamin Kurtz. The Ma
sonic fraternity of the city was also present
at this time and the laying Of the corner
stone was attended with the ceremonies of
that order
Rev. DR.. Muller terminated his relations
as pastor Of the congregation in June. 1916,
and was succeeded by Rev. ]. E. Graeff.
The new edihce was dedicated October 1.
1S4S. during the pastorate Of the latter
minister. Owing to ill-health Rev. Mr..
Graeff was obliged to resign his position
the ID Of July. 1S49. From this time on
there ensued a series Of long-termed pas
torates. Rev. DR.. ]. G. Butler. at present
pastor Of the Luther Place Memorial
Church was elected to succeed Mr.. Graeff,
July 10, 1S49, and for twentyfour years he
COntlnueQ MS mlnlStratlOnS 10 the CONSre-
CATION Of st. PauPs. The pastor and people
during this time, 1t is said. were compelled
to undergo many trials. among which were
the payment Of a large debt incurred by
the erection Of the church. the dissensions
arising because Of the civil war and the
formation period following. The trying
time however, was passed successfully
and the church continued to develop. In
1868 the lot on which the Memorial Luth-
erau Church today stands was purchased,
O chapel erected and a Sunday school or
gantzed. For seven years DR.. Butler and
the congregation of st. Paufs cared for
cation was organized. and DR.. Butler re-
signed as pastor of ST. Paurs and became
the pastor of the Memorial Church.
The vacancy was filled for a short period
1874, the late Rev. DIR. Samuel Domer took
charge OF the congregation. DR.. Domer
served the church as its pastor for twenty
six years He was greatly esteemed by his
congregation and also by a wide circle of
friends and acQuaintances outside the
church. The house of worship was ex-
tensively repaired during DR.. Domer's
period Of service, and the congregation and
the membership increased notably. In
April, 1898. the semi-centennial anniversary
Of the church's existence was celebrated
with appropriate services, which were par
tcipated in by many local and visiting
clergymen. DIR. Domer resigned the pastor
I II is an' 3D. i''' HIS death occurred June
Rev. Frederick w. Moot the present pas
tor began his duties here October Is, 1900
in response to the unanimous call Of the
congregation. He is 4 young man and IS
regarded as very popular, not only with
the members OF his own church, but also
among his acquaintance throughout the
city. He was born In New York state, and
received his theological training at Hart
wick Seminary, New York. He entered the
ministry in 1892. Before coming to Wash
ington he served as pastor Of the Lutheran
Church at Stone Arabia, N. Y and of ST
Marks Lutheran Church. in Jamestown, N
T., becoming the pastor of the latter con-
gregation on the date Of its organization
He served this church as pastor for four
years, and his efforts were considered as
eminently successful. While Mr.. Moot was
pastor there the congregation purchased d
lot and erected a handsome brick church,
bought parsonage, increased its member
ship to $40. and the Sunday school had an
enrolment of over 500.
During his pastorate at st. Paurs Church
MT Moot has received about seventy MEM
bers into the church. A debt Of 1880
against the property has been paid, and the
audiences have been doubled. All branches
OF the church are said to be enthusiastically
aggressive. The church now has a member
ship of over $50, and the enrolment in the
Sunday school numbers about 400. During
the past year the Sunday school has raised
q O0O46. Of which $56s53 were devoted to
the benevolences of the church. In the last
thirty years the school has raised 800, 566 OS
for various objects connected with religious
work
St Paufs is appropriately characterized,
as stated, as the mother church Of English
Luuheranism in the District She claims
three daughters. the Memorial Church. the
Church of the Reformation and st. Mark s.
Her granddaughters are lions Church, the
Church OF Our Redeemer and the Keller
Memorial.
The usual relaxation in strictly religious
work In the churches incident to the holi-
0Qy 0e04OQ has been eNperiQncA1 in WASH
inston the past few weeks. but the social