Evening star., 1903-11-16


national life and experience Of today
"A little handful of Scotchmen and their
families came with the government from
Philadelphia to washington, and to them
came the Rev. Mr.. Laurie from Scotland,
by the advice of the celebrated Dr. Mason
Of New York. bringing with him his wife
from Scotland moreover stopping in New
York or philadelphia, but setting his face
toward the capital, which seems even lii
those early days to have been the favorite
place for wedding trip. He came, lumber
ing in the stage, from Philadelphia, and
then from Baltimore, by many changes,
through difficult roads, with harsh expert
ences of travel by day and by night; so
that we are quite ready to believe the story
that, wearied and disgusted he stuck his
head out of the window OF the stage calling
to the driver,
Driver, aren't we getting near to
Washington
"'Sir,' said the driver, we have been
driving through it for two hours
He gathered together this little band,
and their first meeting place was in the
lobby of the old Treasury Hall, believe
destroyed subsequently by the British. HIS
inadequate salary compelled him to seek
a clerkship in the treasury, in which double
work he continued all his life. 1t was his,
not only to preach, but to solicit funds for
the new building, as far north as Boston
and as far south as Savannah; it was his
to hunt up the scattered sheep; it was his
even to make the fires and sweep the floor
I'm few years little building was oc-
cupied on the corner of 14th and T streets
where portion Of the New Willard now
stands, and in 1907 enough money was COL
lected to erect a brick building, which sub
sequently was known the Willard Hall.
And there he gathered his people, spoke His
word and laid the foundations for all that
life of effectiveness and honor which we
enjoy.
'Infirmities came 1t was his to suffer as
well as to do. Illness compelled him to
a Mr.
tive of Philadelphia, who gave few years
to this associated service, but compelled by
his health to withdraw, gave the subse-
quent years of his life to a special care for
the colored people, and in the later years
especially for the freedmen. Following him
came Rev. Mr.. Bannantyne, but only for
few years, in which years by gentleness, by
geniality of character. by tenderness OF
sympathy, by consecrated and persistent
service, he won very large place in the
life and memory of the people. On his
death he was buried by the side of the
church, and on its enlargement his body
was carried yonder to Congressional ceme-
terry, and tablet was erected to his mem
ory in the F street church, which in some
way or other has disappeared, but his
memory abides and his work lives
Following him came D. x. Junkin for a
few years, subsequently largely known and
honored throughout the Presbyterian
Church as an able preacher and ecclesiastic.
Pastor for Fifty Years.
'But for fifty years DR.. Laurie held his
place as pastor of this people and shepherd
of the community. He organized the
Washington City Lyceum and several socie-
ties for the assistance of the destitute. He
was first president of the board of public
schools; established and helped in many
ways the first school for the colored peo-
ple
"At last the end came Of one who lived
a hard, strong. life of gift and sacrifice:
whose mission was TO lay founda tions, but
whose monunent Us in the redeemed lives
and effective organization of today.
Following Mr.. Junkin came DR. Gurley.
whose life Is so Intimately identified with
the history OF this church and community,
scrolled with special emphasis in the his
tory OF the nation. But let us not antici-
pate. SC Il "
In 1919 a few Presbyterians in this
neighborhood. finding the church at
Georgetown too far away for regular at
and eminently by the ministrations of his
son. the Rev. Joseph Balche. to organize
a church. 9os.,.5
Here was then a great common. The
population was very slow in their advance
thitherward; but with fourteen families
they built on this spot a little brick build
ing, and as one emerged down it's two or
three wooden steps he looked out. on a
great common. beyond trees and shrub
berry, where now is Franklin Park. and
over yonder, at 18th and H, seven oaks that
marked the house they shaded, which was
Familiarity known as The Seven Oaks,
ITO this church came Rev Daniel Baker,
a man of strong presence. and subsequently
of distinguished character and life in the
history OF the whole church. Strong,
earnest, able he preached three times on
the Sabbath. In the afternoon at the market
place. He gave himself very heartily to
evangelical work, SO that in midsummer oc-
CURED one Of the most effective reyiyals
the church has known.
''It is said OF him that while preaching