The Washington times., 1903-11-16
CENTENNIAL SERVICES
At N. Y. AVENUE CHURCH
DR.. Radcliffe Delivers the
Opening Sermon.
INTERVIEWER WITH CAPITAL
Place Where Presidents Have Worship
ed and Statesmen Have Bowed
Their Heads in Prayer.

Anniversary services COMMUNICATING
the centenary Of the New York Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church were begun
yesterday morning. when the Rev. DR..
Wallace Radcliffe the pastor. delivered
the opening sermon. Preparations for
these services. which viii be continued
until Wednesday night. have been in
progress for many weeks. and have
been carried on by several committees
specially appointed for the purpose.
Palms and Flowers.
The church was decorated in palms
and flowers. while just above the chan
Gel. surrounded by wreathes Of ivy. was
the Inscription '1SOS-l9O3" In reviewing
the history Of the church, Dr. Radcliffe
said:
The history OF this church IS inter
woven with that OF the Capital. When
the churSh was organized Washington
was not an attractive place. Pennsylva-
ma avenue was a small street-muddy
ana tull or rIitS. Access was by means
OF numbering coaches Hunters shot
quail IN the shadow of the Capitol and
grass was growing in the streets 1t
was the day OF the beginning Of great
Ihings. national and ecclesiastical the
day OF Jefferson administration \
little band II brothers came here from
Rhiladeiphia under the leadership Of the
rev -laInes LoWrie. The trip by stage
from Philadelphia by way Of Baltimore
was an arduous one, so that we are
quite ready 10 believe the story told
OF Mr.. LOWrie- Becoming weary and
eareworn from the many hours spent
IN the lumbs ring old stage coach. he
said TO the triver: Driver aren't We
getting near 10 WASHINGTON
SIR said the driver we have been
driving through II for two hours
IT Is to che foundation that these
men laid the early days of the Ma
tional Caoital that this church owes its
manifold blessings today"
Gen. p. '. Boynton delivered an ad-
dress at the evening service reminiscent
OF the life of the church. and the Rev.
Dr. w A Bartlett. who was pastor
p from lSS2 TO lS94. contributed some inter
esting data.
"Church of Presidents"
The New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church is known as the Church Of
Presidents Ever since its beginning
II has numbered Presidents, Cabinet
members, foreign diplomatists and men
prominent in official life in its member
ship. Despite its early struggles for
existence, IL is now one Of the richest
churches in Washington
When the present edifce had been
parsiy constructed complications enslted
over loan, and the church would have
been sold .aT debt had il not been for
the generosity Of John Quincy Adams.
then Secretary of State under James
Monroe. who advanced the necessary
funds-S2. 900. The last payment on this
debt was made twenty-five years later
and the bO-rd Of trustees begged Mr..
Adams 70 accept the pew he was then
occupying, and for which ne was pay
Ing liberal rent
Distinguished Members.
The names of many distinguished men
have beer enrolled on the church reg
ister President Pierce attended both
"a
Buchanan as also faithful worship
er. President Lincoln attended the New
York Avenue Church. and his funeral
services were held from there. The pew
occupied by the Lincoln family has been
preserved intact, despite The many mod
ern improve ments made in the church
building. II is a source OF much inter
est TO visitors 10 the Capital. and Is al
ways placed az the disposal Of distin-
guished guests OF the church. President
ROOevelt VILE occupy the pew tonight.
Among the many men distinguished in
pubic service IN later years enrolled
with the church are Schuyler COlfaX,
William A Wheeler and Adiai E Ste
VensOn, Vice Presidents; Stanley Mat
1hews. Joseph r. Bradley. and William
Strong, justices Of the Supreme court.
Among the Cabinet officers gathered
with its congregation were Simon Cam
erOn, Lewis Cass. Zacharias Chandler.
c. A Wicklyffe. HOke Smith. John W
Griggs. and Daniel A Lamont In the
church,s present congregation are Sen
ator william r Frye, President Of the
Senate; James Wilson. Secretary Of Ag-
rlculture; Senator j. G. S. Blackburn OF
Kentucky. Senator A i. German of
Maryland Senator Julius c. Burrows
OF Michigan. Senator Russell A. Alger
OF Michigan. Senator Stephen 3. Elkins
OF West Virginia, and Senator Redfeld
Proctor Of Vermont. Associate Justice
John II Harlan. of the Supreme Court
and Maj. Gen. j. C. Breckenridge are
elders Justice Harlan has charge Of a
class Of young men connected with the
Sunday school.