Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
new FOUNDRY CHURCH
"reminiscences of the Early
Congregation.
SERVICES DESCRIBED
CHARACTER SKETCHES OF FORM
Err MINISTERS.
Interesting Stories of Old Methodist
Society-Views on Structure
Now Being Erected.
Written for The Evening Star.

| Written for The Evening Star.
| The hearty thanks of the Methodists In
this city are due The Star for its excellent
article on the Foundry Church in the issue
of Saturday, May %. While In the main
| it is correct and of great interest, yet 1t
contained several inaccuracies as to the
| original church which should be corrected,
else they may be perpetuated by those who
| will hereafter consult your files for neces-
sary facts. While making these correc-
| lions please pardon a few random remi-
| niscences.
| The original church. built and donated by
| Mr.. Henry w. Foxall, In 1914 or 1915, re-
! manned standing until the Passionate OF Rev.
Henry Tarring, in the middle "fortles." 1t
was then replaced, not by the large edtfice
| recently sold to Mr.. Walsh, but by a second
1 church. virtually new one having as a
nucleus only the original rear wall and
one of the sides. The first building had
no basement used as a Sunday school and
| lecture room, but only cellar, used for
| the ordinary storage of wood, Oil and other
necessaries. 1t was for a long time heated
| by long cast-iron stoves which burned
| wood. These were located about three
| ffths the distance from the front on 14th
street to the pulpit The pulpit was in
| the rear of the church. There were gal
| leries, The Star stated, on three sides
| north south and west. These were sup
! ported by large, round, solid columns of
| wood. From them, suspended on project
| ing curved irons with hooks, were brss
| lamps for sperm oil, with fiat link brass
| chains.
| 1 well remember the arrangements of this
| building. When but five years old, in 1910,
my father, then residing on the south side
| of G street near 18th, opposite Cowling s
| stable placed me in the Sunday school. l
| assigned TO the class of the late Ed
| ward Owen, who afterward became a large
| benefactor of the Mount Zion Church.
| erected at the corner of 18th and r streets,
where the present st. PaulS building, the
! temporary Foundry, now stands. l re-
manned In Mr.. Owens class for years
The original Foundry had high pulpit
| with circular steps ascending on each side
of the chancel rail, and doors that closed
| I was for some time puzzled as to how the
ministers could stand there lin the air
and preach. At last 1 discovered that 1T
| had a floor. l used to watch those grand
| old men, the elder Simpson, Abner Young.
| David Gardner. Robert and Richard Rick
| etts, and others of the trustees, taking the
| collections in black velvet bags depending
| from long poles and pushed before the
| people to the ends of the pews, then with
! drawn. I was always expecting that a
| lamp would be smashed as these brethren,
in withdrawing the bags. unconsciously
| lifted the ends of the poles into the air
| More than once l was gratffed by seeing
| the glass shades of the lamps tumble to the
| floor in fragments 1t was a fine sight to
me then to watch the CONSERVATION of
| these veterans of the people. These col
| lectors, however, became very careful and
| quite expert at their business.
Colored Church Organized.
The galleries of this original church.
| after which the original Wesley Chapel,
! corner Of 9TH and F northwest, was mod
| eled, were for long time used by the col
ored people. These afterward formed a So
| c!ety, and with the assistance of the white
Methodists of the city, built the Asbury
| Church, which, greatly improved, yet re-
mains, at the southeast corner of 10th and
| K northwest. For many years Asbury was
q part of Foundry station. and was served
by white ministers regularly appointed by
the bishops, under the designation of
| Foundry and Asbury"
| l had a splendid old grandfather, the
| Rev. Elias Vanderlip. one of the pioneer
ministers of New York state, who occa-
| sionally visited while at our G street
| residence. The Asbury people always
| sought him for sermon or two. I went
| with him every time. How 1 did enjoy the
service, as the dear old man, with huge
| and spotless cravat instead of collar, his
| silken hair of white, very angels crown,
| would stand in the pulpit and sing the old
| Methodist revival hymns; then tell with
the simple eloquence of love. of Jesus come
| to save rich and poor, black and white!
| How the people would cry and shout! To
my young soul 1t was the very ante-cham-
| Der of heaven. One of the first sermons 1
| ever preached was from the pulpit of old
| Asbury.
| To return from this depression, when the
| first Foundry Church was rebuilt it was
| widened and deep and handsome press
! brick front placed on 14th street. This extend
| ed a number of feet on each side Of the body
| of the church, giving quite a commanding
| appearance. The cellar was excavated and
1 basement nicely finished for the Sunday
70 -, 60. II
class meetings. This virtually new and
commodious building had no side galleries
but there was a large one at the 18th
| street end for the choir, supported at Inc
| center by one of the round columns from
the original building l remember well
that one night. at a crowded service, the
| wooden cap placed between the column aid
| the body of, the gallery split with sharp
| report. Quite a little panic ensued until
| the matter was explained to the congrega-
| ton. The pulpit was still retained at tie
rear end of the church
| 1t was to this second church that the
| Rev. DR.. Jesse T. Peck came pastor in
| the year 1852, having been transferred
| from the north. He had great reputation
| for learning and as an orator. His style
| in opening his dScourses at least was some
| what numbering but as his spirit and
| great body too warmed up he would
| send forth a great succession of magnifi-
cent sentences, full of fine thought. and
| delivered like very Boanerges, until he
| carried his congregation with him to a
height of emotion and spiritual enthusiasm
which at times was remarkable. He had
a fervid evangelical spirit, was a great
revivalist and his mind was full of big
| ideas. The church greatly prospered I'M
| der his ministry. He was afterward elect
ed a bishop. in 1872, but after some years
! of successful service died at Syracuse, in
| 1883
| Edifice Again Rebuilt.
In the year 1863 Rev. w. M. D. Ryan
| came pastor, remaining three full years.
| Mr.. Ryan was another remarkable man;
in some respects crude. peculiar in very
striking originality, tremendous as an ex-
horter and remarkable also a revivalist.
| The second building soon became entirely
| too small for the increasing membership
| and the crowding congregations. 1t was
| then determined to again rebuild. More
| ground was secured on the northern side
and the fine edifice recently abandoned was
erected in 1S64-65, at cost of about $780,
| 600. The front was changed to G street
l have now before me an excellent photo
| graph of the second Foundry Church, taken
| just before its demolition. On the front
steps stand the pastor, DR.. Ryan, and two