Evening star., 1903-10-24
.Elburcbe>

I congregation and resigned last spring to
! accept a call to the pulpit of the Presby-
terian Church at Oak Park. near Chi
During the thirty mine years of it's life
the church has grown steadily, under the
leadership of DR.. Cheser and Rev. Dr.
Luccock, and, it is claimed. the new pas
tor whom the people will elect this fall
will find 1t in a very f1ourfshing coHdi-
| ton. Besides supporting pastor at
home. 1T maintains missionary pastor
in the foreign field, Rev. DIR. H. G. C.
Hallock, now working In the interior OF
China.
The growth of the church was not ac-
complished without effort. Many difficult
ties and discOuragements were encountered
The first meetings were held In school
houses. Crowded out of these. the strug-
Cling congregation was permitted to wor-
ship for time in large room In the
House wing of the Capitol February Il.
1866. the members had the pleasure of ded-
icating, free Of debt. chapel, which. with
been constructed at Burlington. n. j., and
shipped knock down." the putting together
of the finished materials being simple
task. This was known as the Capitol Hill
Presbyterian Church.
After seven years of alternating cheer
and encouragement. the name having
meanwhile been changed to the one by
which it is now known. the present large
and handsome edifice was built. Within
few years the debt Incurred by the building
was wiped out. The total cost amounted
to S65,OOO. Several years later the property
was further improved by the erection of
fine Sunday school building. which is now
used exclusively by the infant classes.
Dr. Chesters long and faithful pastorate
is remembered by all his parishioners. Tn
der his leadership the church grew steadily
in numbers and spiritual power. When he
surrendered lis pastoral office there were
$40 names on the roll.
The last pastor DR.. Luccock. was called
in May, 1894. and entered upon his work
the lat M no following Ju1V ItlrcOck
was born in Ohio, and Is an alulnnus OF
Wooster University, Ohio and Of the West
ern Theological Seminary. He served some
time home missionary in the west. and
also held several pastorates, before coming
to Washington. He brought with him here
his interest in missions, and 1t was through
his efforts that the church raised the neces-
sary funds to support a missionary in
China. The second pastorate. like the first.
was very fruitful, and the utmost harmony
prevailed between pastor and people. The
last annual report showed between $50 ana
900 members.
DR.. Luccock left the church at the height
of It's spiritual and temporal prosperity.
The congregation was loath to give him up,
and at the parting the feeling of regret
was intense and sincere on the part OF both
pastor and congregation
Installation services will probably be held
very soon after the election Of a new pas
tor. as the church does not wish to enter
upon its regular winter labors without
spiritual leader. It is impossible to state
which candidate is the most likely to he
chosen.
The special evangelist services being held
at Gunton Temple Church. corner OF 14th
and r streets northwest, are said to be
increasing in attendance and influence. Dr.
Charles E. Bradt of Kansas. the leader, Is
regarded as strong though modest work
er. whose methods are devoid of sensation.
Rev. DIR. Hamlin, Rev. DR.. Bittinger and
other ministers of this city have been pres
r1av T1r W re
the meeting of the Presbyterian pastors of
this city. The congregation of Gunton-
Temple last Sunday raised the funds for
sending pastor into the foreign field. The
special meetings will be continued for two
weeks and are open to the public.
An effort is being made to rid of debt
the Washington, D. c.. Memorial Church of
the Seventh Day Adventist denomination.
October IA the debt was $3.50 1t was the
hope of the leaders of the church that this
sum would be lifted before November 1.
1908. just one year from the date of pur-
chase of the building, but 1t Is thought at
the present rate of donations this will not
be accomplished until January /, 1904
Rally day was celebrated last Sunday by
the Sunday school of the Memorial Chapel,
corner of 5th and P streets northwest, u
branch of Calvary Baptist Church. The
program included vocal solo by Miss Alice
Fletcher: recitations, by Miss Evelyn Hepp-
ner, Virgin Baxter and Eliza Boxwaii q
plano solo. by Miss Lucle BurrOWS ana
violin solos by Mr.. Chester Hutchinson and
young Cornelia Sitz-Parker. After a brief
intermssion the Sunday school revival
was naugurated. to continue until Decem-
ber q. This means that the school is d.
vided into two sides. the red and the
blue" Miss Rosa Mertz being captain of
the reds and Miss Burrows captain of
the blues The two sides will rival each
other in working to get new pupils for the
school. This plan was first tried by Rev
McNeal of Covington. Ky. and in over q
thousand cases in the last year resulted in
doubling the membership of schools Mr..
Brown, superintendent of the schools, is
an enthusiastic leader of this enterprise.