Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17

..
served as presiding elder in both the NJ. E.
and the NJ F.. South conferences father of
bishop, Alpheus Wilson,; Henry Slicer
who. rs presiding elder. had the oversight
of the charge in its infancy and
chaplain of Congress more than one term;
Littleton F. Morgan for several terms pre-
siding elder; 8. S. Roszel. son of Stephen G.
Roszel. who served in '2s and %; John H.
Brown, r. l.. Dashiel, William Krebs. Mr..
Morgan Dabney Ball. DIR. J. A. McCauley,
several times a presiding elder and presi-
dent of Dickinson College. These were in
charge in the ante-bellum days, the last
named in the exciting days at the begin
ming of the war, and after the Rev. B. Pay
ton Brown had served year. from March.
81. DR.. McCauley returned to Wesley.
With the organization of McKendree
Church some of the Wesley people took
their membership there and late in the
forties an attempt was made to found a
church at 81 and l streets northeast, under
the name Providence Chapel, which was
afterward Sold and finally the membership
formed church home at North Capitol
and X streets.
The organization % Waugh M. E. Church
on Capitol Hill resulted from Wesley's eff
forts; the organization of this Sunday
school in tent on Capitol Hill being fol-
lowed by preaching services, and then came
the erection of church building in 1853
In the two ensuing years Wesley and
Waugh were served conjointly-Rev. r. G.
Dashiell in 1854, and G. H. Day in 1850
and in 1873 Waugh was made an independ-
ent charge. In the latter part of 1855 a
mission WAS started in the neighborhood of
the Riggs market, On p street near 18th
street. but owing to dissensiOn in Wes-
ley, this movement failed.
In 1853 by organizing a mission Sunday
school near the head of 9th street the foun-
dation of Grace NJ. h. Church now prom
inent church, was laid, and when the Met
ropoltan M. E. Church was erected many
of her members were received on certifi-
cate from Wesley
The original chanel huildinp was 11Sad nv
the congregation until 1856, when that and
the Sunday school building were demolished
to make room for the present structure,
covering the entire holdings of the church
of over 60 by 100 feet.
One of the features of old Wesley Chapel
was its choir, organized in the early days
of the church, and regarded for over
quarter of a century as one of the best
If not the leading. volunteer choir of the
District. And that it was progressive and
apt to utilize good music wherever found
1t can be stated that at a camp meeting in
Montgomery county years ago the choir
secured from the colored people on the
ground some of their tunes, and in a short
time introduced them at the chapel some
of them from here finding their way into
the music books and becoming popular in
church services. In the early days the
choir was under the direction of Prof. j. II.
Daniels
Rev. DR. w. NJ. Ferguson. the present
pastor of Wesley, was born in Baltimore.
lie schools of that city, and in Baltimore
City College, besides receiving private in
struction in Greek. Hebrew and some OF
the higher studies. He also took non
resident course in the Illinois Wesleyan
University. DR.. Ferguson entered the Bal
timore conference in 1869. at the age of
twenty. His first charge was at Hamp-
stead Md, from which place he was sent
to Union Bridge, Md. He served success
sively charges at Linganore and Cations
vile, Md; Winchester, Va; West River.
Md, Baltimore circuit; ReisterStown and
North Baltimore station. In 1888 he came
to Washington as pastor of old Fourth
Street now Trinity. Church. and remained
here four years. He was then transferred
to South Baltimore station, and after
preaching there two years was made pre-
siding elder of Baltimore district in which
position he served six years, the limit of
time for presiding elders. He was then
sent back to his former charge at South
Baltimore station. from which place he
was transferred to this city in April. 1902,
as pastor of Wesley Church. The degree of
doctor of divinity was conferred upon Dr..
Ferguson by the Kansas City University
two years ago.
DR. Ferguson is known as the HISTORIAN
of Washington Methodism." he having
prepared the only history of that denomi-
nation in the District that has ever been
issued. He has written books on a variety
of religious and doctrinal subjects, and is
regarded as both scholarly preacher and
popular pastor.
Considerable interest is manifested in the
proposed public missionary mass meeting
which is to be held next Saturday after
noon. October 81, at 4:15 o'clock, in Con-
vention Hall. The mass meeting will be
held in connection with the Pan-American
Episcopal Church. which convenes in the
Pro-Cathedral Church of the Ascension
next Tuesday morning, Octobers20.
The object of the mass meeting, 1t is
toI to- I1t-
airy work, and a great meeting Is expected
in view of the fact that there will be =, es-
ent many bishops of the church who will
have attended the Pan-American confer
ence. and others who will participate IN the
sessions of the missionary council which
is to assemble Tuesday morning, Octo-
Der 81.
According to the program for the mass
meeting several thousand children of the
Washington diocese will lead in the singing
of missionary hymns, supported by the Ma
rine Band. A number of prominent bishops
Will deliver addresses appropriate to the
subject of the meeting.
The opening service of the pan-American
congress of bishops of the Protestant EMS
copal Church will be held in the Pro-C,atbe-
oral Church of the Ascension next Tuesday
morning at 1870 O'Clock. Episcopal pfshOps
from all parts of the United States and her
possessions, from Canada, Mexico and the
West Indies, will be in attendance on the
principal matters for discussion will be that
of church extension. The subjects of mis-
sionary work and church unity will also
receive attention from the bishops and it is
stated that the divorce question will likely
be considered by the prelates
The congress will open next Tuesday
morning with celebration of the holy com
munion. Bishop D. S. futile of Missouri
Will preside over the congress. Admission
to the opening meeting will be by tickets.
which may be procured from the rectors of
the various Episcopal churches in the city
The committee appointed by the congre-
CATION of Metropolitan Presbyterian Church
to select a pastor has invited the following
ministers to preach to the congreEati ton:
Rev. John F. Horton, Rev. Albert Evans
Rev VIM: b. Irwin, ID; Rev. James T.
Black. DID.
The Virginia Avenue Baptist congregation
last Sunday celebrated it's twenty-seyenth
q anniversary with suitable exercises The
sermon at the evening service was delivered
by Rev. j. NJ Harris of Chattanooga Tenn.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR HOUR