The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18
Its Work Reaches Out
Into Many and Di-
verse Branches.
Some Account of It's De-
velOpment From Small
Beginnings
.HERE are one or two churches il

AAASAAASs hAA al AiAt boSStoSttAAS VA
members. moro wealth and resources;
there are several that count among their
congregations a larger element of what
is known as the ultra-fashionable set of
the citv: there may be a few that have
cNcellcd in some particular branch OF
charitable work, but for religious zeal,
aggressive and far-reaching helpfulness
TO those in spiritual need and an earn
est devotion to the cause of morally
lettering those i'm all walks Of life that
could be reached by its indefatigable
workers. no church in the city has made
better showing than the Calvary Bap-
tist Church
During the second year OF the civil
war. when mems minds were occupied
by the great conflict in which brother
was fighting brother and father son;
when Washington was menaced by the
attack OF a victorious Southern cavalry,
its streets trampled into mud by the
passage of troops moving rapidly to
the front. and its parkings dotted with
the white tents OF a defending army,
The foundation Of the church was laid.
and its progress and splendid achieve
ments have kept pace with the vast
improvements and growth in beauty of
the National Capital
On April 13. 1862. a few members of
Aht bdpAiSl IellHlon organized the Gal-
vary Mission School The sessions were
held in Franklin Hall. on the corner Of
Ninth and d Streets northwest. Nearly
two months later, on June ,, 1852. the
Calvary Baptist Church was organized
and services were held in the Columbian
Law School building. on Fifth Street
northwest between d and F Streets.
The small congregation that formed the
church was in charge OF the Rev. J.
Spencer K9nnard. D. D., formerly pas
tor OF the Z Street Baptist Church.
Under his passionate the foundation
stone OF the first Calvary Baptist
Church. at the corner Eighth and II
Streets. was laid.
Amos KeDdall's Generosity.
The building Of a church was made
possible by the generosity of Amos Ken
DALI Postmaster General under Jack
son. who donated SEQ 600 toward the
Row building. The remainder Of the
sum necessary Yves made uD by other
members OF the congregation. The
new church was formally dedicated on
June 3. 1856.
The Rev. Mr.. Kennard remained but a
few months as pastor OF the Calvary
Church. Failing health compelled him
10 relinquish his work. He was sue
ceeded by the Rev. T. r. HowlerI, who
was in charge during the construction
OF the first church and until after the
close Of the war The third pastor was
the Rev. DR.. J. w. Parker who was
succeeded by the Rev A. F. Mason, the
last pastor before the coming Of Dr.
Greene. in December. 1879. During that
year the Rev Mr.. Mason. together
with a number Of the Calvary mem
hers. withdrew, and affiliated them
selves with the Z Street Church. where
Mr.. Mason became the pastor.
Although this division in the Calvary
Church was regarded as unfortunate at
the time, II proved 10 be most beneficial
10 both churches. The z Street Church
was in a very bad condition at the time.
and its membership was quite small
The addition from the neighbOring
church brought an era Of prosperity that
enabled 1t to safely weather the Storm
On the other hand the remainder Of the
Calvary congregation was absolutely
united in the close union that has since
existed. and which has helped TO build
UP the church to it's present prosper
ft-
Destroyed by Fire in 1867.
On cold winter night. December Il,
1857. fire was discovered in the new
church. The fire department was 5eri-
ously handicapped by the large amount
Of snow on the streets and frozen water
IN spite of the most heroic work. the
church was soon Quilted and burned %
the ground. Those who ventured out in
the bitter cold saw a sight never 20 be
forgotten. The fall Of snow had been
quite heavy. and the roof was thickIy
covered The flames cuTled up along
the caves and lit up brilliantly the large
expanse OF snow. BY morning the once
splendid edifce was a pile OF smoking
ruins.
When the members Of the congrega-
tion assembled for service on the FOL
lowing morning despair filled every
heart They could not understand WIZ
such a calamity should have come Ipon
them.
II was related Of one Of the teachers
living I'm Georgetown. who boarded a
street car and was accosted by the con
conductor. with; Where are YOU going
this morning." ITO Sunday school"
was the reply Not at Calvary today"
said the conductor. 1T has burned
down"
Many OF the people went home. some
went 70 the Presbyterian Sunday school
on Ninth Street. by invitation. and
some went to Miller's old hall. on II
Street between Sixth and Seventh. and
talked of what they would do. The
following Sunday found most Of them In /
the ''Old Shiloh Church." on the south /
side OF Massachusetts Avenue between
Ninth and Tenth Streets. Free-wlu
Baptist meetinghOuse
Rebuilding the Church.
Generous members Of the old C,,
cation came forward with offers OF as
sistance toward rebuilding the church |
Among this number was Mr. Kendall |
who had contributed so largely toward |
the burned edihce. IL is said thar his |
second contribution exceeded Sc. 900 ]
with this and the insurance money work |
was commenced almost Immediately and /
the present church was erected In less
than nineteen months. 1t was dedicat- |
ed on July II, 1853.