Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28


pleted hut few years and the present con-
greeation IL LARGELY composed of accessions
during the d .riod from the occupancy or the
pevv edifica ND to the present time. Ihe
church IS an imposing structure. and It's 10
cation al tEs intersection of North Carolina
avenue Sth and B streets southeast Is con-
stdersd as most fortunate. A broad lawn IN
front of Tie church and a triangular PARK
on the ca.rer serve to set off the archltec-
turaI beauty of the building, which presents
a pleasing prospect to one approaching II
from any direction. The first floor contains
the SUNDAY school or lecture room, room
for the primary department. the library
kitchen and Sc, eral committee rooms On
the second door is the spacious auditorium
which the conference occupied, with gar
leri,s Of ,he west and north. and the ladies'
parlor. p1Stors study and committee roon
A pipe organ has recently been installed
Previous 10 the erection of the new struc-
ture. tn. congregation worshiped IN sinaii
frame church upon the same site, which was
occupied lrcm 1872 to 1897, the congrega-
ton having been organized in 1872. the I'M
dertak.rs 20 erect a church of the cost OF
the present one was a serious matter LOT
the small and weak membership, ana the
progress 80 construction was interrupted
frequently FOR lack of funds and at one time
was susUnlded Tor months. In this crisis the
membership. never large, was decreased by
the Withdrawal of diSheartened ones until
merely handful remained. At the darkest
period OF The history of the church, how
ever, the Maryland annual conference. of
which II is q member. voted to come to the
relief of the local church. and sufficient
funds 10 meet the immediate necessities OF
the situation were provided.
The minister appointed to the unwelcome
task Of rcviving the courage of the MEM
bership and regaining the confidence of the
community in the enterprise was the pres
aAvFf r1N hn.
served this charge ever since. The congre-
CATION at that time was worShipng in a
dimiHutive hall above paint store on
PENNSYLVANIA avenue. but with relief from
the most imperative obligations obtained,
pastor and people took up the work and
carried IL forward with such impetus that
they were soon III possession OF the nrst
floor of the new church, and not long after
ward of the completed structure. The
building as it stands today, with its furni-
ture aud fixtures. represents a valuation of
about $4,000, The mortgage debt has been
rapidly reduced. and is now only $500.
The membership is steadily growing, and
all departments of religious work are rep
resented by active organizations. There is
Sunday school, Christian Endeavor so
cieties junior and senior; Ladies Aid So
ciety and foreign and home missionary So
CietieS.
The ofieiary of the church is as follows:
Board of trustees, VIM. b. Marche. j. X
Ferguson. W. G. Phillips. A. B. Slime and
Chas Councilman, DIR. A. b. Slime, o. A.
Carrick Geo. S. Dodge. ]. A. Boarman,
Chas Davis. ]. G. lockwood and A. T.
Seller: Sunday school. ]. G. lockwood, su-
perntendent; w. A. Dodge. assistant super
intendent: G. s. Dodge, secretary, and DR..
Fl. L. Martyr, treasurer; Christian En-
deavor Society r. NJ. Martyr. president.
Rev. A. Norman Ward. the pastor. Is one
of the best known preachers of East Wash
ington. and has been eminently successful
In his work Possessed of a genial nature.
as well as of marked intellectual gifts. he
exerts a remarkable influence, not only in
the pulpit but in the pastorate, upon his
members. and is particularly influential
among the men, who compose an unusually
large part of his congregations.
, The regents of the American Society of
Religious Education, with headquarters in
this city, are preparing for extensive
visitation throughout the country, beg1n-
ming September next and lasting until April
for the purpose of awakening interest IN
the objects of the organization. The prin-
cipal- phases of the societys work to be
emphasized are the Sunday School Teach
ers Normal College. the Ministers Spirit
ual Alliance and what is known as the
Family Culture Union. These departments
have been explained before In this column.
The plan of visitation is to select the
chief cities of the country and hold there
meetings of several days duration, 10
which ministers, Sunday school workers
parents and all others interested will be
Welcome. If the idea Is carried out as now
intended. Rev. ]. E. Gilbert. DID. LID,
of this city. general superintendent OF the
society, will have executive charge of the
visitation work and will call to his as
sistance prominent men in the work in
various parts of the country.
This plan was suggested at the congress
held I'm this city some months ago, and has
since been urged by members in different
parts The trip will take in the far west
and south, as well as the east. Senator
Thomas r. Bard of California, a life mem
Der Of the society, has undertaken to make
all necessary arrangements for the work
on the Pacific coast.
The outcome of the trips is expected to be
an increased membership for the organiza-
ton. more auXiliaries and wider sympathy
for the movement of religious education,
among all classes The society is constant
ly enlarging it's work and making plans for
reaching out in new directions.
The branch of the Sunday School Teach
ers Normal College. located in this city, Is
rapidly increasing in regard and impor
lance. 1t is said. Its object Is to prepare
persons to study and teach the sacred
Scriptures. AS heretofore the college will
hold thirty-two evening sessions, one each
week. beginning October t. 1904 the place
TO be announced. 1t Is proposed to engage
Rev. J. r. Gilbert, d. D., as president for
the entire time, and 10 associate with him
faculty of resident pastors and scholarly
laymen. The subjects covered in the junior
year are Biblical history, Biblical geogra-
ply Biblical inspiration, Biblical interpre-
tation Biblical literature, Biblical customs
and manners, and the life of Christ. At
each session there will be a study OF the
Sabbath school lesson for the ensuing Sab
bath.
Dr. Gilbert for more than thirty years
has been at the head OF a teachertraining
movement which has been pursued by many
thousands His introduction and super
vision of that work have taken him into
all parts of the country. where he Is recog-
uizsd as an author and teacher of ability.
To perfect this arrangement and meet
the necessary expenses, there must be Sc
cured at least 80 persons, and as many
more as possible. to take the course, at 50
each There are many young people In all
the churches who might be persuaded. II Is
said. to enter upon a thorough preparation
for the teachers office, that they may be
ready when called to service. There are
also believed to be many who would gladly
avail themselves OF this opportunity simply
FOR the personal profit.
DIR Gnberts office is on the second moor
OF the Washington Savings Bank, 1Zth
and q streets northwest.
The Sunday school OF st. Augustine
Catholic Church on 18th street northwest
gave its annual entertainment in the hall
in the basement OF the church on Thurs
day evening last, and the affair was most
gratifying success. There was a large at
tendance OF the relatives and friends or the
Sunday school members. and the hearty
enthusiasm displayed at the conclusion of
-. ,,,,,,har .uidaucad a gratifying aDDre-