The Washington times., 1904-01-30
Meeting of Directors Will
Be Held Early Next
Week.
BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE
Spire That Graced Thomas
Circle Falls, and Memorial
Windows Destroyed.

The work of repairing the Luther
Place Memorial Church in Thomas
Circle. badly damaged by fire last night,
will be commenced almost Immediately,
according to a statement made by DIR.
Butler today
A netting Of the board of directors
of the church will be held in the Me-
mortal Chapel adjoining the edifice, on
Monday or Tuesday. and a contract will
be let for the work 1t is believed, how
ever. that it will be five or six months
before services can be held in the struc-
ture. While the rebuilding is in progress,
services will be held in the Memorial
Chapel Tomorrows services will begin
at O'Clock. with DR.. Butler officiating
Crowds See Ruins.
Several thousand persons visited the
wrecked church today. Many of them
were members of the congregation and
their friends These were admitted. but
hundreds stood on the outside. DR.
Butler was there before o'clock and
the members Of the board of directors
arrived within short time afterwards
These are George Ryneal. jr.. DR.. w. X
Butler, A. d. Spangler. Lucius d. Alden,
Frederick Wurdeman and A. Y. Leech
jr. Wagons are busy. removing pew
cushions and fixtures from the church
About a dozen members OF the con-
gre cation remained in the edifice all
day doing whatever was possible in
order TO better conditions
The main spIre. which was almost to-
tally destroyed. was dedicated to the
ssnemory of George Ryneal and his wife.
father and mother OF George Ryneal. jr.
one OF the present directors. The church
rrr . f,rrflf IN 81
Gated IN 1S4 The stained glass window
just over the main entrance Of the
church. was dedicated to Martin Luther.
and was contributed by Augustus
kountze, Of New York
Organ a Wreck.
Admirers Of John Wesley purchased
the window to the left OF the choir
loft and facing Vermont Avenue. This
window was dedicated to his memory in
1874. On the right of the organ. which
was almost totally destroyed by water
and failing timber. is the John Calvin
window. purchased by admirers Of Cal
win. These three windows were great
ly damaged. 1t is believed it will cost
more to repair them than IL would 10
purchase new ones.
Several small memorial windows on
the Fourteenth Street side were broken
by the fremen In order to get a stream
into the church. Most Of the windows
are dedicated 70 prominent ministers.
The two which are most damaged are
taOse to the Rev H d. POhlman and
the Rev. c. w. Hutter.
DR.. Buffers Anniversary.
For twenty years past it has been the
custom of the young members OF this
congregation to give a reception tc DR.
he tfr-n, % IL 4 4,
which occurs on the 29th OF January
This was in the nature Of a surprise
until the yearly repetition made il a
custom OF the church
Yesterday was DR.. Buffers seventy
eight birthday. Following the Gus
tom mentioned, invitations wer,
sent out for an appropriate eel
ebration Of the event. to which mem
bers and friends of the church all owe
the country were invited. A feast wa
prepared and a list OF toastS and after
dinner speeches bearing upon the pc
culiar history of the church and DR.
Buffers thirty years pastorate. Tbs
guests gathered about s O'Clock in tn
chapel OF the church One chandelie
was lighted in the church proper. Thi
was done by means OF turning on al
electric switch connecting with wire.
leading 20 the various burners OF tn
chandelier.
The Rev. Charles Butler, son Of Dr
Butler. and pastor OF Keller Memoria
Church, and Joseph Miller. one OF hi
parishioners, were late in arriving
When they entered the gallery 70 Ia,
aside their OYercoats Mr.. Miller notice
a peculiar light above the chandelier. Z
which he called Mr.. Buffers attention
The latter at once sent for George Tin
uvh i'm ar.
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