Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27

Workmen are now engaged in demollish-
ing the old building at the corner of 9th
and D streets northwest that has served
since June IL, 1878, as the Police Court of
the District of Columbia, and Unitarians
throughout the city. especially the board of
directors of All Souls Church, are eagerly
watching the progress of demolition. This
building was erected eighty-three years ago
by the first Unitarian congregation OF
Washington, and it is expected that when
the corner stone of the ancient building
is reached many relics of historical value
will he found. The records of the Unfair
ians here are practically complete, the list
of articles deposited in the corner stone
of their first house of worship being the
only important item that is missing. and
it is the prospect of securing this missing
record that mas aroused interest in the
Wreckirg Of the old Police Court
There appeared in the National IntelIt-
Fenc=r of June 2. 1920, the following adj
Vertisement:
PUBLIC WORSHIP
The long room over the public bath. In c street.
is engaged b. u" Unitarian Christians for carry
ing Oh lualic ,yosliip on Sabbath days and will he
orcnsd for THAT lIgpose with discourse suited 10
the OCCASION on Sunday, June f. at half past ten
0 dock
This was the first call for meeting of
friend; Of Unitarian worship. and marked
the beginning of the Unitarian Church in
Wash ugton. Previous to this public meet
ing, however. several families met in each
others houses and read Unitarian ltera-
ture Later they discovered in the city
merchant. Robert Little. formerly a min
lister in the English Church, from which he
had Withdrawn because Of his unitarianism.
Mr.. Little became actively interested in the
home meetings and 1t through his eff
forts that the Tong room over the pub
lie bath was secured for public worship.
The first meeting In the long room"
proved to be q success and the meetings
were held regularly thereafter. The so
ciety increased in membership so rapidly
that In less than a year it was decided to
build a church and aid was solicited from
sister churches
Under much discoura cement, the sum OF
$3.50 was collected by contributions from
Charlestown, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Providence and Boston. From the latter
city, Mr.. Little. by personal visit and So
licitatlon, obtained SIZE OF this sum, the
largest gift of $500 came from the Second
Church. of which Rev. Ralph Waldo EN-
erson was the young minister.
This was the beginning of the movement
that finally resulted in the building of the
first Unitarian Church lin Washington The
edifice was completed in the spring of 1872
and was dedicated June of that year,
just two years and four days from the date
of the first public meeting.
Mr.. Little was the first pastor OF the
church. and he continued such until his
sudden death, during a brief vacation in
August, 1927, at Harrisburg Pa He was
buried at Harrisburg and his funeral SER
mon preached here by Rev. DR.. +. A.
Farley
The old church claimed the distinction OF
having mounted in its tower the first
church bell brought to this city, and said
to be the Oldest south of New York Aside
from this fact the bells historical connec-
lions make 1t an interesting relic, it having
been cast In Boston at the foundry of the
famous Paul Revere. 1t was subscribed for
by John Quincy Adams, John c. Calhoun
and other notable citizens Of that day and
was generally used for public casions I'M
til the time of the war. 1t now hangs In
the tower of All Souls Church at l4th and
l. streets, where, In perfect condition 1t
continues to be rung every Sunday.
Among the early leaders of the old
church were Moses Young, the societys
first president, Charles Bulfinch architect
of the Capitol, Its first secretary: Messrs.
Gales and Seaton, editors OF the National
Intelligencer: Judges Cranch and Eliot,
Moses Poor, John F. Webb, Noah Fletcher.
Frank Taylor, Richard Wallach, John
Purdy and many others of honorable fame
In the city.
Besides these. among the public men who
have been frequent attendants and sup
porters have been Presidents John Quincy
Adams and Willard Fillmore, Chief Justice
Marshall, Justice Story and Senators Dam
lei Webster John c. Calhoun, Charles
Sumner, John p. Hale and Timothy O.
Howe.
The roster of pastors who filed the pull
pit at the old church also contains the