Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17

other organizations that afterward used
the building. they came to 1T only after
long series of trials and triumphs and went
from 1t to greater triumphs and greater
trials On this plot, made sacred by
numerous dedications. many moral battles
have been waged and won, and here, too,
have been fought the financial battles Of
more than one of Washington's influential
churches.
While the Presbyterians were the first to
build on this site, IT does not mark the be-
ginning of Presbyterianism In washington:
The first public Presbyterian worship of
record was held in the carpenter shop used
by mechanics engaged in building the
White House. This was shortly after the
national capital had been laid out,an the
embyro city was bustling with building
terprises The little congregation that
worshiped amid the dust and shavings of
this carpenters shop is now known as the
First Presbyterian Church and worships
in modern edifce on John Marshal Place,
between c and d streets northwest.
It was to the next Presbyterian organiza-
ton, however, that the Sth street site owes
Its dedication to religion In 1903 Col.
Michael Nourse, James Cleary and others
formed a congregation that was afterwards
known as the Old Street Church. They
worshiped in the old treasury building,
then known as the least executive build
ing" until 1907. when they moved TO the
building on street which afterwards be-
came Willard Hall and is now the F street
entrance to the Willard Hotel.
In the meantime, in 1870. the Second
Presbyterian Church, now the New York
Avenue Church, was formed and wor-
SHIPPED in the Navy Department building.
From this sprung the Fourth Church which
located. in 1923. on the east side of 9th
street, Just above G street northwest Later
they erected a church on the opposite side
of 9th street. at the corner of Grant place
6Nya ar
also abandoned and the church erected
at the corner of 14th and Yale streets. Its
present location.
In 1913 an unlooked-for controversy arose
in the street church, which resulted in
split in the congregation and the building
of a new church. Rev. DR.. Laurie had as
his assistant at the F Street Church Rev
Septimus Tustin. who had served since 1899
for portion of which time he was also
chaplain of the Senate. The congregation.
however, called new assistant. Rev. N
~Bannatyne, to succeed DIR. Tustin. 1t was
this that caused the rupture and several
families, who thought DR.. Tustin was not
sufficiently appreciated, withdrew from the
church. Under his leadership they formed
new congregation and built the first
church on the Sth street side.
The site was part of the estate of Gen
John p Van Ness. son-in-law Of Davy
Burns. who owned large part of what is
now washington Gen. Van Ness promised
to deed the site to the proper officials as
soon as the church. which was to be known
as the Central Presbyterian Church. had
been erected. This was accomplished
principally through the liberality Of Charles
L. Coltman.
The Methodists were the next to occupy
the building and their acquisition was also
tho result of split, which occurred in the
congregation of the NJ. e. Church. The
new congregation purchased the Central
Church for $500, DR.. Tustin's congrega-
ton having disbanded.
The building was used by the city for
school purposes in l84a. At that time sev-N
eraA primary schools were established and
one. OF these was located In the basement
Of the church. but prior to this Prof
Hersy conducted q private school there.
In 1862 the government turned the build
ing into . hospital and DR.. Ford Thompson.