Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03

| ditional teacher. Sixteen pupils were an
| rolled at the first meeting
In the early part of 1891 the Sunday
| school secured the old one-story blacksmith
| shop at the junction of North Capitol and
! \ streets and New York avenue orship-
ing In this primitive building for nearly
i've years, gaining new pupils nearly every
Sunday. In the autumn of 1894 the Pres
| byterian Alliance, proud of the good work
accomplished by the earnest workers OF
TINS struggling Sunday school, came to its
rescue and secured the site on Truxton
Circle, assuming the debt for the site and
One-haf the cost Of the Sunday school
building, the corner stone of which was
laid on July 10 1895. and dedicated the
following November. Gen. John w. Foster,
at that time president of the Presbyterian
Alliance, presiding.
In September, 1896 church organization
was effected. with membership Of thirty,
and Rev. George S. Duncan, Ph.D., who
had been pastor Of the Westminster Pres
byterfan Church of Harrisburg, was chosen
pastor, and remained such for four
years, being rewarded by a steadily in
creaSiHg membership. Rev. William Talia-
ferro Thompson, the present pastor, sue
ceeded DIR. Duncan. being installed Feb
ruary ., 1901. and rapidly has the MEM
bership grown that the new building was
a necessity, owing to the limited seating
capacity of the Sunday school building.
The Pastor.
Rev DR.. William Taliaferro Thompson
is native of Frederick county. Va His
was graduated from Classical Academy Of
Edward B. Nicely and completed his educa-
ton at the University of Virginia. In 1859
he entered the Theological Seminary at Co
lumbia, S. c., was graduated in May 1872.
and at once took charge of HopeWell
Church, near Mars Bluff. in that state.
While there he declined various calls to
cities in the north and west. In 1880 he
succeeded DIR. John Forrest pastor OF
the First or Scotch Presbyterian Church Of
Charleston, S c., one of the oldest religious
organizations in this country. Under DR..
Thompson's twenty years ministry this be-
came of the foremost churches in the
south, socially, financially and numerically.
The University of Kansas conferred upon
him the degree of D. D. He was for years
a member of the board of directors of CO.
lumbia Seminary, for years chairman of
his presbytery's committee of domestic
missions, repeatedly sent to the gen.
eral assembly. was moderator of the synod
of South Carolina. and was prominently
identified with every great moral movement
In Charleston for two decades.
DR.. Thompson became pastor of Ecking-
ton Presbyterian Church in February 1901,
though he had previously supplied the pull
pit from the middle of the previous Deem
Der. He Is a forceful and ready speaker.
and Is never at a loss TO give Illustrations
that carry his words TO the hearts of the
congregation. Since DR.. Thompson's min
istry began the membership has almost
doubled and is continually growing.
Mr. Irwin B. Linton has been one of the
most prominent active members of the
church. He is one of its founders and has
given his time and means unstintedly TO
upbuild the church from the very begin
ming, and too much credit cannot be given
to this gentleman for the unselfsh devo-
ton he has shown lexington Presbyterian
Church. He elected the first superin-
tendent of the Sunday school. and is at
present acting In that capacity. He was
chosen the first ruling elder upon the or
ganzation of the church in September 1896,
as well as a member of its board of trustees
at the same time. Taking active inter-
est in the choir, he has been precentor dur
ing the life of the church, and until last
fall was its leader. when he was succeeded
by Mr.. Robert S. Moore.
Mr.. Linton Is also clerk of the session
and chairman Of the building committee ap-
pointed 10 secure the erection of the new
church He has always taken an active
part IN the Presbyterian Alliance, of which
he is secretary.