Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

preached sermon on the life of Father
Carroll Its first pastor.
st. Johns Is handsome church 1t Is
Gothic In style and Is built of red stone.
1t Is modern in every respect Neatness
and completeness is evident on every hand
and its furniture Is Of the best A marble
altar Is the central point of interest. that
and the baptismal font being erected as a
memorial to Mr.. Ethelbert Carroll Morgan
by his mother. The furniture about the
sanctuary is of a substantial and tasteful
character. The church is well lighted and
through the erection of stained glass win
dows the members of some of the best
known families that have. been connected
with st. Johns since its inception. have
tho windows are those OF Robert Y. and
Harriet Brent. VIM. Dud.y and Eleanor
Carroll Diggs. Philip and Mary Fenwick,
John. Mary and Eugenia Van Riswick.
VIM. and Elizabeth Brent, VIM and Ma
tilda Truxton, VIM. and Catherine Clark
Theodore and Mary Brent Mosher and
others, practically all OF whom were re-
lated to the distinguished founder of the
church, Archbishop Carroll.
Though the predecessors of Father Rosen-
steel pastor labored hard and earnestly
for the upbuilding of their charge. it is
thought that none achieved more signal
success in the improvement of the congre-
cation and Its property than he. He is uni
versally credited with being hardworking.
self-sacrificing clergyman, and his church
and parish residence will vie with that of
the more opulently endowed congregations.
Orderliness and completeness Is evident on
every hand. The grounds about the church
property evidence the skill of a landscape
gardner. The plot in front of the COM
modious rectory is laid out with well-tended
flower beds. the blossoms filling the air
with fragrance. The walks of crushed
blue stone make the green sward all the
more attractive. The house has a broad
hallway through the center, from which
radiate on the first floor a commodious
study. parlor and dining room and kitchen.
There are seven sleeping rooms on the
floor above. Orderliness is everywhere APP
parent.
Here many relics OF the first pastor of
st. Johns are carefully preserved In
Father Rosensteeis bedchamber, for in
stance, are two chairs that were used by
Archbishop Carroll when he was at st.
Johns, protected from the ravages of time
by liberal coat of white paint; pictures
that once reposed in the apartment OF his
distinguished predecessor and many other
articles of historic interest in connection
with the church.
feature of the rectory OF more than or
binary interest is bathtub of pure Italian
marble. 1t would gladden. the heart of "a
tub devotee well. According to the best
information obtainable. the marble came
originally from rectory at Christ Church.
Alexandria. We, which was demolished
considerably over a hundred years ago,
name OF Welsh. who, after holding ii for
some time turned 1t over to his brother
Patrick Welsh. The latter makes his home
near Forest Glen, and used 1t as horse
trough. Several years ago. while making
call on Mr.. Welsh, Father Rosensteel
watered his equine In its depths 1t was
mossgrown and blackened. and wondering
as to its composition, Father Rosensteel
| scraped 1t with a penkife, when his prac-
ticed eye realized the value of the trough
But money could not buy it. Mr.. Welsh
| declared that the tub had been In his fam
! lily SO long that he had no desire to part
with IL at any price. But later on, when
| Mr.. Welsh learned that Father Rosensteel
intended to build new church and rectory
at Forest Glen. he made the latter pres
ent of the tub. 1t is of more than ordinary
dimensions and is said to be valued at $500
While Father Rosensteel never served an
Sprenticeship at the carpenters trade he
is something OF an artisan In that line
He does all his own repairing about the
church. house and cemetery. Especially
solicitious about the pleasures of young
people, he built picnic grounds and re-
modelled an old house into a hall where
lectures, dances and parties may be given
and hung curtain for the stage. He has
often entertained his parishioners ana par
ties from this city, particularly the Knights
of Columbus. of which he is a member at
euchre parties. and for this diversion he
has tables of his own construction.