The Washington herald., 1907-04-21

IO~uHA is AlE allll4a or E4lA % AAlf NEdtttt
of George Frederick Handel which oc-
CURED April "A, 1853, at London, England.
Sermons have been preached on his music
and weary. discouraged souls uplifted and
helped by his great oratorios. but, poor
Father Handel, when he abandoned writ
ing operas and lighter music for the
oratorio. had a struggle with the tenden-
cies of his age. He was called. among
other things. a "raving idiot, a profane
fellow. to whom not even Holy Writ was
sacred and reference was saTeastically
made to the thing called an oratorio.
The Messiah was first presented in
Dublin. ireland. and the Irish people first
Sc; the seal of approval upon what is to-
day considered by the majority of Eng
disappearing people the greatest oratorio
that wos ever written. It is a pleasing
coincidence that this initial presentation
of the Messiah did. indeed, proclaim
deliverancc 10 the captives. as the pro-
ceeds We're for the benefit Of poor. dis
tressed prisoners for debt in the several
prisons in the city of Dublin. Il know
that my Redcemer Hveth." alone would
keep Handles name forever green in our
memories. OF the "Hauelujah Chorus.
the Rev II. r. Haweis. in his Music
and Morals" says;
1T stands alone. It appears 10 have
the same oyerpowering effect upon learn
ed and unleaged; it is felt and under
stood by all
Handers own words were. when refer
ring to il:
I thought saw all heaven before me.
and the great God himself"
DR., Frederick D. Power, pastor Of the
Vermont Avenue Christian Church, is In
point of service one of Washingtons old
est ministers. Thirty-two years ago he
received Il unanimous invitation TO the
church. and the invitation has continued
unanimous from that day TO this OF
his first sermon. delivered in a little frame
chapel, in September. 1870. DR.. Power
says:
Il preached to a very thin and per-
spring congregation
Judge jeremiah S. Black, who was a
member of the congregation, said to him
after the service:
Young man. you'll starve."
The substantial figure of Or. Power to-
day shows the great jurist 10 have been
a poor prophet
There were many changes of location
before the church reached its present per
manent abiding place. DR.. Power says of
those early days:
III the church at war with evil is the
church militant and the church at rest
after It's successful warfare is the church
First it is the church Of Christ in the
house Of DR.. Barclay in 1924; then the
church which is in Mr.. Campbeu's house
4S7 Massachusetts avenue, from 1913 to
1850: then in the medical college. Twelfth
and a. streets. IN 1S51; then in Temperance
Hail. Z street. near Ninth. from 1857 to
1893; then we find it meeting in Corcoran
Library, II street. near Thirteenth, 1862;
now it is worshiping in the City Hail.
1863 TO 1865; and now at Metzerotts Hail:
to-day at old Trinity. and tomorrow at
Shiloh meeting house; back again at
Air. Campbells and then at the City Hail.
until finally it pitches its tent on NJ street,
in 1863. But even here it does not find its
rest; its nomadic life continues Soon
the little NJ street chapel is on wheels
journeying to Vermont avenue i'm 1871
Surely these were pilgrims and sojourners.
They were literally going into all the city
and preaching the gospel unto every crea-
ture"
The present cOmmOdious church was
erected ON the site where the little chapel
stood, and dedicated January 20, 1884
Rev. W. K Pendleton preached the dedi-
catory sermon. and President Arthur and
his Cabinet and many other high officials
We're among those present. Under DR.
Powers ministry the church has grown
until It is one of the strongest in Wash
ington. On his thirtieth anniversary as
pastor he received an ovation not only
from his own members but from the
entire city. which plainly told how deeply
he is loved and admired here where he
has been so long active in good words
and works.
In june 1850. Alexander Campbell. the
founder Of the denomination. visited
Washington He accepted an invitation
from both Houses Of Congress TO address
them in the Capitol The address was
delivered IN the House Of Representatives,
which was hIled TO Overlooking with the
leading men of the nation. Mr. Phelps,
of Missouri. whose wife was a Disciple,
introduced him to the audience. He ad-
dressed the assembly from John, iii17,
exhibiting the divine philanthropy" says
DR.. Richardson. his biographer in con-
trast with patriotism and human friend
ship. reasoning in grand and mastery
manner from creation, providence, divine
legislation, and human redemption. and
holding the audience in the most fixed
attention during the address, which oceu-
pied one hour and a half.
Alexander Campbell again visited WASH
ington in 1856, and is recorded as preach