The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-08-25
ROW IN CHURCH
OYER NEW SITE
Being Erected Beyond the
Limits Authorized by
Presbytery.
Northminster Presbyterian
Congregation in Dis
agreement.

y church contest is imminent between !
certain members of the Washington
Fresbytsry and the congregation OF the |
No~thminster Presbyterian Church, |
brought about by the fact that the
church has begun the erection OF a
new house OF worship beyond the dis
lance limits authorized by the Presby-
tory.
Since the merger several months ago
OF the old AssombIy's Church with the
North Presbyterian Church. on Il
street, between Ninth and Tenth, now
known as the Northminster, it was de
eided 10 erect a new building and dis
pose Of the present property. The
Presbytcry was consulted. and it is !
stated at the request of that church
approved a site the church then had
ia view at the corner of Tenth and NJ
streets northwest. At the same uIac
the Presbytery allotted the Northmin-
ster Church. a certain section Of the
city in which TO select a site, between
Eighth street on the east and Twelfth
street on the west, and L street on the
south, and P street on the north Mem
hers of the Northminster state these
boundaries were asked for by the
church and approved, the Presbytery's
attitude not being dictatorial in this
respect.
Trouble With Owners.
Experiencing trouble in closing the
deal with the property owners for the
site at Tenth and II. the church finally
secured an option on property at the
southwest corner OF Eleventh and
Rhode Island avenue, which is about
one half a block beyond the limits pre-
scribed by the Presbytery. When a
meeting Of the Presbytery was recent
~ called the matter was brought up.
the Northminster Church expecting no
difficulty in the ratification OF the pur-
chase. Unexpectedly. however. 1t is
said. that opposition at once developed,
led by DR.. Donald Macleod, of the
First Presbyterian Church. After con-
siderable debate the Presbytery post
ponde action on the matter until the
October meeting.
In Embarrassing Position.
In the meantime. it is said. the North
Minister Church was placed in the en-
barrassing position of having to meet
the option on the Rhode Island avenue
property or lose a second site The sit
uation was further complicated by the
action of the church in having virtually
sold the old property on n street thus,
fisuratively speaking, putting the con-
gregation in the street" Accordingly
Elder L. c. Williamson, who is also at
-tcrney for the Northminster congrega-
ton. was told to proceed with the pur-
chase OF the Rhode Island avenue cor
ner and to begin the erection Of the
new church. relying on the probability
that sucn a course would eventually be
approved by the Presbytery..
Headed by DR.. Mcleod.
There is not, properly speaking. n
conflict on between the Presbytery and
my church." said Mr.. Williamson. 1.-THE
opposition is on the part of certain
members of the Presbytery, headed by
DR.. Mcleod. We trust that the Presby-
terry as a whole will authorize the &C
ton we have taken.
The trouble dates back to the diff
ferences Of a year ago. when an attempt
" as made 10 have the old Assemblies
Church unite with the New York Ave
nue. Church. Several of the churches at
that time, the Assembly's among them.
conceived the plan Of having one great
institutional church down town in the
northwest section, and, with this in
view, We agreed to give up our life as a
church and unite with a large central
church. When the matter came Up in
the Presbytery committee. however, for
reasons I do not care to discuss, the en-
tire plans were changed and the agree
ment was changed so that only the As
selnbly's Church and the New York Ave
nue. Church were TO be merged. We OBJ
Jected 10 this, a split in our ranks oc-
CURED, and some of our members went
10 the New York Avenue Church, others
to the First Presbyterian Church, and
the Assemblys Church as a body was
later merged with the North Presby-
terrain, and the two were called North
Minister.
Debate Precipitated.
The recent opposition of DR.. Mac
Leod and few others in the Presby-
terry as to the ratification Of our new