The Washington bee., 1907-09-07

Inc court restrained DT. Drew from I
-ntering or interfering with the work
ug of the church until the court could |
pass on the matter. All the members
eft the said church and hired a hall, |
where they held their meetings until
the court could pass on the matter, and |
set aside a day to elect a pastor. At
this meeting three hundred or more
members names were taken Of Of the
regular church book, and made a new
record book, and yet DR.. Drews' had |
the majority. They continued to wor-
ship in the hall, with long and hard |
fight in law Finally Dr.. Drew Won
The law declared him to be the only
legal elected pastor Of the Metropoli |
tan Church. But DR.. Drew decided that
he did not want to go back to the old
church. Therefore he, with over one
thousand members, organized the Cos
Temple Baptist Church, De-
cember I3, 1904, with the majority of
the best members of the Metropolitan
Baptist Church and some of the leading
citizens Of the United States. coming
from nearly every State in the Union.
Fully two thousand members. with a
head light inside of ten years this
church undoubtedly will have FIVE thou
sand members on its enrolment They
raised more money than any church in
the city, and own today one of the larg-
est and best pieces of property in the
city, recently purchased on n street
northwest between Ninth and Tenth
streets; 100 by $50 feet; formerly owned
by rich white congregation. This prop
erty is said to be worth from 100000
to 100000. 1t will be remodelled, and
when completed it will be one of the
largest owned by Negroes in America,
and will be the headquarters where the
large conventions and other large gath
erings will assemble.
The NezU Church
Is situated on the north side Of N
street between Ninth and Tenth streets
northwest The lot IS sixty feet by one
hundred and thiry-fve The present |
structure will seat fifteen hundred peo-
pie He has paid twenty-five thousand
dollars cash for it, After it is remod-
eIed il will have a seating capacity of
FIVE thousand, and it viii cost one hum
dred thousand dollars. 1t will be the
creased 10 fye thousand dollars per an
mum. lie will be the largest-salaried
largest colored church in the city. The
board Of trustees at its last meeting
voted to pay DR.. Drew a salary of one
hundred and fifty dollars per month, and
within two years his salary will be in
colored divine in the United States.
The new church will be edicated jan
uary I, 1908.
When DR.. Drew announced that he
had bought the church property on n
rect, and after the reading of the deed
by II secretary, the congregation arose
IN a body and sang Praise God from
whom all blessings fow," then prayer
was offered by the pastor, in the midst
of great cheering and rejoicing. When
the cheering ceased a motion was made,
seconded and unanimously carried, after
which a resolution was then presented
by Deacon Hope E. Evans, which was
accepted, to increase the pastors sal
tors salary, as follows: On and after
January I, 1903 shall be two hundred
and fifty dollars per month; on and af-
ter January I, 1910, and when the mem
bership shall reach five thousand, he
shall receive five thousand dollars an
nually.
The plans and specifications have just
been completed for probably the most |
and one of the largest of
the church edihfces owned by Negroes
in America. 1t is of a beautiful de-
,ign, purely classical and Of the Roman
style in and out The front elevation
$40 be of select No. impervious press
brick, trimmed with granite and mar
Die. The main entrance will be through
4 three door Roman colonnade into
he vestibule. The colonnade, which
will be of white marble, IS to rest on
hree large polished granite columns,
With Ionic trimmings and a Vermont
yray granite base. The entire building
Will be trimmed out in oak, walnut
nd maple. It will have first and sec
md galleries in the main auditorium,
which will altogether seat over FIVE thou
and people.
The church is planned as near as
.ossible after the great Cathedral and
he great Surgeons Tabernacle of
England. 1t will be another great orna-
lent to the National Capital, and also
living monument to the skill, brains
nd handiwork of the Negro race.
This edifce will be dedicated on Sun