The Washington herald., 1907-10-06
SUNDAY MORNING CHAT

The congregation Of Northminster
Church are rejoicing in the fact that work
has commenced on the foundation Of their
new house Of worship. which is 70 be put
up at tfe corner Of Rhode Island avenue
and Eleventh street. The wide parking,
together with the triangle formed by the
intersectins streets at this point will give
a beautiful setting Of green 10 the edifce
and add greatly to its attractions. The
first shovelful Of earth for the new build
Ing was turned September "A, by Judge
John Penn Jones. for forty years an elder
Of the church Judge Jones was for thir-
ty-five years clerk Of the session, resign
ing last year, to the great regret Of those
who were associated with him. But as
ne had reached his ninety-first birthday.
he thought himself entitled TO a we'll
earned rest. on the building committee
are AIr. L. CaBeH Williamson. chairman:
Col. G. II. Darlington. w. Il. Countryman,
Or. NJ. c. Bennett. W. 2. Perry, and ".
". FumphTey. Rev. Dr. George +. VIII
son, pastor, served in an advisory CapaC-
ity. The church was designed by archi-
teCts Arthur N. POynton and William L.
Webster. Il IS to be built Of brick, with
stone trimmings, the style of architecture
being the early English Gothic.
Northminster Presbyterian Church came
into existence about a year ago through
the union of Assembly's Church and North
Church AssembIy's Church, originally
called Fifth Church. was organized in 1853,
through the efforts Of Elder David NJ
Wilson. There were twenty charter men,
bers, eighteen Of whom were from the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, one Of them
from the First Church, and one from
Wesley Chapel From 1853 to 1860 Rev.
Andrew Carothers served as pastor, re-
signing on account of poor health, and
going as United States consul to Turks
Island West Indies. Afterward came Rev.
ThaddeUs B. McFalls Rev William Hart.
Rev Charles B. Boynton, and. In June,
1873, Rev. Dr. George O. Little, who occu-
pied the pulpit for twenty-five years.
Rev George ?. Wilson assumed the pas
torate December !. L9S. The neighbor-
lSood of Assembly's Church, at the corner
X Fifth and l streets, has greatly changed
during the past fifty years, and like many
downtown places OF worship, it was sur
rounded by a population entirely new,
most Of its members having moved away.
In view Of this II was thought best to sell.
ana a purchaser was found in the Jewish
Congregation Above ShOlem. the price
paid being $4,000
North Church was an outgrowth OF the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
and was under its fostering care for
time II was OrgahiZed In 1865. Among
the twenty-three charter members are to
be found the families of Darlington, Fris-
sell, GrOot, KidweIl, Slater, Stiff, Steven
son, Williamson, Marsh, Ker, and Nun
roe. The pastors were Rev. Louis R. Fox,
Rev. James c. Mason, and DR.. Charles
9. Ramsdell, the latter of whom was for
thirty-one years the faithful and dearly
loved minister. His sudden death in the
spring Of 1906, while delivering an address
at the Eastern Presbyterian Church is
still fresh in the minds Of Washing
tonians. The life Of North Church was
prosperous, and. said a member recently,
rather quiet and uneventful. In common
with most Washington churches. It has
from time to time numbered notable per-
sons among its commandments among
them Prof. Simon Newcomb, the dis
tinguished astronomer, who, with his
family, formerly worshiped here. Several
weeks after Dr.. Ramsdelrs death the
union Of Assembly's congregation with
that Of North Church was effected. The