Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29


prayer meeting. held October 16. 1855. in
site of the present building. So much in
terest was manifested that it was decided
to hold a meeting each week The at
tendance increased rapidly and after
site Of the chapel. was rented for use as a
Sunday school room Sundays and gospel
meetings Wednesday evenings. In
short time larger quarters were needed
and an adjoining store. in which liquor
had been sold. was rented early in 1886
The partitions were removed. and. though
the floors were uneven and the walls were
rough. room of suitable proportions was
thus secured. 1t was then known as the
Balch Memorial Mission. named in honor
Of DR.. Balch, who founded the first Pres
byterian church in the District Of Column
bia. The work was entirely Independent
of any religious organization until 1887,
when it came under the control of the
Church of the Covenant. and it is still a
branch of that church. At that time the
name was changed to the Covenant Mis-
sion. In May. 1887. Mr.. Henry B. F.
Macfariand. now president of the board
of District Commissioners. became super
intendent of the Sunday school, an office
which he still holds.
The old buildings in which the meetings
were held. and which were in a dilapi-
of 1880, and the present church edifice
was erected. The larger part of the cost
was paid by Mr.. John R. Beall. WHO do
mated it to the Church Of the Covenant.
name was changed to Peck Memorial
Chapel. in memory of Mr.. Charles F.
Peck. deceased, who had been a friend
and benefactor to Mr.. Beall in his early
In June. 1s9k Rev. Charles Alvin
Smith. who was just graduated from the
Union Theological Seminary in New
York. was called to become the minister
of the chapel. and he accepted. From
that time until his sudden death. March
g. 1861 period of almost seventeen
years-he carried on the work with I'M
daunted courage, unwavering enthusiasm
and unlimited seif-sacrifce.
During the ministry of Rev. Mr.. Smith
the scope of the work of the chapel was
greatly enlarged He was sustained by
the Church of the Covenant which sup
piled many faithful workers In the Sun
day school and other departments. and
which. through its members. gave liberal
financial support. In 1906 large parish
building adjoining the chapel was erected
by benefactor whose name has never
been made public: the original church
stalled: and a tower. in which was placed
a clock with four dials. was added to the
building In the parish building is a
gymnasium. boys clubroom. a mems
branch Of the Public Library. The chapel
has auxiliary organizations. a drum and
bugle corps and boys brigade. 1t also
maintains a cooking school and a sewing
school IT is said to be the first fully
equipped institutional church in the Dis
trict of Columbia
Notwithstanding the great activity
along the lines indicated. the religious
element has always been predominant In
death of the Rev. Mr. Smith a mems
organization. known the Alvin Smith
Memorial Brotherhood was formed to
carry on religious work among men in
the vicinity of the chapel and also to
serve as a permanent memorial of the
departed minister. The brotherhood has
a large membership. 1t conducts a prayer
meeting for men every Sunday morning,
month