Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
IN ONE new BUILDING
New York Avenue Committee Con-
sidering Proposition.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTSWILLING
Site to Be Chosen Somewhere in the
Northwest Residence Section.
Favored by Members.

the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church and the Washington Heights
Presbyterian Church is being widely dis
cussed in Presbyterian circles of the city.
and before many weeks have elapsed it
is expected that the congregations will
be united. The New York Avenue con-
gregation has for some months been dis
cussing the matter of the erection of a
modern church structure in the north
west section Of the city in place of the
present edifice at the intersection of New
York avenue, II and 18th streets north
west. This fact has been well known
in different church circles of the city.
Recently large part of the congrega-
ton have expressed a desire to erect the
proposed new structure in the residence
portion of the northwest section and
present located.
The idea all along has been TO build
church which will stand as monument
to Presbyterianism IN the National cap
ital, and which PresbyterianS throughout
the states will take pleasure i'll visiting
when they come to Washington. a large
part of the congregation. according to
prominent member. has been in favor of
locating in the section of Dupont Circle,
while others have had an idea that the
new church should be erected near nth
and X streets, where a site has been ia
vored by another portion of the congre
cation. The Stewart Castle site, at the
corner Of Massachusetts avenue and Con-
necticut avenue. has been frequently men
toned as an ideal location for the new
church.
Beginning of the Movement.
A number of the members of the con-
gregation pointed to the fact that the
presbytery of Washington would hardly
consent to the location Of the new edifice
al Dupont Circle. which would be mid
way between the Covenant and Washing
ton Heights Presbyterian churches. and
thus in the middle of the territory which
these churches are supposed to draw their
congregation from.
When this condition became known to
certain members Of the New York Ave-
nue. Church congregation there was a
movement in several quarters to effect u
consolidation with the Washington
Heights Church In this instance it has
been pointed out that the New York Ave
nue. congregations new edifice would be
built farther out Connecticut avenue
way. and thus the combined congrega-
tionS In the modern structure make
strong appeal to the Presbyterians as
we'll as neutrality-suspicious. of the section
to worship within its walls.
Located in this splendid section of the
CITY, Is DOlnteu OUT tlldt the CHURCH.
work would meet with much success
The strength of the New York Avenue
Church with its men high in the affairs
Of the nation and city combined with the
men of standing and affairs In the Wash
ngton Heights Church would make a
union Of which Presbyterians in Wash
ngton might well be proud, and which
would go long way toward Keeping
the banner of Presbyterianism in the fore
at the National capital.
Committee to Meet This Week.
The building committee of the New
York Avenue Church. which is composed
Of John b. Larner, Walter {. Clephane,
Charles E. Pearson and others prominent
in the congregation. is about ready to
hold a meeting. when the question of Il site
for the proposed new church will be dis
cussed. This committee will proba bly,
meet this week to take UP the matter
Several weeks ago statement was made
in the church bulletin that the commit
ee would have definite report to make
at the morning service today. but last
Sunday the bulletin contained the an
nouncement that the committee had de-
cided to postpone the Offering planned
for that date for short time in order
that it might have time for definite ac-
ton before the congregation was asked
to contribute to tho building fund 1t WAS
stated that the committee hoped that with
the definite plans before them the mem
berS of the congregation would be pre-
pared to contribute TO the fund in j sub
stantial manner.
1t is known that the members Of the
committee are aware that the congrega-
ton of the Washington Heights Church
is ready and willing TO join hands with
the larger and older congregation and Is
waiting for overtureS- After the meeting
is called to order il is more than possible
that the question of the consolidation will
l,, i.io 1ly- I n q nj
the committee and something definite done
in the matter.
a special committee of the Washington
Heights Church which is composed of
MessrS. William Robson. Charles Doug
lass and number of other prominent
members of the cOngrega ion, has the
matter in charge for the heights churc.,
and to Il man is said to favor u conSnii-
dation with the New York Avenue
Church While none of the members
named will make Il statement III regard
to the mat .er ii is stated 10y Il prominent
member of the congregation that the
Washington Heights congregation looks
forward to a consolida tion with tn" elder
Pres esbyterian church with much pleasur-
able anticipation in the belief that the
combination would mean much for Pres
byteriansm.
Field an Ideal One
The member pointed out that the field
was an ideal one for n church such as
the combined one would be. He said that
the lot >upon which the Washington
Heights Church now stands coulu be used
with the addition of several adjoining lots
for the proposed modern church structure.
If this location did not suit the members
of the New York Avenue congregation
and they expressed the desire to choose 4
location farther down toward the Con-
necticu1 avenue section Of the city. he |
felt sure that The members of the Wash |
ington Heights Church would he willing !
to move to any desirable location whicn !
the members of the older church might |.
suggest.
Thus until the special committee of the |
New York Avenue Church meets and
brings the matter to the point where 1t !
can be taken up by the committee of the !
Washington Heights Church the question
will stand in allegiance. Prompt action, IL |
is said. will probably be taken. as 1t is !
believed that the majority of the members |
of the New York Avenue committee are
of .t.,fi