The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
TAFTS HOME CHURCH
Secretary Regularly Attends
All Souls Unitarian.
HIS WIFE AN EPISCOPALIAN
Miss Helen Confirmed Year Ago.
Father and Grandfather OF the
al Same Faith as HimseIf-Beu at
All Souls Has a History.

II Secretary Taft becomes the next
President Of the United States, the coun-
try will again see the Executive family
divided I'm religious views. as IN the
Roosevelt case. Both Mrs. Taft and Mrs.
Roosevelt are communicates OF ST. Johns
Episcopal Church, the present President
worships at the Dutch Reformed Church.
and Secretary Taft Is a regular attendant
at All Souls Unitarian Church.
All Souls Unitarian Church, which Sec
retary Taft attends in Washington. To-
Gated at the southeast corner Of Four
teenth and l. streets northwest. is a red
brick building, draped from steeple TO
steps in clamorous ivy. The present edi-
fee is only little over twenty years old.
and before its construction the congreea-
ton worshiped in a building that later be
came the District Police Court.
Bell Has n History.
This building was erected in 1871. and
numbered among its members such illus
trious men as Calhoun. Daniel Webster.
and Bulhnch. The bell OF this church.
which was afterward removed 10 the new
edifce az Fourteenth and L streets. and
still summons tardy devotees 10 prayer.
was cast by Paul Revere in 1921 and bears
his name. For years Il was the only large
bell in Washington and was used TO an
nounce weddings. deaths, births. and
other festivals, to say nothing Of acting
as a general fire alarm.
Ever since the bell was first placed in
position it has joyously rung in the cleo
ton OF a President. and when. through
sickness or assassination. a President has
passed away. the tolling Of this same bell
has announced the passing.
1t is hardly probable that the bell-ring-
ers ever dreamed that the bell would ring
in the glory and honor Of a member Of
its own church. but that may be the fact
in this case.
Mr.. Taft is one Of the regular attend
ants of the church and is a pew renter.
Both his father and mother were of the
Unitarian faith, and his grandfather was
one Of the pioneers in that religion in
Connecticut.
AT Murray Bay, Canada, where for the
last sixteen years Mr.. Taft has spent his
summers vacation, he has been
worshiper at the Union Chapel of the
Presbyterian and Episcopal churches, and
is keenly interested in the welfare OF the
little church.
Attend st. Johns Church.
Mrs. Taft and her daughter Helen. as
we'll as Charlie Taft. attend St Johns
Episcopal Church. and Miss Taft was
confirmed in that edifice about a year ago.
Rev. L. G. B. Pierce, the pastor of All
Souls Unitarian Church. was born in
Providence. r. l., in 1863 He was educat-
ed in the public schools Of that city, and
after studying at the Newton (NIass)
Theological Institution. entered HillsdaIe
College. Michigan, from which he was
graduated In 1890 with the degree of B. d.
He also pursued advance studies at Har-
ward
He was married in 1891 to Florence
Lonsbury, daughter Of Capt. Lonsbury, of
Michigan. He has had pastorates in
Iowa, California. and Ithaca. n. Y, from
which city he was called 10 become min
ister Of All Souls Church Under his
minstration the church has grown in
numbers and strength, the congregation
being one Of the finest in the city