The Washington herald., 1908-05-11

sermons by distinguished prelateS oi
the Methodist Episcopal denomination
and elaborate programmes of religious
music marked the services held yester-
day in Trinity NJ Z. Church, Fifth and
c streets southeast. In commemoration
of the 1o6th anniversary Of its establish
ment
At the morning service every seat In
the edifce was taken, and extra chairs
were required. while the night services
wers heard by an audience equally as
large. The services were solely Of a re-
ligious nature. the social and historical
portion being reserved for tonight, when
a reception will be rendered the MEM
bers of the congregation. their friends,
and the former pastors by the present
pastor, Rev II. S. France. and the Off
cial board
History of the Church.
Following the reception. an address COW
ering the history Of the church from It's
inception to the present day will be de-
livered by Mr.. Morris Otterback. The
address Of welcome viii be made by Mr.
George r. Cook
Bishop d. II. Moore. Of Portland. Greg.
who is at present attending the Methodist
Conference in Baltimore. delivered the
sermon at the morning service He was
introduced by Rev. H S. France, pastor
OF the church. and after congra tulating
the congregation on its many years OF
work in the religious aeld. he delivered an
eloquent and forcible sermon. The mu-
sical programme was under the direction
OF Mr.. ". X. Cohen, organist Of the
church. and consisted Of selections by the
regular choir and Prof. stopsack and
members Of his orchestra.
The speaker at the evening service was
Rev. J. c. Nicholson. presiding elder of
the Baltimore district and former pas
tor Of Trinity. He devoted himself solely
TO religious topics. and presented a word
picture Of the life and work OF Christ
/ The evening musical programme was com
posed Of special numbers, given by the
/ regular choir, under the direction Of Or
gsnlst Cohen.
/ Trinity N, F. Church enjoys the dis
tinction OF being the oldest Methodist
! Episcopal church i'm Washington. 1t WAS
organized under the name OF the Method
/ ist Society Of Washington in 1902 The
/ original congregation numbered not more
/ than a dozen persons, and they wor-
/ SHIPPED in q house At Greenleafs Point.
In Old Tobacco House.
Later. the congregation held services
IN an old tobacco warehouse. and in tbs
early sos erected a frame church OF
a site in Fourteenth street between T
and G streets. which was the first Meth
odist church 20 be erected in Washing
ton. In 1919 the name was changed &c
! the Ebenezer VI. F.. Church. and that
name was held until the oolored members
OF the congregation decided to establish
separate house OF worship for them
| selves. and they adopted the name oi
! Ebenezer. while the other congregation
took the name Of the Fourth Street NJ
F. Church. In 1885 the frame structur,
was replaced by brick building. and
this was used until 1891. when the present
magnificent editCe was erected and thC
name changed to It's present one.
During the many years Of its existence
this church has been singularly free from
petty dissensions. and no separation;
have ever marred it, About forty pas
Z WIS nav N'NA FtFA tliN hHAHit citiNC lfif
church was established, and Of these onl,
six are alive to-day
The present congregation numbers
about so members, and FIVE churche,
have sprung from the mother c0ngrega
ton, the irst being the Ebenezer A. Nj
+. Church, which is still in existence.
The history OF Trinity is said 70 b,
replete with many things Of interest. an,
a treat is in store for those who hea
Mr.. Otterbacks address tonight tn
present church was dedicated I'm 1897. ant
is one Of the hsndsomest religious edi
fees in the city.
The Preseut Officers.
The present officers are:
Trustees, A. A. Chaplin, NJ Otterback
S. F. Cole A Kirby, Charles Williams
Thomas Trazzare Frederick Espey, Mil
Ter Dixon, and Milton Bell; stewards
George r. Cook. +. a. Belt. George Grit
fifth, Charles HeinIine, William Sniffen, J
II. Doney Watson Eldridge. Eugene Hig
gins. Joseph Webb, James MCCathran.
c. George. o. ]. Griggs. and J. Z. Bright
Sunday school superintendent G. r
Cook: assistant superintendent, GeOTg
Griffith. Its register contains the name
OF many who were famous in this cit
, and vicinity in earlier days.
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