Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

ception of human society and belonging
as it does to both earth and heaven. Its
chronicles. indeed, can never be complete
here. The scribe that keeps the record
in this world and the angel that posts
the book of remeInbrances in heaven must
together make up the history"
The pastor then talked interestingly
of the work of President Garfield. who
attended the church, and called attention
to the simple piety of the former ruler of
the nation. When Mr.. Garfield first came
to Washington he became a member of
Rev. DR.. Powers flock. During the cam
paign for the presidency when the pastor
expressed the sympathy of the church to
him and hoped that he might go safely
through the ordeal Mr. Garfield answered ::
Il am glad to know our brethren are
feeling so kindly toward me and especial
ly to know that they are not moved by
the assaults that are being made upon
me-"
Again when 1 wrote to him in 1880 and
asked any suggestions he might desire to
make in regard to the new house of wor-
ship, said DR.. Power. The replied, L am
glad to hear the work is to be under
taken and in answer to your inquiry 1
beg leave to offer but one suggestion. and
that is that your brethren do not under
take to build too large house. Let US
keep within our means and also avoid
anything like ostentation, either in size
or decoration. Let it be a neat. modest
church of undersize rather than oversize
X X
Here DIR. Power recalled the incidents
of the funeral of the only President who
was active member of Vermont Ave-
nue. Church.
I'm the hour of his PAIN continued DR..
Power, and knowing OF our constant
prayer in his behalf. he said. The dear
little church on Vermont avenue: they
have been carrying me as a great burden,
When I get up they shall not regret It,:
And then. later, the long vigil of the
nation was ended. In the rotunda of the
United States Capitol the Vermont Ave
nue. Church conducted one of the most
impressive services ever seen in this coun
try. The President of the United States,
two ex-Presidents, members of the Su-
preme Court Senate. House, diplomatic
corps, army and navy, and all the heads
of the departments were there. Six OF
his brethren bore his body away from
the scenes of his earthly triumphs.
When DR.. Power came to Washington
thirty-three years ago, street was re-
garded as the country and the pastor
recounted how NJ street near Vermont
avenue was paved with boardwalks and
the work for upbuilding OF the city was
in it's infant stages.
At the time DR.. Power was called TO
this city he was professor of Latin and
Greek at Bethany College In West Vir-
ginia, and when he arrived In this city
he took up the work for the upbuilding
of the cause of the Christian Church,
which at the present time has grown TO
such proportions.
Through nine administrations he has
been a Washington pastor. When in 1881
he was asked to accept the chaplaincy of
the Forty-seventh Congress 1t came as a
surprise Gen. Kefer of Ohio was the
Speaker, and the Congress was composed
of such men as Samuel ]. Randall. sun
set Cox, Joseph q. cannon, Blnsham'
Burrows and Kelly.
II was not a candidate" said Dr.-Pow-
er. but 1 suppose 1 was selected because
1 was Mr.. Garfield's pastor"
He recalled the exciting times when the
electoral commission was deciding whether
Hayes or Tilden had been selected Tor
the presidency. ,.,
liam Mckinley and was very much I'M
pressed by his quiet demeanor. said DR..
Power. AT that time he had not risen
to the front ranks, but at once he i'm
pressed me as one of the most lovable
men had ever met.
When he succeeded to the presidency
DR.. Power went to call upon him. and
after a short conversation, In which the
pastor congratulated him upon his cleo
ton, he said to the President as he
started to leave: I'VE are still. praying
Mr.. Mckinley loked at his visitor ear
nestly and in a low tone simply an
swered: You have no idea how much
good that does me-.
DR.. Power then recounted that out of
the Vermont Avenue Church. The
Mother Church. seven Christian churches
have grown and are fiourishing.
The change of administrations has i'm
pressed DR.. Power forcibly with the
thought that time is passing. Otherwise
he is, in spirit, the young man he was
when he came to Washington a third of
century ago.
The rapid march of events. according to
the pastor. is what impresses one most
in Washington. The recent aeroplahe and
drigible balloon experiments at Fort
Myer. Va, recall to him when. as a boy
at Yorktown, Va, in 1862. he saw the
great balloon which Gen. Mcclellan sent
up in his ION to Richmond campaign.
This balloon. said DR.. Power. rose to a
| height of possibly 1900 feet and looked
| like a great silver moon with an anchor
| line to the earth. This was probably
| the first balloon used for military pur-
| poses in this country. The observations
| were made just before the battle of Big
Bethel
DR.. Power was married while in hts
| young manhood to Miss Emily B. Alsop Of
Fredericksburg. Va, who has always
| been great aid to him in his church
| work He is now fifty-seven years Of age.