Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02


Rev. John George Butler, D. D.. pastor
of the Luther Place Memorial Church. and
for sixty years a pastor in Washington.
died suddenly at his home. 11O7 11th
street northwest, at 8 o'clock this morn
ing
Although Dr. Buffers health has been
frail for some time. his death, which was
due to heart failure. was entirely nn-
expected. Lost night he took supper with
his family, and afterward was somewhat
indisposed, but after resting for a while
he felt better. and spent some time play
ing with his little granddaughter. This
morning, while on his way to the bath. he
fell. Mrs. Butler went at once to his as
sistance, but he expired shortly after.
He had returned from Ocean Grove with
Mrs. Butler but little more than a week
ago.
DR.. Butler was born in Cumberla nd.
Md, January %. 1926. He was the son
of Jonathan Butler. who had a general
merchandise store at Berlin, Pa. His
grandfather. Rev. John George Butler.
was soldier in the war OF the revolution
and pioneer clergyman in the Lutheran
faith. whose field Of labor was in north
ern Virginia, southern Pennsylvania and
western Maryland.
DR.. Butler received his early education
in his native town. and afterward became
manager of his fathers store at Berlin
Pa. While thus employed he spent his
leisure time studying for the ministry
under the pastor of the Lutheran Church
at Berlin. of which he was member.
He entered Pennsylvania College, at
Gettysburg. in 1846. and the next year
passed to the Lutheran Theological Semi
nary at the same place. where he re-
mained until 1S49. when he accepted the
pastOrate of ST. Paurs English Lutheran
III
in this city.
Civil War Hospital Chaplain.
He was a man of very strong Union
sentiment. and at the outbreak of the
war became chaplain of the 5th Penn
sylvania Regiment OF Volunteers, with
duties in and around Washington. Presi-
dent Lincoln made him a hospital chap
lain, and until the close OF the war he
ministered as such to the. hospitals at
Washington.
Soon after the war DR.. Butler with his
people OF ST. Pauls English Lutheran
Church, founded the Church of the Ref
ormation on B street between I'd and Sd
streets, Capitol Hill.
In 1873 DR.. Butler resigned the pastor
ate Of st. Pauls and founded the Luther
Place Memorial Church, at l4th and NJ
streets northwest, in honor Of the deliv-
cry of the nation from slavery. In 1854
he. caused to be erected in the triangle
d
Of Martin Luther. a duplicate of that in
the famous group at Worms.
He was elected chaplain of the House
of Representatives in 1867, and served
through the FOrty-first, Forty-second
and Forty-third Congresses He VAS
chosen chaplain Of the Senate I'm 1886,
and served there for seven years. For
nearly thirty years he was professor Of
homiletics and church history at Howard
University. and throughout his life he
labored diligently and well for the col
ored race.
Attended a Lincoln Conspirator.
I'm his capacity a government chap
lain Dr. Butler was in attendance on
George A. Atzerodt, who was tried and
convicted as an accompliee in the assss-
sination of President Lincoln. With Rev.
DR.. Gillette, accompanying Payne: Rev.
DIR. Olds. attending Herold. and Rev.
Father Walter. attending Mrs. Surratt,
DIR. Butler accompanied AtZerodt TO the
scaffold July Z, 1865 at the old peni-
tentiary In the arsenal grounds. where,
in his behalf. he returned tina nks to the
guards and attendants for kindnesses To
the condemned men, and after an earnest
invocation besSught God to have mercy
on his soul.
DIR. Buffers sermon in ST Paurs
Church Easter Sunday morning. April 16,
1865. based on the assassination of Lin
coin. wassOne of the memorable sermons
VI the huic us SuuJcCI Was ouT 1TlcI
and Our Duty and such an impression
did 1t make that at the formal request OF
certain members of the church 1t was
published with a firm belief that the
cause Of good government and pure un-
defiled religion will be subserved by
wider dissemination Of the great truths
SO ably and 80 fully set forth therein
Those who signed the request were j. a.
Rheem. Joseph F. Kelley. A. F. Williams.
A. C. Spaulding, Charles Pitcher. w. II.
sigston. c. Lepley. Thomas Ctux. J. G.
weaver, j. H. Reiss. A. NoeIr. A. 5.
Pratt. A. Rowland Lee s. A. Peugh. G.
w. Martin, Nicholas Acker, Martin M.
Rohrer, william III. Fry, j. N. Burkett,
J. H. Kuehling and Lewis Heyl
For long time the Luther Place Me-
mortal Church, under his pastorate, sup
ported missions at the Church Of the
Fathehland. now an independent church,
and the Church of the Redeemer. a
church for colored people,
Editor Of Church Paper.
DR.. Butler was correspondent for the