Evening star., 1909-04-23
GROUND BROKEN FOR CHURCH
FIRST SPADE TURNED FOR IN
GRAM MEMORIAL.
Congregational Ministers From Other
Cities Take Part-Men, Women
and Children Weld Shovel.

A big two-horse wagon. filled with
earth was last evening driven from the
lot at the northeast corner Of Massachu-
setts avenue and 10th street northeast
being the first load of earth removed
from where the Ingram Memorial Con-
gregational Church is to be erected. The
wagon was filled late in the afternoon by
men, women and children, following the
ceremonies incident to breaking ground
for the new structure. There was a
large gathering of members and friends
of the church at 5:15 o'clock. the time
appointed for the ceremonies to begin.
and the short addresses were listened to
attentively.
Rev. j. w. Frizzell pastor of the
church, was on hand early enough to
welcome other ministers, members of his
congregation and friends. At the begin
ming Of the ceremony he told his hearers
that nothing over a f1ve-minute speech
would be permitted, and the ceremony,
he said, would necessarily be short on
account OF the dampness following the
the singing Of the hymn. THE Church
Has One Foundation" which was follow
ed by greetings from the First and Mount
Pleasant churches. by Rev. 8. H. Wood
row, pastor of the first named church.
He spoke briefly upon the question of
breaking ground for the church with
prayer and religious ceremony, and said
he thought it would be fitting to have
such ceremony when ground Is broken
for homes. He extended the greetings of
the two churches mentioned and predict
ed that the Ingram Memorial Church will
prove a valuable institution to the peo-
pie of Capitol Hill and the whole city
Both churches extend hearty congratu-
lations,'' concluded DR.. Woodrow, speak
ing to the Rev. Frizzell. land wish you
Godspeed In your undertaking"
This church," declared the pastor. lis
not to be built for Washington alone, but
for the entire country, and we are to have
greetings from the Congregational Home
Missionary Society,""
Rev. T. NJ. Shipherd of Newark. n j..
represented the society, speaking in place
of Rev. H. C.. Herring, DID,, of New
York, who had been unable to attend.
was to have represented the Congrega-
tional Church Building Society, was also
absent his place on the program being
filled by Rev. F. E. Jenkins Of Atlanta.
Greetings from the American board Of
commissioners for foreign missions were
extended by Rev. James l.. Barton, DID,,
Boston, who was followed by Rev. J. G.
Merrill. DID,, former president Of Fis,le
University.
The digging of the first shovel of dirt
followed. Rev. Frizzell saying he had Sc
lected the CONGREGATIONAL Bishop Of
Washington" Rev. Woodrow, to remove
the earth, having selected him because OF
his unusual strength.
Following the removal OF the first spade
Of earth Rev. M. Ross Fishburn. pastor
Of the Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church. offered prayer consecrating the
ground to it's high uses and invoking
safety for the men who are to be en-
ployed erecting the building. After the
singing of the hymn GLORIOUS Things
of Thee Are Spoken" benediction was
pronounced by Rev. E A. Tade of this
city, the filling of the wagon with earth
concluding the ceremony.
Among those who were present in ad-
dition to those who took part were Prof.
J. l.. Ewell, Howard University; Rev.
Edward Hawes, DIR. J. p. Jones, India,
and Rev. Donald Macleod, pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church.
The church building, 1t Is said, is to be
erected at a cost of about $4,000 $4,000
of which was contributed by o. H. In
gram of Eu Claire, Wis, as q memorial
to his son, a similar sum having been
given for the erection Of a memorial
church to his daughter in California.