Evening star., 1909-04-27
SOME OPPOSED. REMOVAL
Project Is to Shift to Bloomingdale
Section.
HAVE SUNDAY SCHOOL THERE
District Superintendent Proceeds
With Plan-Disaffected Element
May Affiliate With Hamline.

Before many days elapse there may be
a rent in the congregation Of Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church. 9th and s
streets. The reason will be that a part
of the congregation does not believe that
q plan of Rev. DR.. John w. r. Sumwalt.
district superintendent of Methodist Epis-
copal churches to move the church to
the vicinity of North Capitol and U
streets is one which will work for the
best interests of the church. The district
superintendent has the support of the
church board. and it is said the move will
be made according to the design hereto
fore outlined in The Star.
Grace Church is one of the Oldest and
most historic homes Of Methodism In the
Capital city. For a number of years past.
it is explained, it has been steadily de-
clining in membership. This decrease has
received consideration by DIR. Sumwalt,
and he has been mapping out course
which he hoped would restore the congre-
cation to its old strength. About year
ago, after consultation with the official
board of the church. it was voted to place
the church property on the market. Tne
price was fixed at $4,000. and 1t was de-
termined that as soon as q buyer was
found arrangements would be made
to move the congregation to site to be
selected in the neighborhood Of North
Capitol street.
District Superintendent Decides.
The greater portion Of the congregation
considered this wise move on the part
of the church authorities, as Grace
Church is only three squares from Ham
line Church. which was overlapping the
smaller church and covering the field oc-
cupied by both congregations. In view
Of that fact the district superintendent
decided that the moving Of Grace Church
to a more fruitful part of the city was
imperative.
Accordingly Sunday school was estab-
lished by workers from Grace Church on
Florida avenue west OF North Capitol
street. This invasion Of the Bloomingdale
section was intended by the district su-
perintendent to be a forerunner of the
new church to be established there. The
school has f1ourished, proving. IT is point
ed out, the district superintendent con-
tention that the Bloomingdale section of
the city is rich field for a Methodist
Episcopal church.
A year ago, when the matter OF trans
ferring the church to the section east
of the present location was discussed.
number of the emUers announced that
they were opposed to the project. They
did not make any suggestion as to where
they would like to move, but intimated
that the present location suited them a
great deal better than any other. They
were OF the opinion that when the Bal
timore conference met 1t would send q
young minister to the church and that he
would speedily build 1t up.
Expected, Congregation to Grow.
When Rev. Frank NJ. Thompson was as
signed to the church recently. after a
successful pastorate at Langdon, they
thought that the work in the old church
would go forward with will and that
the congregation would grow. However
the arrangements OF the district super.
intendent and the Official board proceeded
and the members referred to are of the
opinion 1t Is about time to make them
selves heard in the matter.
Rev. DIR. Sumwalt today declined to dis
cuss the movement to locate the church
in the Bloomingdale section.
According to prominent Methodist
although some Of the members Of Grace
Church may deem 1t desirable to remain
at the present location on account OF
traditions, still the condition of the con-
gregation and the work make 1t impera-
tive, as the district superintendent be-
lieyes, to make a move and that the
course the church authorities have map
ped out will more than likely be followed
to the letter. He added that the dis
contented members may probably trans
fer their membership to Hamline Church