Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-25
THE METHODIST UNION.
By James Croggon.

branches of Methodism is the sub
| ject Of joint commission and is interest
| ing the religious world. Several millions
| of people in the land are looking to a re-
union of the Methodist churches. and in
| this District are the members of half a
hundred churches under four conferences,
| one of them colored. 1t is likely the
colored Methodists, embracing four di-
| visions. will also unite.
Originally a compact organization. there
| have been from time to time separations
| from this joint body on questions other
| than the fundamental articles of religion.
and there are number of branches of
| the parent body.
Methodism originated in England be-
| fore the middle of the eighteenth CEN
fury, and was preached in the colonies
| before the revolutionary war. In this
| section of the country 1t had reached
| Georgetown as early as 1873. and 1T Is
| believed that about the year 1880 there
! was small society of the faith in that
place. and that this was the nucleus
! of the present Iumbarton Avenue
Church 1t is known that there were
| a few families of the faith in CAROLS
burg. at the foot of South Capitol
street when the site of the Capitol was
| being prepared for the government,
and this was the beginning of the con-
gregation now known as Trinity NJ. h.
Church, at 5th and G streets south
east.
Conference Held in 1884.
| The formal organization of the Meth
odist Church was at conference COM
posed entirely of ministers held in
po1 tn no tot
| worked in fields assigned them and
met with much opposition. but in some
places were well received and were
| responsible for many accessions to the
faith Churches Of the most simple
style were erected and regular serv-
ices held. When the preacher in charge
was on his work elsewhere a local
preacher or class leader conducted the
| meeting.
The congregations We're of the white
and colored races. who worshped in the
same buildings, in assigned portions. for
many years, but the color question was
| long difficult one to deal with, and Ii
| finally led to the great break in 1874 The
sexes sat apart from each other and all
dressed in the plainest style, esche wing
| all jewelry and ornamentation. and were
as we'll known by their dress as by their
conduct.
Soon after the organization Of the
church the question as to the powers OF
the bishop in appointing the preachers
was raised. and in 1871 resolution was
| offered providing that minister who felt
aggrieved by his appointment could ap-
peal to the whole body. which should
determine the question The appoint
ment Of presiding elders by the bishop
| was also discussed, but the bishop con-
| tinued to exercise his authority uncon-
| tested.
Secede From Main Body.
| The first formal secession from the
main body was In 1891, when James
IO'Kelly proposed reforms in selecting
the presiding elders and the making of
appointments. and was voted down
He and some Of his friends thereupon
| withdrew and formed the Republican
Methodist Church. This f1ourished some
| time in Virginia and North Carolina,
| reaching a membership Of twelve or
| fifteen thousand. Subsequently split
| ting into three divisions. they finally
| however. appeared in the conferences
| from time to time and led to many
spirited debates. but discussion did not
crystalline till after 1920.
| Though the first church in George
| town dates it's origin in 1880. a build
| ton until 1900. April II of that year
| Anthony Holmead conveyed, for the
| nominal sum of 5 shillings (66 cents),
| to Lloyd Beall, Richard Parrot, Samuel
Williams. Isaac Owens, Richard Beck.
| George Collard and Peter Miller, trus-
tees. lot II. on Montgomery street. for
| a place of worship for the use Of mem
bers OF the Methodist Episcopal
| Church" June 3, 1914. this congrega-
ton bought Of William Morgan for the
| use Of the co1ored members lot IS,
| Holmead's second addition. for 5000.
This lot was on North street, the title
| being given to Henry Foxan Isaac
| Owens. Leonard Mackall. John Gleason,
William Doughty and Joel Brown.
| For several years there were MEM
bers OF this church living on the site
| of Washington, among them George
| Collard, a carpenter; Peter Miller, a
| baker, and others, who formed a class
| in the Twenty buildings. corner Of
South Capitol and n streets. This
class and others moved to Carrolls
| tobacco barn, near New Jersey avenue
| and d street southeast, In 1901 The
| Episcopalians had worshiped in this barn
many years. in that year moving to their
present home, Christ Church, on G stree.
| between 9th and It'll streets southeast
Erect House of Worship.
The old barn was occupied by the Meth
| odists until 1911. The year before they
had bought site ON 4th street between
| South Carolina avenue and G street
southeast and erected thereon a house of
| worship. The trustees were Henry Fox
| all John FRA ShearS Middleton 4