Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-09-17
A JOYOUS EVENT At
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The Burning Of the Mortgage Notes
on Friday Next, September 20
PROGRAM OF EXERCISES.
Commemorative Of Sacrifical Act
Distinguished CIergymen to be
Here.

/
Here.
On Friday, September 90 a joyous
event Of local interest will be cele'
brated at College Avenue Baptist
Church, the Rev. Thomas c. Bird
minister. On this occasion the churcf
will be free from debt, in celebration
thereof the mortgage notes will be
burned.
This incineration of the papers
that represent the indebtedness oi
the church will be performed by the
oldest member of College Avenue
Baptist Church, Trustee Louis II.
REIN. That this little congregation OF
about forty members have borne the
sacrificial burden of debt on the
church which they will cancel on Fri
day, is little short of a miracle. Ii
means that for five or six years the
sum Of 1920 has annually been paid
by the forty members, besides the
necessary church expenses, ani that
the Bible-school has shouldered $50 of
this debt, annually, besides carry
ing its annual expenses. 1t means
that 81, 600 will be paid off Friday by
this little congregation of members,
anl earnest, faithful workers of Col
lege Avenue Baptist Church.
A program of exercises commensu-
rate with the importance of the oc-
aston will be celebrated.
One of the prime movers, if no
the leading spirit in the organization
of the Baptist congregation in this
city, was Mr.. George E. Merrill, who,
while superintendent of the Noel
Construction Company, of Baltimore,
the firm that built most of the new
Naval Academy buildings, lived in
this city for the several years that
the work was IN progress. This was
back in 1903. 1t was largely through
has aid, financially and otherwise, to-
gether with the untiring efforts of
Rev. Thomas p Holloway, at that
time pastor of the church, that active
steps looking t) the erection of the
handsome edifice were taken.
The congregation then numbered
something like rs or so, and all hands
responded to the subscription fund
for the building, as generously as
they could afford Once started, moth
ing was permitted to interfere with
the movement s1d soon the actual
construction work was under way.
The lot upon which the church was
erected was purchased from the
Claude estate for $1,000. 1t fur
nished an excellent site, being stu
ated at the corner of two streets, Col
lege avenue being one of the princi-
pal thorougfares of the city.
Had ths church authorities desired
to realize on the property as an in
vestment, thus securing funds to aid
in building elsewhere, they had an
excellent opportunity for soon after
the conveyance was made they re-.
ceived an offer of So, 900 for the prop
erty. They stoutly declined to sell,
however lagely because another site
suggested to them was not deemed as
advantageous.
Several distinguished Baptist min
listers and laymen will be present,
chief among whom will be the Rev.
DR.. E. B. Hatcher, secretary of
State Missions. DR.. Hatcher has
been interested in the affairs of Col
Iege Avenue Baptist Church since its
inception. This really, was his first
pet move since he assumed charge
of the secretaryship.
Another minister who will be pres
ent and participate in the program of
exercises Friday at College Avenue
Baptist Church is the Rev. George
w. Whiteside, who was the church
supply for nine months in the in.
terim between pastoratss. The REV.
Whiteside will speak at the opening
services in the afternoon. There will
be three service on Friday, the first
at IL a. m. the second at p. m. and
the third, at which the mortgage notes
will be burned, at p. m.
At the afternoon service the Rev.
Thomas P. Holloway, first pastor OF
College Avenue baptist Church, will
also speak. He will incorporate in
his remarks historic sketch of the
church's history.
DIR. H. A. Grisemer, minister OF
Franklin Square Baptist Church will
make an address in the evening anC
the sermon will be preached by DR.
Charles Hastings Dodd, pastor of Eu
taw Place Baptist Church, Baltimore
one of the best-kaown and most eIo
quent divines of the Baptist Church.
At this service at D. m, tht
mortgage notes will be burned By
Elder Louis Fl. REIN and at thi.
service it is expected Mr.. Eugene
Levering, president of the Nationa
Bank of Commerce, Baltimore, viii
preside. The public is cordially