The Washington times., 1913-03-25
REV. S. w. W.GR.AFFLN
LEAVES ANACOSTIA
Pastor Of Methodist Episcopal
Church Has Resigned to
Enter Social Work.
WASHINGTON TINES BUREAU.

The Baltimore annual conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. the
sessions Of which will begin tomorrow
morning In Baltimore, will name a sue
cessor to the Rev. Samuel W. GrafYlin,
who will dissolve the pastoral relation
with the Anacostia Methodist Episcopal
Church and leave the Baltimore confer
ence to take up other work.
The Rev. Mr.. Grafflin has accepted an
appointment as social secretary to the
Wade Baking Company, with head
quarters In New York, and which has
a number Of plants in several large
cities. His work will take him to and
from these cities, where he will go
among the employees of the company and
advise. instruct and preach.
The Rev. Mr.. Grafflin' has completed
his third year as pastor of the Anacos-
tia N. z. Church. He is the presIoent
of the Methodist Ministers Association
Of the District, a lecturer on many
tpoics and has co-operated with the Y.
NJ. C. A. of the city n work among
the employees of the Washington Steel
and Ordnance Company, at Giesboro.
He came to Anacostia Church from the
Patterson Memorial Church. of Balu-
more, Md. .-..
The congregation Of Anacostia Church
views the prospective departure Of their
pastor with regret. Due to his ac-
tivity the church has prospered in a
remarkable degree during his three
years pastorate. Property has been
purchased, a hall built, the church men,
bership has increased and many fea-
lures have been introduced into the
church life through him.
When a stranger visited Anacostia
Church several months ago and listened
20 Rev. Mr.. Grafflin preach no one knew
that he was connected with the Wade
Baking Company. He was a high Off
cial, however, who rendered the min
lister a contract at a salary several thou
sand dollars in excess of the sum paid
by the Anacostia charge. Negotiations
were taken up with Bishop Cranston.
who has agreed to let the Rev. Mr..
Grafflin leave the Baltimore Confer
ence.
The Rev. willard G. Davenport, the
rector Of the Emmanuel Protestant Epis-
copal Church, in explaining a report
that he has resigned, states that the
story is based upon a statement made
by him to his congregation. He an
nounced that unless an assistant rector
is obtained he will be unable to con-
tinue the work. The conditions have
been known to the vestrymen for q
long time. In consequence they have
had the matter of obtaining an assist
ant under discussion for considerable
period.
The Rev. Mr.. Davenport, in discuss
ing the subject. said that he has reached
the age of almost seventy years, and
that without an assistant he feels that
ne will not he able to keep up the
arduous work. Should an assistant be
procured. the rector indicated, his post
as rector will not be vacated.
The announcement by the Rev. Charles
r. Sontag. the rector OF the Esther
Memorial Protestant Episcopal parish,
in Congress Heights. that he will sever
his relation with the parish. probably
in May, after Bishop Harding had
made his annual visit to the suburb.
has caused much speculation as to his
successor. The parish became inde-
pendent several years ago, and the
Rev. Mr.. Sontag is its second rector.
He is a resident of Washington and has
been the rector for a year or more.
Milton J. Fillius, the choirmaster FOR
the last ten years, took leave of the
choir and the congregation on SUNDAY.
He has accepted a position With the
choir Of the Eastern Presbyterian
Church.
Rector sontag has called meeting
Of those who desire TO be confirmed for
next Friday evening in the church. He
V4u instruct the class weekly and con-
firmation will be administered early in
May.
The Boy Scouts of the Congress
Heights school held their second meet
ing Yesterday evening, assembling in
the home Ct George McKenna, in Ala
bama avenue, where the Rev. Merritt
Earl, who will be scoutmaster gave
in the work The oath and
the scout laws were rehearsed.
Officers were elected as follows:
George McKenna. chronologist: Harold
Msttingly, assistant chronologtst;
Pierson. assistant financier: Herbert
King. accountant. The Rev. Mr..
Earl announced that New York head
quarters has issued a license to the
BCy Scouts of Congress Heights. their
patrol to be known as No. "a troop.
The name John street has disap-
pea red from the official nomenclature of !
the highways in Anacostia. John"
street while never designated by any
street marker. was the official name of |
the thoroughfare between Nichols |
avenue and the Anacostia river. but no |
reived this name. which was bestowed |
when the streets were named for for
ner Presidents. Now a street marker /
has been erected to indicate the name ]