The Washington times., 1914-05-02
PARK ROAD CHURCH
TOLAY CORNERSTONE
Methodist Protestant Ministers
Of Washington to Attend
Ceremony Tomorrow.

All the Methodist Protestant minis
ters of Washington and many ministers
of other churches will participate in the
cornerstone-laying services tomorrow
afternoon at > o'clock at the Park Road
NJ. P. Church, Park Road near Elev-
enth street northwest. The Rev. T. ..
Grouse, ID. D.. former pastor of the
Georgetown NJ. p. Church, but now of
Baltimore, will make the principal ad-
dress.
Among the articles to be sealed in the
copper box and placed in the corner
stone will be a copy of the Bible, the
church discipline. The washington
Times. and other newspapers, and a
Book of Remembrance" The latter is
engrossed on parchment. and gives an
historical sketch Of the church from its
inception, with lists of the various COM
mittees, the present officers. tabulation
of church membership, the church So
ciet.es. a list of the charter members,
and list of the present members.
Organized By DR.. Gill.
The Park Road church was organized
by the Rev. John NJ. Gill. D. D., as a
NJ. P. Church. On the recommendation
of DR.. Gill and the Rhode Island Ave
nue Church, the Church Extension So
ciety Of the District took it under its
fostering care and directed its subse-
quent developments.
The first place OF worship was in the
frame cottage, 100 Park road, the pres
ent site of the new building. The Rev.
w. A. Hodges, of West Virginia, a
seminary student, was appointed pas
toral supply for the vacation period OF
1909, and resigned in September to re-
sumo his studies at Westminster Theo-
logical Seminary, Westminster. Md. The
pastors of Washington, with local sup
ply, then maintained the work.
The Rev. Lewis Z. Purdum was ap-
pointed pastor in April. 1910. and - or
Eanized tire mission, with Albert p.
Myers. now of Emporia, Kan, as Sun
Gay school superintendent. The present
location was procured, and. with the
generous aid of the Rev. William A.
, Melvin, pastor Of the First Methodist
Protestant Church, of this city, q port
able building was purchased which was
IS, 1915. the speakers being the Rev. =.
7 Benson and the Rev. y. o. Gibson.
At the conference session Of 1912. the
name was changed from Mt. Pleasant
Mission to Park Road, and the Rev.
George NJ. Clayton was appointed pas
tor. A building committee was elected
Jointly by the local church and the
beard of managers OF the Church In
tension Society of the District as fol-
lows: The Rev. George NJ Clayton,
chairman; Charles F. Mcintosh. secre-
tary; William T. Ballard. treasurer: Ell
wood B. Myers. George L. Bowden. ]. T.
w. Miller, Julian =. Dodge, and William
Z. Merche. The architects are Speiden
&: Speiden. of this citv, and the ccntrac-
| tor, the Melton Construction Company,
also of Washing gton.
Fort Deposite granite. with Indiana
| limestone trimmings will be used in the
front of the church. and pressed bricks
10 harmonize in color with the gray
stone form, the other walls. The build
ing viii BE- tircproof.
The basement will contain 4 Sunday
school room. with n seating capacity OF
800. and the auditorium. which will be
built later. will have Pm equal seating
capacity. The Easement will he ready
for occupancy about June /. The ground
breaking took place February IS.