The Washington times., 1915-12-18
Charles N. Richards Also Has
Been a Sunday School Work
or Here FlftY-one Years.
KNEW MANY NOTED PERSONS
Superintendent Of Senate Sta
tionery Room Tells Of Meet
ing Of Lincoln and Grant.

Fifty-one years Sunday school work. |
er in the Temple Baptist school
Fifty-two years as an employe OF the
United States Senate, where he now Is
superintendent Of the stationery room.
That is the record of Charles N. Rich
ards, one of the city's veteran Sunday
school workers, whose memory extends
to the days of salmon p. Chase, whose
daughter attended Temple Baptist
Church. and whose "reminiscences of the
early civic life and national figures of
the Capital are as interesting as his
recollections of the historic church
where he has worked for more than
half a century.
For twenty-three years Mr.; Richards,
whose home is at 101 Massachusetts,
avenue northwest, was superintendent
of the Temple Baptist Sunday school
Because OF advancing years he quit that
work. and organized the Richards
class. a mems class Of fifty members,
which he taught for a number OF years,
and which he now attends regularly.
His ,hrst teacher when he started to
sSSnasSS sSTasSS school, n ss. at 6s Temple WstsT RsPtSt
architect of the Capitol Dome and of
the Patent Office.
Noted Men Converted There.
N"'when 1 first went to Temple Bap-
tst Sunday school," he said. lit was
located on r street. between Sixth and
Seventh streets. Opposite 1t was the
home of Salmon p. Chase. and his
daughter came to our church. A little
before that Sam Houston, first COVER
nor Of Texas, was converted by the
Rev. Dr. George Sampson, first pastor
of Mississippi also was converted there,
and then went back home to little
creek near his home. to be baptized.
Senator Ira Harris Of New York.
Lincoln at Ford's Theater when he
was shot, and Senator Joseph Brown of
Georgia also were attendants at our
church.
During my time there have been
twelve pastors, perhaps the most IA
nous being the late Rev. d. w. Faunce,
whose son is now president of Brown
William II. Moses. OF the firm of W.
B. Moses g. Sons, was in Mr.. l,ich-
ards Sunday school class. The late
Club. and noted POSTMASTER was an at
tendant at the school and DR.. Harry
Crook. surgeon, also went there. Dur
ing Mr., Richards. early years sn,ne AZ tne
Richards, first superintendent OF schools
In Washington. and first president or
the National Teachers Association. He
was succeeded by John c. Willing, then
president Of Columbian College. now
George washington University, and
then, in 1863, c. y. Richards became
superintendent to serve for twenty
three years.
Stories of Other Prominent Persons.
Recollections of early days In the
Temple Baptist Church form only
small part of the stories Mr. Rich
ards can tell about prominent figures
that have passed across the stage IN
Washington public life.
Amounted to office fifteen years be-
fore Senator Luke Lea was born. and
before many other Senators first saw
the light of daY. he retains clear
memory Of President Lincoln, General
Grant, senator Zach Chandler, and other
p civil war notables.
mot a member now. In the Senate
the House. or the Supreme Court was IN
office when I began working for the
Senate" he said.
"one incident I recall vividlv was the
first meeting between President Lincoln
and General Grant. On March s. 1864,
was in the Red Room of the White
House. Several officers were there.
Present also was John Hay. then sec
retary to President Lincoln. believe
7 am the only man OF the group now
living. The occasion was the presenta-
ton to General Grant by President Lin
coin Of a commission as commander OF
the armies of the United states In the
field.
LincOln's Greeting to Grant.
'When General Grant entered Presi-
dent Lincoln stepped forward to meet
him. saying:
General Grant, I am glad to greet
you, believe this is the first time we
have met
general Grant was much impressed
with the occasion. He replied:
"'You are right Mr. President, this
Is the first time we have met "
Though Mr.. Richards began his WORK
under a Republican Administration as
assistant superintendent of the sta
tionery room his good work won him
promotion to his present position as
superintendent in a Democratic Admin
istration.
He Was born in Massachusetts,. His
father went to school with William
Cullen Bryant and Henry L. Dawes. ln
the war Mr.. Richards served in the
same Massachusetts regiment with JUS
tice Oliver Wendell Holmes, of the
United States Supreme Court.
Hale and hearty, Mr.. Richards work
ed early and late to keep pace with tho
rush at the opening of Congress. He
is a great walker and frequently goes
on long tramps through Rock Creek