Evening star., 1917-01-14
Senator Lodge Outlines History


Senator Lodge told something of the
history of the church and related
events that have taken place since it
was built.
"It is safe to say that there is no
building in this country not pertaining
to the government which has sheltered
within its walls so many meE con-
spicuous in the life of the time and in
the control and management OF public
affairs as this church in which We
| meet today" he said. Presidents.
Vice Presidents. ambassadors and min
| listers of foreign countries. senators
lawyers and judges. officers of the
army and navy. in long procession have
occupied its pews and have been MEM
bers of it's congregation"
Senator Lodge spoke of the wisdom
Of those who guided the destiny of the
church during its long life. in main
tanning the original building as far as
possible and not permitting the old
structure to give way to one more
modern.
1--WE have been as people too heed
less everywhere in protecting the
tangible and visible guardians of his
toric associations. The places to which
such associations are attached are not
many. but when the buildings which
enshrine them are swept away the
memories are scattered to the Winds
!, National Preparedness Feature.
In relating something of the his
torical events that happened during the
early years of st. Johns Church, Sem
ator Lodge sounded a note in favor of
national preparedness that was one of
the outstanding features of his address
! He told of the attack made by the Brit
| ish on Washington during the war Of
| 1912. and of the attempts made by cit
, iZen soldiers to check their progress at
Bladensburg. He described them as
UNFRAMED, undiscipiined and morgan
| lied"
mo amount of individual courage
I will enable unframed, unorganized men
trained, organized. disciplined and
equipped. who know not only what they
mean to. do. but what they must DO.
| The lesson of Bladensburg glared in
| letters of fire before the American peo-
pie. They paid no attention to it then.
| II is not yet apparent that they ever
have paid any continued attention to
\ 1t since.
An obstructive Incident"
THE preference in all that concerns
the public business for the unframed
amateur over the trained and thus sus-
pected expert has remained. generally
speaking. unaffected by much more
serious events than Bladensburg. And
yet that quick defeat was not a pleas
ant. although most emphatically in
structive, incident. The fugitive militia
streamed away past this spot. and in
the rout were the amateurs who had
brought about this rather painful re-
suit.
The British marched in and burned
the buildings and returned to their
Ut
of destruction. having effected nothing
of the slightest military value, and
peace came and this church rose from
the ground and gazed upon the black
ened walls of the Capitol and the
White House. rejecting. let US hope. in
silent, inanimate fashion upon the dis
credit which had befallen us and like
wise upon the wisdom of relying upon
improvised armies and navies organized
and led by patriotic amateurs"
DR.. Radcliffe's Congratulations.
II am sure / voice the sentiments of
the whole Christian church of this
city when 1 congratulate you of ST
Johns Church on this great occasion" :"
remarked that he brought greetings
TO the Presidents Church from the
Church Of the Presidents" He spoke
OF GreSlQentS WHO WoESnlped at New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church and
at St. Johns Church. saying that sew
| eral of them are claimed by both
| churches.
DIR. Radcliffe spoke of the way St.
Johns Church has held it's position
and it's people during It's many years
Of usefulness. He said St Johns
Church, as well as the church Of which
he Is pastor. has faced what he termed
"the downtown problem" and yet.
| despite the growth Of the city in all
directions. 1t Is even stronger today
| in its downtown" location, than ever
before. He congratulated ST. Johns
/ Church on the stand i, has ever main
/ tanned for the common faith and
against modern day influences which
have crept into religion. He spoke
also Of the ''churchliness' of st. Johns
| saying 1t has not been changed by
the Club and gymnasium influence
| which has entered the lives OF many
churches.
Thanks for the Greetings.