Evening star., 1919-05-04


Eastern Branch or Bladensburg
church. concerning which he seems to
have been able to collect very few
facts. But he does give the date Of
the establishment Of the Bladensburg
church as the year 171s. Then, oppo
site that statement and on the margin
of the page some person has written
in pencil and in careful hand:
Wrong. 1744." The Presbyterian
population, like the Episcopalian and
Catholic populations. expanded north
ward in Maryland. and if the Patux
ent church was built in 1904, and the
Eastern Branch church in 1919. it
would seem a little strange that the
Cabin John church was built in 1915.
1t is a perplexing matter. The erec
tion of a church building and the for
nation of congregation are often
confused.
There was usually a congregation
before there was church and it is
quite likely that Presbyterians in the
Cabin John country met in private
homes for worship before they built
a church. The Rambler is going to
try TO work this out at some other
time.
In the matter of the marker on the
site OF the early Presbyterian church
on Cabin John the Rambler turns to
the following. which was published in
The Star in October 1916
A memorial stone marking the site Of Old
Cabin John Presby tcrian Church on Cabin
John creek about three miles west OF
Bethesda is to bs dedicated tomorrow BY
Janet Montgomery Chapter D. A. r.. Of Mont.
gomery county. Md. Nothing now remains
OF the ancient church. the site wing been
honght nearly q century ago by the Metho
dist denominat tion and n Methodist Church
now stands near where the original Presby-
terian edifce stood. The graves Of Rev. James
Hunt the first pastor Of the church. aad his
wife the sole remaining indica tions Of the
former ownership.
Cabin John Presbyterian Chnrch. called in
the original records Captain John Church. was
founded about 1873, when Rev. John Orme.
pastor OF the Patu1ent Preshy terian Church at
Upper Marlborough. was sent to preach in
land. The first congregation was composed
mainly of Scotch settlers OF whom the Maxru.
der and other families Of Scotch names are
descendants.
The first regular pastor Of the new church
Of whom definite records exist was Rev. Mr..
Hunt whose grave, marked by a hesdstone.
is In the old bnryiny rroand with that Of his
wife. Rev. Mr.. Hunt was q native OF Hanover
county. Va. and in 1852 Was n member OF the
Hanover Prpxbytery. He was q compa MON in
youth Of Patrick Henry, both being under tho
ministerial charge Of Rev. samuel Davies.
founder Of the Presby terian church In that
part Of virginia and later president Of Prince.
ton College. now the University Of Princeton.
1t was Rev. Mr.. Davies who, in speskins h.
fore King George III Of England In III. ipterest
Of the colonists, and being interrupted by the
king. who expressed amaxeuent at the .lo-
qmence of the speaker, rebuked the mona rcb
with these words:
when the King of Kings speaks let tn.
kings Of the earth keep silence
Rev. Mr. Hunt died June =. I7s7, According
to the inscription the h~adstoue A. NJ.
grave. His successor WAS Rev. Adam Yrss
msn. who died In 1900. Rev. DIR. Conraa
Specie OF Nirginia succeeded Mr. Freeman
remaining until 1905, when he returned In vir.
gina. He was succeeded by Rev. S.n..,
Martin, who In turn was succeeded by R.v I
4. Russell
The old church burned iu 1920 And tho .,..
was sold to the M-thcdis, conxresstion m,
Presbyterians reserving only the h,,,,,.
ground The Cabin John--sr. q. IL stiu .,,...
"a IN the records the Captain John--pre,by.
fr'." e'nsrefsh"" built church within a
""n"'eo 'anns " III" site Of the pres-nt