Evening star., 1919-05-04

the country through which Per-
simmon Tree lane runs the Ram
bier wrote a few paragraphs about
Potomac Church. 1t is Methodist
church and the small structure, in It's
plain and simple architecture, no
doubt reflects the plain and simple re-
hgioss faith Of the good men and the
better women who gather there on
Sunday and on other days to send up
their prayers and songs to the throne
Of grace. AS the Rambler so far un-
derstands the history Of this place
the little church has been standing
there since 1850. and perhaps nobody
need be reminded that seventy years
js quite a long stretch of time as we
measure years in America.
A single year brings so many
changes that in computing the
change that has taken place since the
plain little church was dedicated to
the service of God and man it might
be fairer to multiply it's years not by
seventy, but by the square of sew
enty. And for thirty years befors
1850 plain little frame church stood
where this little church stands now
IL also was Methodist house Of wor-
ship. That carries us back to 1920.
And for many years before 1920, but
the exact number the Rambler is not
able to determine. another little
church stood there. That was Pres
byterian church. The date of its
foundation was perhaps some time
Oh hat nh
identified with early Presbyterians in
the region of Washington.
The Presbyterian church was burn
a down in 1920, or the year before,
and it does not seem probable that II
could have been the first church on
this site, because frame church ls
not apt TO endure within about three
years OF "a century, and congrega-
ton founded in 1928 or thereabouts
probably outgrew or became other
wise dissa atisfied with its church home
before the passage Of ninety seven
years So 1t is likely that more than
three churches have stood at this
plAce-
The burying ground has been in
use since the first church WAS built
and II is very easy for the reader to
think how richly this Code acre is
impregnated with the ashes OF men
VINO called this part Of the country
their home. The Rambler has no
means OF knowing how many men,
women and children who looked upon
and loved the same hills, valleys.
brooks and rivers that we do have
been gathered at last into the small
oak grown space about this little
church. 1t must give even to the
rudesf' man who strays that way a
feeling Of reverence to reflect on the
countless good, friendly and pious
thoughts or emotions that have been
felt and expressed where this plain
little frame church stands. 1t is
curious to speculate on how much in
huence for good this plain little
church and the other plain little
churches that previously occupied
this place have exercised on man.
Descendants of people who have
knelt and bowed their heads in prayer
in this place are scattered all over
the world and must be especially
numerous in the District OF Colum
bia and the nearby sections of Mary
land and Virginia.
This church stands back from that
main road, called the Falls road, which
leads from Rockville to Great Falls.
That it is one OF the old roads of the
Washington neighborhood is proved
by the date of the building of the first
church, and it is very likely that ii
was a much used road when that
church was built Our ancestors in
picking out a site for church natur-
ally chose central one. They set
up this church near the center of
population or near the center of the
Presby ter ian population. which is
very much the same thing. for that
part of Montgomery county in the
early eighteenth century was strong
ly Presbyterian. 1t is fair to assume
that the road leading through this
part of the country was among the
early roads in this vicinity. No
doubt the Rambler could take day
OFF from his regular work and by dig
ging into acts of the Maryland as
sembly year after year could find the
exact date on which the construction
Of this road was authorized, and IL