The Washington herald., 1920-07-03
Historic First Baptist Church. Born IN Capitals Infancy
Greu From Handful OF Earnest Pioneers to First Rank
Second Home Of Congrega-
ton Had Tragic Part in
Linloln's Assassination.
Was Destroyed by Wind
storm After Being Dis
uarded as Place Of Wor-
ship.


ond time since the removal of the
seat Of government from Philadel.
phia to the new city on the banks
of the Potomac.
In the 1000 men and women who
composed the population of the
newborn capital there were only
a handful of Baptists and at first
1t seemed impossible to think of
organizing a church and establish
ing meeting house for so small a
congregation. A half dozen earnest
Baptists, however. realized that the
little city was to grow rapidly
that the capital of the new republic
would not long remain a mere vii
lage of houses and people.
In 1902 these men-and one wom-
an-met and organized the First
Baptist Church Of Warrington, Sc
lecting as their place of meeting
frame house. on the corner of Nine
teenth and I streets and called to
their pulpit the chaplain of the
House of Representatives, William
Parkison- This first congregation
was composed of Charles +. Polk,
Cephus Fox, Charles Rogers, John
Buchen, Joseph Borrows and Sarah
Borrows.
For five years DR.. Parkison con-
tinued as pastor of the struggling
little church. until in January. 1907,
the Rev. Obadiah Brown. of New
Jersey. was invited to take charge.
By this time the congregation had
increased to twenty-three and the
members felt that their growth
necessitated the selection Of a per-
manent leader.
Strict church men and women
were these early Baptists and the
records show that In the first two
or three years of the church's his
tory three of the original members
were "churched" for worldly be-
havior.
DIR. Brown Had Long Tenure.
The selection of DR.. Brown to fiil
DR.. Parkison's place was a happy
one. For forty-three years the
worthy pastor continued in charge
of the destinies of the church, lead
ing II to the foremost ranks among
the churches Of the city and leaving
the mark of his zeal firmly imprint
ed upon the character of the church
organization
In 1888, 1t was found necessary TO
seek larger quarters and the church
fathers decided to select as the site
of the new church a more central
location. Accordingly the site at
Nineteenth and streets was given
up and lots purchased on Tenth
street. between z and F streets.
The congregation continued to wor-
ship in the Tenth street church un-
til 1859. when it was decided to
unite with the Fourth Baptist
Church, and both congregations
moved into the Fourth Church's
building on Thirteenth street.
The old building on Tenth street
was destined to a tragic history at
ter the departure of the First
Church. Much against the will OF
many members at the time they va
Gated the building. II was sold to a
Mr.. Ford, to be used as a theater,
and II was in this building not
many years later that Abraham
Lincoln died at the hands of Booth.
Years later again the building was
visited by tragedy, when during It's
service as a government building
the roof crashed in killing a number
of men and women.
In 1850 DR.. Brown, feeling that his
age was preventing him from giving
his best services to the church, re-
signed. Two years later he died.
having won the devotion not only of
his own congregation, but of the
entire city. During his pastorate he
was known as Father" Brown, a
title conferred upon him through the
love and reverence of his people.
: When the congregation moved
Into the building on Thirteenth
street the Rev. Isaac Cole. of Fourth
Church. became joint pastor with
the Rev. Stephen B. Hill, of First
Church. This arrangement ended
in 1850 when DR.. G. w. Samson,
president Of Columbian College, ac-
cepted the pastorate charge with
out salary.
Columbian College, now George
University. was or
ganized and supported by members
OF the Baptist churches Of Wash
ington, prominent among them be-
ing many members of old First
1t was opened in 1922 to
gain young men for missionary
work as a result Of charges. by cer-
tain members of the denomination
that the church had failed in .'its
solemn duty of carrying the gospel
to the heathen."
In 1852 the old church building
on Thirteenth street was partially
destroyed BY q tornado that visited
the city. carrying destruction In its
wake. The tower fell. the church
bell crashed through the floor and
FOR months the building was unfit
for use. During. the repairs on the
building the congregation wor-
SHIPPED In the New York Avenue
Church, doors Of which
were opened to them through
of the pastor.
During the civil war the United
States government established q
hospital In the church building,
paying so well for the privilege
that after q few years the church
was able to rebuild.
In 1863 DR.. J. H. Cuthbert ac-
cepted the call to the church. re-
in charge for eighteen
years when he was succeeded by
DR.. Charles A. Stakely. During DR..
Stakey's pastorate Of thirteen years
the present building was erected.
The present pastor, DR.. Henry Al
len Tupper. was called to the church
In December. 1918. Under the new
leadership the church has
seen two Of the most fruitful years
Of its eventful history.