The Washington herald., 1921-02-19

Charity is the watchword at St.
PauTs English Lutheran Church, the
little edifce which occupies the
northwest corner OF Eleventh and
H streets northwest
From it's humble beginning as the
first English Lutheran congregation
in Washington, this virtue above
all others has been exemplified in
the distribution of the contribu-
tions from its members
Just as one-tenth of the wealth of
ancient Judah was named as the
tithes to God. Lutherans have
chosen of their own vOlition to ex-
pend a third of the entire church
revenue for the betterment of man
kind and its benevolences. In the
words of the pastor. st. Pauls al
ways has been better to everyone
else than to herself" and the PROOF
rests in the church. which has occu-
pied the site for seventy-seven
years
OffShOOt'Of COncOrdIa Church.
An offshoOt of COncordia Church,
Twentieth and G streets northwest
St. PauHs was born from a desire Of
the young people of the parent in
stitutiOn for English preaching.
From this desire the church was for
mally organized April Is, 1S43. On
Whitsunday following the first COM
muniOn was celebrated and the first
class was confirmed.
Through its early days st. Paul's
was reared in an atmosphere of ma
tional and governmental pomp as
well as in the spirit of humbleness
which now characterizes its exist
ence. The cornerstone was laid in
the attendance of former President
John Quincy Adams and Gen. Van
Ness, June 12, 1874, with elaborate
ceremonies. At the dedication Of
the structure, October l. 184s, Pres
ident James X. Polk, his wife and
entire household: Secretary OF State
buchanan and numerous officials of
the State, War and Navy Depart
ments were in attendance.
Built in Is4s.
Elaborate services marked the
! laying of the cornerstone A pro-
CessiOn was formed at the City Hall
and marched to the church corner.
The Rev. A A. Muller, pastor, pre-
sided. The Rev Septimus Tustin,
chaplain of the United States Son
ate, led in prayer. on the marble
slab covering the stone is the ill.,
SCriptiOn: y. i. Van Ness conse-
crates this site to the worship Of
God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Ghost, June. lSl4."
BY lS46 funds for the structure
were raised and the church was
built and dedicated October l. IS4S,
lrg
being the officiating ministers. A
unique feature of the service was
the raising of $1.1OO, the largest
collection ever taken at that time
on similar occasion in the District
Raised s1Os,38S in Is Years.
From its origin St. PauIs has been
blessed with benefcent incomes
more than equalling all demands of
the church. In 1870 the pastor re-
ported the cash book shows that
nearly 100000 has BEEN paid into
our treasury. largely from the peo-
pie of St. PauIs Church" For the
twenty-six years following $4,000
was spent in improvements. Dur
ing the thirteen years of the present
pastOrate of the Rev. J. T. Huddle,
$1OS,36S has been raised for all pur-
poses. more than One-third going
to benevOlences.
Activities of St. PaUl's have in
creased prOportionately. In March,
1866, the lot for Luther memorial
was purchased by the congregation
for $4,000. The cornerstone was
laid October 81, 1870. The Church
of the Reformation on Capitol Hill
was started also as a mission of st.
PauIs. The Rev Samuel Domer
came to St. PauIs in November, 1876.
He succeeded the Rev. ]. f. Graeff.
During the twenty-six years of the
Rev. DOmer's pastorate 715 new
members were added and a new con-
gregation. St. Marks, in South
Washington. was organized. On
February >, 1904, the present pastor,
the Rev. J. T. Huddre, came He
has received 444 adults into the
church and admitted PIP children.
Active Nationally.
In the national field the church
has played its role admirably also
May 20. 1859. the boards of home
missions, foreign missions and
church extension of the general
synod were born in St PauI's.
Since the origin of these st. PauTs
has never gone to synod without its
apportionment fully met, in fact,
often doubled.
Sneakers at the 4OOth anniversary
Of Luther's birth included Pere