Evening star., 1922-11-16
New York Avenue Church
May Unite With Covenant
in Building Proposition.
TWO CONGREGATIONS
ONCE WERE TOGETHER
Separation Came in 1885 When
Downtown Building Was Found
to Be Too Small.

There is a possibility that the New
and the Church of the Covenant. two
of the best known churches Of the
National Capital. may merge.
There has already been a confer
ence Of those favorable to the idea.
which is directly in line with the ex-
pressed desire of the general assem-
bly, OF the Presbyterian Church for a
that denomination here. The plan
will of course, have to be worked
out. considered and. finally. ratified.
not only by the two congregations.
but by the presbytery.
There has been a special committee
Of the presbytery working for a year
past on the plan OF establishing
within the District a great Presby
terian church which would be a credit
not only to the capital city. but to
throughout the United
States
Church Has No Pastor.
Should these two churches unite it
would mean the construction Of new
and monumental ediflce on a new and
advantageous site. The New York
avenue church. the older Of the two
finds It's present location undesirable
owing to the encroachment of busi-
ness establishments. Furthermore 1t
is a flock without shepherd, the
place OF Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe,
who recently resigned. having never
been filled.
1t Is interesting to note in con-
nection with this plan OF union that
the Church of the Covenant, estab-
lished In 1885. was an offshoot of the
New York Avenue church. A merger
would. therefore. be a reunion only.
At that time it became necessary for
the New York Avenue Church either
to enlarge or for a portion OF the
congregation to branch out for them
selves. Under the leadership of the
late Justice William Strong and other
men prominent In affairs. both inside
and outside the church, about -12O
members Of the downtown cpngress-
the imposing edifice. with its great
tower. at the intersection of Con-
necticut avenue, N and 18th streets
northwest. The separation Of this
portion OF the older church was ac-
comphshed with the greatest AMIGA
bility. and the most cordial relations
have always existed between the two
spire Destroyed By Fire.
1t is not generally known that the
New York Avenue Church was itself
the result of a merger Of the old
F Street and Second Presbyterian
churches. The present church build
ing was completed in 1859. For
years IT had a spire. but this was
destroyed in a fire more than a score
of years ago and has never been re-
placed.
1t is nationally. famous for having
dent Abraham Lincoln. This fact
would receive appropriate considera-
ton in the planning Of the new edi-
hce. provided the hoped-for union
goes through. Not only would Lin
coins pew be removed bodily to the
new edifice. but the latter would in
clude as Its most prominent feature
q memorial tower for the martyred
President.
Covenant Church Popular.
Both churches are nationally ia
nous as having been attended by en-
inent men. Among those who at
tended services regularly in the Church
of the Covenant have been President
Harrison, Vice Presidents Hobart and
Marshall and Secretaries Hay, Blaine
and Daniels. Secretary Blaine was
buried from this church, Walter Dam
rosch having offlciated at the organ
on that occasion. The beauty and
impressiveness Of this church. both
inside and out. are we'll known all over
the country. Considered to be of
great size at the time it was built. in
1887. spacious galleries were added
during the world war to accommo-
date the greatly increased number
of worshipers. and 1t has been found
necessary to retain these in place.
During that conflict the church made
q speciality Of war service work and
a reputation therefor which was car
ried all over the country.
The old F Street Church, one OF the
contingents which went to make nm
the New York Avenue Church. was
established in 1903. Rev. DR.. Phineas
D. Gurley became its pastor in 1853
The Second Church was organized In
1890. The union between the two
was consummated in 1859. and DR.
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column II
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