The Washington times., 1922-07-01
.PRESbYTER|ANS
PLAN NATIONAL
D. c.
Ave Behind Other Denomina-
tions in Erecting Build
ings Here, Is Claim.

After many years Of discussion
and consideration, the idea Of a
great national Presbyterian church
definite form, and bids fair to be-
come a realization.
A committee has been appointed
by the Presbytery of Washington
city. called the National Capital
Church Extension Committee Tor the
Presbytery Of Washington City" the
object Of which committee IL to
fugther the proposed Presbyterian
Church extension campaign. This
committee is composed as follows:
Rev. Charles Wood. d. D., preBiden.; {;
Rev. Freeley Rohrer. secretary; John
B. Larner. treasurer: A. Lee Bald
win, Henry E. Bittinger. Edgar V.
Crittenden, Harry c. Davis. Judge
Raymond LoraEz, Judge Stanton ].
Peelle, Theodore F. Sargent, DR.. Mil
lard +. Thompson. Rev. Alfred L.
Barrows. d. D.; Rev. Thomas c.
Clark, d. D.; Rev. Hugh K. Fulton
and Rev. John c.. Palmer, D. r.
This committee has received n
strong Endorsement Of the proposed
.dea from Rev. Henry Chapman
Swearingen, d. D., moderator Of the
Presbyterian Church In the United
States OF America. DR.. Swearingen
writes:
The situation of our Presl.y.
terian Church in Washington, d. q.
should interest every member o. the
church throughout the entire coun.
try. More and more Washington
city Is becoming a center OF the ma.
ton.
THE national heart beats there
and its pulsations are felt very
where. II seems to me imperative
that Presbyterians have a represen.
tetion at the National Capital which
will express fully the dignity and
power Of our denomination and its
determination to put Its full strength
into the service of Christ's king
DOM
The original idea Of a great Pres.
byterian cathedral" to be locate on
the triangle lying between Thir.
teenth and Fourteenth streets and
II street and New York avenue, one
point OF which Is now occupied by
the historic New York Avenue Pres.
byterian Church, was originally con-
ceived by the late Justice john NJ.
Harlan, q prominent churchman und
a member of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. II was pne
Of the disappointments Of Justice
Harldan's life that he was u3ablc
successfully to carry his ideal into
reality. The idea, however, has heen
faithfully preserved throughout all
the years following Justice Har.an's
activity by his pastor. the former
moderator Of general assembly, hnd
pastor emeritus Of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Two definite proposals are under
consideration. They may be desig-
mated respectively as the "Larner
plan" and the "Dr. Rohrer plan"
a prominent Washington business
byterian church extension commit
tee, to erect on the proposed site q
great Presbyterian church to be de-
voted solely to ecclesiastical pur-
poses. the money to be contributed
by Presbyterians and other interest.
ed individuals throughout the nation.
The "Dr. Rohrer plan" advocated by
the Rev, Freeley Rohrer. pastor Of
the Metropolitan Presb y teri n
Church OF Washington and secretary
Of the National Capital Presbyterian
Church Extension Committee, is to
erect on this location a great Pres
byterian edifice to be devoted not
only to religious but also to business
purposes. DR.. Rohrer's plan 10 to
erect, a great Presbyterian office
building Of perhaps ten stories In
height. A part Of this building will
consist Of a tremendous auditorium.
capable Of seating at least five thou.
sand people, and sufficiently large to
accommodate great religious gather.
ings. such as the Presbyterian Gen
| eral Assembly. etc.
This auditorium would be used also
as regular church edifice for the
conducting Of regular Presbyterian