Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19
Great Washington Editor Helped to Lay Unitarian Four

Out Of the numberless acts Of pub
lie service in which W. w. Seaton's
long life was passed it Is possible to
choose only the most significant. For
there was no worthy movement In
the early life Of the city OF which he
was not an important part. For
Unitarians, his part I'm the organiza-
ton of their liberal faith and in the
erection Of the First Unitarian Church
is particularly inspiring. This was on
Sixth and ID streets. Quite apart
from its religious tenets. the church
had an important place In the Wash
ington of those days. For there were
hut two or three other places Of wor-
ship and none OF it's dignity or beauty.
Charles Rulfnch. one Of the hest
architects OF the day. designed 1t; and
it's bell. cast in the Revere Foundry,
rang the whole neighborhocd TO serv-
ice-the only bell within a great dis
lance. Its membership included
many lifelong friends Of the Seatons.
among these men Of prime imror
lance to the Nation. The First Units
rian Church was So strong a factor
with w. w. Seaton and his wife that
when Lafayette. n warm friend. paid
visit to this city In 1924. Mrs Seatcn
wrote to her mother: Lafayette Eoes
with us to church next Sunday, he
ing DESTROYS of hearing Mfr. Little, If
whose eloguenCe he has heard go
much"
CEATON also promoted indefatiKa-
bly, the project Of the Washington
Monument. the corner stone Of which
was laid during his mayoralty-the
intense heat of the day. by the way.
proving contributory cause Of the
death of President Taylor. And he
was. perhaps. the strongest single
agent i'm rescuing the Smithsonian
fund donated to- this country by an
Englishman named Smithson. who,
while he had never been to this corn-
try. felt it's great opportunities. Ow-
ing to The fact that the indicated pur-
pose OF the gift FOR the advancement
Of intellectual progress" was very
general one indecision made possible
an entirely improper Use Of the
money. w. w. Seaton campaiened.
through the columns OF his paper and
In his official capacity. to have Con
gress assume obligation for the fund.
lie and other puhlic-spirited men were
finally successful. Congress assumed
the debt. and it was declared to he a
permanent deposit in the Treasury
for the objects Of the trust, with In
terest allowed from the time OF It's
receipt In this country.
But this service was merely tho
initiation Of Mayor Seaton's activities
for the Smithsonian Institution. He
was for nearly 20 years one of tho
board Of IL regents. the treasurer and
q member of the building committee.
serving faithfully without pay and
constantly furthering the plans ~ the
secretary. Joseph Henry. for the on
coura cement OF original research. In
addition to the more public part 81
Seatnns service was the private and
unofficial ministry of hospitality
which he took upon himself In his
own delightful home, on the south
side Of f street northwest between
Seventh and Eighth streets. he enter-
tanned visiting scientists. who were
attracted BY the growing fame Ut tho
Smithsonian Institution. The estah-
lishment Of this project was the first
step toward making Washington the
center pf scientific activity in this
country that it Ia today.
Az far as his own city is concerned
there Can he no doubt that Mayor
sections greatest service was his long
and valiant fight for the development
in the Nations Capital Of the princi-
pie Of public school education. A. a
result of this he brought the city out
of disgracAful condition of Juvenile
i"ito"a"t. where only % per cent Of
the children Of school age were being
taught at all. and where the only syS-
TEN of education for those whose
parents cou'd rot afford to have them
privately taught was in two pauper
schools. He secured the Organlza-
tion. on paper at least. of a modern
school system: the establishment OF
definite school tax: the rcdediCa tion
of two existing buildings to the system
Of tax supported schools the erection
If two NOR buildings. the first ever
erected in Washington out Of public
funds. and q doubling Of the percent
age of children in the schools. II is
interesting 70 observe in passing that
the champion who arose TO save the
birthriSht of the children was not one
OF the mechanics. small s',"o-k"opars
mot even of the Government en-
plOyeS, who helped 70 na>. to Ia
citH's permanent population-it was
a scion Of cavaliers. a descendor; of
colonial ancestry. who fought those
city fathers who opposed every form
H,optinuod m Civil, D,cal