Evening star., 1926-05-02

l u u -
chimer Of Metropolitan
Memorial M. e. Church, the Ram
bier was given the history of those
congregations, and, believing that the
matter will interest a good many per
sons, he will pass to you the parts
Of it which relate to the beginning
of those churches. But before doing
this, let him tell you that while In
the recorder of deeds office few
days ago his attention was called to
the deed for the land on which the
English Lutheran Church, or St.
PauIs Evangelical Lutheran Church.
stands s-the southwest corner Of
Eleventh and II streets. The deed,
. corded July 8, 1850, is from Richard
Smith to Rev. John f. Graeff and
others. II follows. in part:
This indenture, made this 18th
day of May, in the Year of Our Lord
/ $40 between Richard Smith OF the
first part and John +. Graeff, A. J.
Schwartze, Jr.; Paul kinchy. Andrew
Noerr. John G.. Roemnely, Johy My
ers, ]. G. Weaver, Michael Keller
Alfred G.. Ridgely and Isaac Augney
of the second part, all of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Whereas, by Il
deed of indenture, duly executed by
Cornelius Van Ness and others, some
of the heirs of the late John p. Van
Ness, on the 4th day of August, 1S47
and by other deeds, that Is TO say
one executed by Peter Van Ness Van
Allen on the 5th day of October. 1S47
in favor of Catherine ID. Philip and
William II. Philip. and executed by
Catherine d. Philip and William H.
Philip in favor of Richard Smith on
the oath day Of January, 1848, to
p at
1T appears by a paper hereunto
annexed and which Is hereby made
part of this instrument of writing
that the said John p. Van Ness made
a donation of the lot of ground here
matter described on which TO erect
a house of public worship for the
English Lutheran congregation of
the City of Washington. And where
as 1t appears to the satisfaction of
the said party OF the first part that
the said building has been erected
on the lot described and the heirs
are authorized to execute and deliver
| a deed. etc"
The letter Of John p. Van Ness,
dated May 20. 1S43. addressed to the
| Rev. A. II. Muller. follows:
DESTROYS to contribute within my
humble sphere, limited as 1t Is, to the
causes, that OF our Holy Father and
doctrines. and understanding from
yourself and others that there are
among us abundant materials for the
establishment and organization OF a
respectable English Lutheran congre-
cation, and that they are anxious for
the prompt erection Of a house of
public worship of ample dimensions
in a convenient and pleasant part of
our city, II gives me great pleasure
to offer them gratuitously. through
YOU, respected sir. who are about to
assume the pastoral care of the flock
valuable and beautiful lot as a site
! for their interesting purpose. The To-
cation and the general terms of the
donation are acceptable to such mem
bers of your society as have consulted
with ME about them, and. in fact they
have substantially suggested them.
Il know your charity and kindness
will excuse the following remarks.
which. whilst approved as I trust will
ever be by such men as yourself. some
may perhaps pronounce presumptuous
and impertinent. Whilst you will, as
know from your high character be
devoutly and zealously pursuing in
the Holy Vineyard that path marked
out by the great founder of your own
particular church. / am well convinced
that in YOUR pious career the great and
sacred general principles of religion and
morality. whose practice in this world
valuable as it is here in itself. is so
influential in constituting a firm foun-
dation of blessed superstructure in
eternity, will always be regarded and
inculcated by YOU with a liberal and
solemn devotion TO the good of all
our fellow creatures within the legiti.
mate scope of both your exalted cleri-
cal duties and your private example.
Without going into unnecessary de-
tails, / hereby pledge myself to con-
vey the lot referred to above, in trust
or otherwise, for the appropriate pur-
pose as may be indicated and desired
by the fathers of your congregation.
as soon as such a proportion of the
estimated means shall have been OBJ
tained for application to the intended
work and such a foundation shall have
been laid as to justify a reasonable
confidence in it's completion Your
friends. sir. approve this general out
line. and YOU shall never reproach me
with giving yourself any just cause
for exception. l have the honor of
remaining with great consideration
and respect, Rev'd Sir, your friend and
humble servant,
JOHN p. VAN NESS"
X :. x X
John P. VAN NESS was the hus-
band of Marcia Burnes and for
nearly halfNa century the most promi-
nent and believe the richest man in
Washington. You may get better
picture of him from his letter to Mr..
Muller than from Gilbert Stuart s
painting of him. The style of the let.
ter Is early Victorian or late Georg-
rian. He writes without haste and
without stinginess of words or ink.
He is patriarchal in style, and says in
effect, "As long as I have my way
you shall not bow lower to me. sir.
than to you. sir" Qualies es ipsa
homo.
At my hand is a small book. "Twen.
ty-f1fth Anniversary, Metropolitan
Memorial NJ. Z. Church." 1t holds
the account of the anniversary meet
ings and was compiled by James H.
Spencer. Among its contents Is a re-
,, lation of the founding of the church.
written by Andrew B. Duvall. From
/, that this is taken:
"Methodism had been planted in
the District of Columbia when the seat
of the Federal Government was To-
Gated here. It kept pace fairly with
the increase of population. but it had
no churches of any considerable size.
About the middle of the century the
movement began for the erection of a
national church at the Canjtal, repre-
sentative in it's character afford
| ing a home for Methodist.s .:om all
sections of the country called here by
business or pleasure.
"On March 80, 1852, Charles w.
| Boteler, William G. Deale, Charles
II. Lane, Samuel Norment, DR.. Flo
doardo Howard, Thomas Pursell,
| Thomas H. Havenner and z. w. Nc
Knew, members of old Wesley Chapel,
purchased the property at the south.
west corner of Four-and-aHalf and c
streets, upon which the church was
afterward erected This location was
4hon q, the most desirable residence