Evening star., 1928-10-10

explained, has no property interest in
the structure, but merely Is allowed to
hold its services there by the national
organization.
All Souls Unitarian Church may be
described as national only in the
sense that a portion of the funds used
in construction of the imposing edifice
at Sixteenth and Harvard streets was
subscribed by Unitarians all over the
United States, according to Rev. u. G.
B. Pierce, the pastor. 1t is, however.
entirely under the control of the local
society, and the greater part of the
money was raised by Washington Uni
tarians.
Each Unitarian church, Rev. Mr.
Pierce explained, must be considered as
an entity, entirely self-governing and
without any controlling organization
which could dictate policies or assign
clergymen. In this respect, he said, a
national church would be impossible.
1t was long felt among Unitarians
throughout the country, however, that
the faith should be represented in the
National Capital by a structure the
building of which would be very heavy
drain on the resources Of the local So
ciety.
Seventh-Day Adventists.
AIIlOlS IUOoG
national religious organizations at the
National Capital is the Seventh-day
Adventist center at Takoma Park, most
of the buildings being just over the Dis
trict line. In many respects this Is the
most truly national of all, since it in
cludeS not only the ecclesiastical but
the educational, missionary and admin
istrative headquarters of the denomina-
ton. around which are grouped the
dwellings of considerable body OF ad-
herertS.
The most notable of the Adventist or
ganizations at Takoma Park is the
Washington Missionary College, where
regular collegiate courses are given each
| year to several hundred students, with
the special object of training them for
| the far-hung missionary activities of the
church. A great bulk of religious litera-
ture is issued annually from the national
publishing house, and from the national
church pulpit are sounded the keynotes
of various national campaigns waged by
the sect.
Yearly the Adventist colony Is I'M
proving the appearance of its property.
until it has built up one of the most
beautiful religious villages in the world,
set amid imposing scenic effects. A car
dinal purpose of the church is to insist
upon strict separation of church and
state. and for this purpose, leaders claim.
the location near the national Legislative
center is particularly desirable, since
they are able to spot at its start any
subverSive movement, such as they in
sist is represented by various drives for
Sabbath blue laws and other restrictive
legislative campaigns of like nature.
The Mount Vernon Place Church is
expected to be dedicated within a few
the nafiOnaI rhIfrpf1 0f fhn
Southern Methodist denomination.
Under rule of the church 1t was nee
eSsary that the total indebtedness on
the structure be paid before this cere-
mony takes place. Practically enough
funds are now on hand to make the
church debt free.
The church originally was located on
Z the other side of Ninth street on the
site now occupied by the Mount Yer
non Savings Bank. At this time 1t
was purely a local church. The sit@
was unsatisfactory and the ouiidlnG
too small and untitled for the broad
ening activities of the organization.
The present site across the streei
was available, but the congregation
saw ahead a long. uphill fight. possibly
a losing fight. to finance the sort OF
building which would fit into the
dreams of the leaders.
In this juncture assistance was OBJ
tanned from the board OF church ex-
tension, and the project OF a national
church, to be built by the entire South
ern Methodist organization, took root.
The Mount Vernon Church, which was
built under the pastorship Of Rev. DR..
Clovis G. Chappell, was a pioneer IN
the national church field in Washing
ton.
The present church, symbolic OF the
great religious body which 1t repre-
sents, by no means represents the en-
tire fulfilling of the dream. Present
plans call for a 100000 Sunday school
building in connection with the churcn'
and it is expected that this VIII De
realized in the next few years.
National University Planned.
The Northern Methodist Church
claims the honor of being the first TO
establish a national church In wash
This is the Metropolitan Memorial
Church at John Marshall place ana
C. street. which was DuilC py SUD
scription from the entire pody OF tne
church. starting with the authorizatlon
nf the baltimore Conference in 1888.
The imposing headquarters building
of this church near the Capitol was
dedicated three years ago and forms
worthy addition to the religious pulld-
ings of the city. ,. :.
concerned with a national university
rather than national church in Wash
ington. American University, with It's
ideal location on one Of the highest
points around Washington. is projected
as eventually one of the great educa-
~
For several years advanced classAs
have been conducted In downtown quar-
ters. This Fall. however. the academic
courses in the university buildings
themselves were opened and the nu-
cleus laid for the great school of higher
learning which will look down upon the
clustered roofs of Washington.
The half-million- dollar Emmanuel
Baptist Church on Sixteenth street. one
of the most imposing structures on this
great avenue of churches, is most truly
a national church. For its construc-
tion funds have been raised by both
lea, the Northern and Southern. The
f1ve-year campaign for its financing has
just closed.
At first it was designed as a national
memorial to Roger Williams and the
cause of religious liberty. It is now
planned to place in front of the church
structure a statue of the great New
England pioneer, the father of the
State of Rhode Island. whose cham
pionship of complete religious liberty
in the New England Colonies is the
treasured tradition of the Baptist faith.
The Williams statue is intended TO
have real symbolic significance.
Standing almost on the crest of Six
teenth street, the eyes of the great
pioneer will be continually on the
Capital Of the Nation founded to such
a large extent on the ideals Of which
hs was the first champion.