Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
CHURCH SIDE GIVEN
ON S|TE QUESTION
Rockville Courthouse Article
Stirs Reply by Presby-
terian Committee.

In The Evening Star last Wednesday,
a statement was made in connection
with report on the plans for the cree
ton OF a new courthouse at Rockville,
Md, to which exception is taken by
members of the Presbyterian Church Of
that community.
The paragraph stated: "The chief
stumbling block, the special committee
reported, is the Presbyterian Church
property The county commissioners
recently offered 100000 as a fair price,
holding that amount to be ample for
the purchase Of desirable site and the
erection Of a more modern and better
in-every-way building than the present
edif1ce, but a committee representing
the congregation appeared before the
special committee yesterday morning
and submitted $4,000 as the lowest ac-
ceptable price. Condemnation proceed
ings in this case were definitely decided
upon"
Neither the reporter who wrote the
article nor The Star intended to imply
anything derogatory rejecting upon the
members OF the congregation and The
star IS glad to present herewith a letter
from the building and lot committee
OF the Presbyterian Church at Rock
vile. explaining its position. Members
OF the committee are Joseph Reading,
VIII S. Joliffe, Mrs. A. Speare, Harold
Smith, A. r. Speare, j. Lomett Wood,
Judge Robert B. Peter, John Mcdonald,
Mrs. Edwin Smith and Mrs. Theodore
Mason.
Committee Gives Side.
The letter from the committee reads,
In part, as follows:
when, some months ago, the Pres
hVfArfnY A~eN
munication from the County Commits
sloners OF Montgomery County asking
whether the church was willing to sell
their property: and. If SO, to state their
price, the Presbyterian congregation, at
congregational meeting. voiced their
opinion In the aforesaid matter in the
following manner:
That though their present unen-
numbered house Of worship. a fine brick
structure, and other holdings in the
plot desired by the County Commits
sioners. was entirely suited to their
present and future needs: and that
they could never hope to improve upon
their present, ideal central location; and
that they felt in no way inclined to
dispose OF their present holdings
nevertheless, in view of and considering
the larger interests of the community,
they did not wish to stand in the way of
progress, provided an arrangement
could be made with the county authori-
ties which would enable the Presbyte-
rian congregation to replace their pres
ent church plant and equipment.
$41,505 Deemed Necessary.
Since then a building committee
and lot committee have met frequently
and, on the basis of plans for a modest
church edif1ce. drawn by Mr.. Rossel E.
Mitchell, architect, and subsequent bids
submitted by contractors, the lowest of
which was $4,000 (Which the architect.
meeting last Friday week with the Joint
building and lot committee, declared
too low; and the additional sums re-
quired for architects fee, replacement
of church furniture and equipment, etc.
"a committee of the congregation
placed in the hands of the subcourt-
house building committee, Berry A.
Clark and Lacy Shaw, the figures which,
after a most painstaking investigation
on the part of the church's committee,
aided by the architect, were found nee
essary to replace the present holdings
and facilities Of the Presbyterian con-
included $4,000 for a lot, next to the
lowest-priced plot of ground which the
congregation is able to secure, and the
location of which is far inferior to the
most excellent location occupied by the
old Presbyterian Church Of Rockville
since 1912.
1.-THE Presbyterian congregation has
consistently tried to accommodate the
courthouse building committee and has
endeavored to expedite the project of
the county officials, handicapped
though the church was by the rules
OF church order of the Presbyterian
Church, United States, which require
10 days notice for congregational
meetings. The committees appointed