Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
Church DELEGATES
MEMORIAL TOWER
President Joins Presbyterian
Congregation in Paying
Tribute oLincoIn.

President and Mrs. Hoover were
among the hundreds of persons who
yesterday knelt in respect to the mem
ory of great President, as the Lincoln
Memorial Tower on the New York Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church was formally
dedicated.
The President and Mrs. Hoover were
seated in the same pew which Lincoln
occupied more than half a century ago
during the dark days Of the Civil War.
This is the only one of the original
pews which has been preserved, and 1t
is occupied only on state occasions.
The tower, with its foodlights, chimes
and clocks, is a gift of the Lincoln
family.
Distinguished Guests Listed.
Among other distinguished guests at
the dedication services were Secretary
of State and Mrs. Henry L. Stimson.
Secretary of War and Mrs. James Good
and Dr.. Hubert Work, chairman OF the
national Republican committee.
Rev. DR. Joseph r. Sizoo, minister of
the church, preached at the morning
service on the frontier virtues" of SIM
plicity, steadfastness, honesty and kind
illness personified in Abraham Lincoln.
He took as his text the Biblical quota
ton. "And the Lord came down to
see the tower which the children OF
men had builded"
DR.. Sizoo emphasized the dominance
of spiritual values in leadership. THE
history of all civilization throughout
tl,o la "a that
seed of national decay is planted when
people turn their backs upon their God.
Symbol of New Vow.
"Rome pointed to her power; Greece
to her culture; Venice to her sails, and
Babylon to her gardens. All OF these
great empires have passed. We dedl-
cate this tower today as the symbol of a
new VOW that this Nation shall never
forsake its God"
At the early morning service the Sum-
day School united in pageant dra-
matizing the 126-year history Of the
church, which was established in 1903.
John Quincy Adams was one OF the
original trustees Its roll bears the
names of these seven Presidents: Adams,
Fillmore, Jackson, Pierce, Harrison,
LiScoln and Johnson.
DIR. GurIey's Family Represented.
Two grandsons of Rev. DR.. Phineas
D. Gurley, minister CT the church while
Lincoln was q member of the congrega-
ton, were present at the services yes
terday. They are Rev. Alvin B. Gurley,
assistant pastor of the Second PreSby-
terrain Church of Philadelphia, and Rev.
Richard H. Gurley OF ST. Martins Rec
tory, Radnor, Pa.
! Rev. Richard Gurley made a short ad-
dress. complimenting rev. DR.. Wallace
Radcliffe. pastor emeritus of the church.
He also told of the Sunday school as
it was when he attended as small boy.
DR.. Sizoo, in speaking of President
Lincoln, told of one incident when DR..
Gurley announced to the aggregation
that the church would have be closed
SO it could be converted iI.So tenn
porary hospital for wounded Union SOL
dierS. President Lincoln, who was in
the congregation, arose in his pew and
said:
"Dr. Gurley, we are too much in need
of this church these days; We cannot let
it be closed. I countermand the order"
DIR. Radcliffe's Sermon.
Walter c. Clephane, Washington at
torney, presided at the evening session.
DR.. Radcliffe, in a short sermon at this
OAAS
church. and dealt generally with spirit
ual history.
This was the first Presbyterian
Church in the Capital" he said, land
was founded by small group of Scotch
under the leadership of DR.. Lawrence.
| This church stands conspiculously as
the church of the people. It is church
of the Presidents, but is also the church
of the poor and uncared for, and the
Presidents who have attended here
would invite the poor into their pews
to worship with them.
Lincoln, every time he sat here in
his pew, heard the call of the church.
In the darkest days of the war he turned
to the church for his spiritual guidance
and comfort"
The new spire is capped by large
silver ball. Its converging sides are
made of an especially prepared silver
glass, illuminated from the inside at
night, ito cause men to lift up thine
eyes to God"
The belfry contains set of West
minister chimes and four illuminated
clock dials are set up in the facades of
the square Colonial base of the spire.