Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-02
PASTOR TO OBSERVE
18TH ANNIVERSARY
Or. Smith Has Spent More
Than Quarter of a Century
at st. Thomas.

DR.. c. Ernest Smith Of st. Thomas
Episcopal Church will observe the twen-
ty-seventh anniversary Of his rector
ship there tomorrow. In his ar1iver-
.sary sermon he will review some fea-
lures OF past parochial history. Under
the leadership OF his predecessor, Rev.
John A. Aspinwall, st. Thomas Church
was built. the first service being held
June IS. 1892 and it will remain as the
distinguishing feature of his rectorship.
Church Debt Is Paid.
In the first 10 years of DR.. Smiths
rectorship the debt which had been
contracted in the building OF the churcn,
amounting to more than 100000, with
interest, was paid. This event was fol-
lowed by the church's conservation.
During the entire 81 years, $1,0ll ,126.O3
has been given for various cnnr en- pSn a.
poses OF this sum. over $2O0.0O0 mas
been spent on the church building and
that of the rectory and st. Thomas
Hall: 500 900 has been invested as an
endowment fund; about $4,000 more
has been expended in church improve
ments and necessary repairs, ana the
rest, after the payment of the current
expenses of the parish has been given
to the various charitable missionary
works In which the church Is interested.
Many structural and other improve
ments since 1902 have been MADE, prtn.
cipal among chem being an entrance 10
the church at the southwest corner. ne
cessitated by the growing congregation
and the laws of the District; the gift
OF such memorials as large silver aims
dish, various silver altar vessels ana
brass candlesticks, the Thorwaldsen
angel font, a new east window, known
rs the creation" window: new west
window the Jesse window; also "a
other windows in the nave and chancel,
two of these having three lights each;
uuartered oak screen across the entire
west end Of the church, the 9uartereo
oak stalls in the chancel for the clergy
and choir: the statue of Christ In one
OF the uuatrefoils of the lantern tower.
? A large three-manual organ also was
installed. This organ. however. has not
proved satisfactory and contract TOT
q new one costing $4,000, has just
been provided by the gift OF MRS. =.
Gray Pendleton. a member OF the par
ish, in memory OF her son, EDWARD Bar.
ton Pendleton, who died in the World
war.
The gift of this organ was secured by
Nat FINALS Waggaman, who has this
week signed contract with Messrs
Lewis and Hitchcock of this city. The
contract calls for the organ being built
and put in place before April l next.
The present organ occupies both sides
will occupy but one, that on the south
side of the church. On the other side,
as soon as the space Is clear. there Will
be built a chapel in memory of Admiral
B. r. Hutchinson. u. S. NJ, by Mrs.
Hutchinson, who will provide $4,000 for
the purpose. This chapel will prove
great addition to the church and add
much to its beauty and effectiveness.
It's dedication, however, will not take
place until All Saints day. 1880.
In addition to these Improvements.
the parish has built a handsome hall,
known as st. Thomas hall. and extend
ed the chancel eastward by feet, which
addition has added very much to the
dignified appearance of the church.
Endowment Fund Completed.
An endowment fund of over 100000
has been completed. This was the goal
of the rector when he started the en-
sdowment fund on the "a, DAY OF tne
1912. One year ago the last $1,000
was obtained.
Whereas Is years ago there were less
than 200 families, with 800 conmuni.
carIts, there are now 498 families, with
683 communicates; $50 persons have
been admitted by baptism into the
church; $50 persons have been con-
nrmed: 404 marriages have taken place,
DR.. Smith vas formerly rector OF the
Church of ST. Michael and All Angels,
Baltimore. The late presiding bishop,
Right Rev. John G. Murray, who re-
Gently died, was his immediate successor
in that parish. The other clergy OF ST.
Thomas are Rev. DR.. William s. Bisnop,
formerly professor of theology in the
divinity by examination of the General
Theological Seminary, New York, and
Rev. M. w. Riker, a graduate Of the Viz
ginia Seminary and formerly rector OF
Holy Trinity parish, Prince Georges
County, Md.
Vestrymen Are Listed.
The vestry of ST. Thomas are Mel
Vile Church, also senior warden: Theo-
dore w. Moves, also junior warden; A.
p. Crenshaw, treasurer; Col. William
Baird, Comdr Needham L. Jones, treas
urer of envelope fund; MAJ; Ennais
wagKAman, Senator Walter Z. Edge.
Admiral A. M. D. Mccormick, Col. II.
w Hobbs and Admiral H. H. Rousseau
This parish. at the request OF the
national council in New York, will take
part In an every-member canvass, to
begin December / and close December
Is. It will have for its objective the
bringing of more members into the par
ish. additions to its working member
sLlip anu IAlS undressing Va Soa'oA ADN"~1S
for its necessary support and for the
furtherance of the church's work be-
yond its borders.
The bus service which the church re-
Gently instituted for the purpose Of
gathering together and bringing to the
sunday school the children in outlying
districts whose parents belong to St
Thomas has proved popular and has
greatly aided the Sunday school work,
DR. Smith stated
In accordance with this custom Of
the parish. there was dedicated yester-
day a $1,000 bond. with coupons at
tached, which the parish had received
only the day before for its endowment
fund, under the will of Thomas P. Nor
gan, one of the charter members Of st.
Thomas