Evening star., 1930-11-30

time of hi
son, Dunnihils Wingerd Beall S. Bahror, David
son, ClementSon, Musten, Robinson, Roberdeau
and Charles E. Mix"
IN 1910, in an address delivered by the Rev.
Benjamin F. Bittinger, D. D., then 86 years
old, and who was brought up in this church, in
speaking of the prominent members whom he
recalled, said: "Yes, in my minds eye I
recall the many families as they occupied their
respective pews, some of whom will mention
as present to memory, and as they were seen
from my fathers pew There was the family
Of Commodore Morris, whose daughter, Louise
was married to the banker -phianthropist, w.
w. Corcoran, and in whose memory was erected
the Louise Home in Washington City. Then
that Of Elder Williamson, the daughter of
whom, and the granddaughter of DR.. Balch
Mrs. Samuel Howell who is at present men,
Der Of the church. Then David English, an
other elder and the father of Miss Lydia S.
English, principal of the Georgetown Female
Seminary, at which were educated many daugh-
terS Of Senators and Congressman from all
parts Of the country. Among these were Miss
Harriet Williams who caused profound SEN
sation by her marriage to Count Bodisco, Min
lister to the United States from Russia; and
Miss Jessie Benton, who married Gen. John G.
Fremont, the California explorer, and, subSe-
quently, candidate for the Presidency. Then
Rev. James McVean, the teacher Of school
at which were educated many who became
prominent both in church and in state.
"Among these and others who went out from
the church may be mentioned Robert Ould
q. s. attorney; John B. French, missionary to
China; Alexander B. Hagner, justice of Su-
preme Court, District of Columbia; Gen. George
Getty, q. s. A.; Henry c. Cameron, professor
of Greek, Princeton University; Edmund C.
Bittinger, chaplain U. S. A. Benjamin F. Bit
rfafa ole et,~xfox I4f
Washington City; Michael H. Bittinger, pastor
Of church in Greenville, w. Va; Charles Herr,
pastor Of First Church, Jersey City; John Nc
Dowell Alexander Lacy, pastor Of church IN
Norton, Va; Robert G. Leetch, pastor Of church
In Far Rockaway, N. Y"
r. p. Jackson includes in his list Of notable
visitors to the Bridge Street Church Gen.
washington, while DR.. Bittinger mentions, be-
sides washington, in the list Of occasional
hearers" both Presidents Jefferson and Jack
son, and the former is recorded as having con-
tributed toward the erection Of the Bridge or
M Street Church.
DR.. Balch served his congregation from 1880
to 1888, and the following divines have sue
ceeded to the pastorate of the church: John C.
Smith, 1833-1838; r. T. Berry, 1898 -134S; John
M. p. Atkinson, 1843-1855; John H. Bocock
1s56-l861; Fred T. Brown, 1862-1865; A. A. z.
Taylor 1865-187o; David w. Moffatt, 1870
1917; Samuel H. Howe, 1S72-1883; Thomas Full
lerton, 1884-1892; william C. Alexander, 1893
1908; James T. Marshall, 1908-193O, and the
present pastor, Rev Frank Sergeant Miles, who
entered upon his pastorate here the early part
of this year.
or much interest in connection with this old
church, naturally, is the graveyard that
the congregation laid out about 1902 at which
date the property of the cemetery and adjoining
lots was conveyed to REV. S. B. Balch, pastor,
and Thomas Corcoran, George Thompson, VIII
liam Whann, James Melvin, John Cruikshank,
James Calder, Christian Kurtz, John Peter
David English, and Henry Knowles, members
of the Presbyterian Congregation of George
town, for the exclusive use Of the Presbyterian
Church in Georgetown, adhering to the confess
sion Of faith of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America, and to her presby-
teries, synods and general assemblies"
In this connection, W. B. Bryan tells uB:
'The first death in the new city of o member
of Congress occurred March IL, 1902, when
Naiworthy Hunter, delegate from the Terri
tory of Mississippi passed away. The members
Of the two houses of Congress, their officers
and the heads Of departments walked in pro-
cession from the house where he died, one of
the six buildings at Pennsylvania avenue and
Twenty-f1rst street. to Georgetown, where he
was buried in the yard by Mr. Balch's meeting
house. On the occasion of Representative
Daniel Hiester's death, two years later both
houses of Congress adjourned to attend the
funeral, which was held at Lovell's Hotel, on
Pennsylvania avenue, near Fifteenth street,
where he died. Biscuits and wine were served
at the hotel for the refreshment Of the MEM
berS Of Congress who attended, and this ex-