Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

Bishop John p. NeUmnn, first pastor
of Metropolitan M. E. Church, after its
organization, March 20, 1869.
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.
no the Metropolitan M E. Church at
John Marshall place and c street has
been purchased for $4,000, and the
u congregation must vacate by January
/, 1881 This doubt will prove
unwelcome news to many an old Washingtonian
who has grown to look upon this stately edifice
as more than a mere pile of stone and mortar,
but real house of worship, and landmark
that will really be missed the years go on
and on.
It cannot help but bring fond recollections
to a host of people who have grown up with
it, so to speak, who are now past the meridian
of life and who can look back upon Washington
when the building of this church was the
cfowning event of church building here, and
when the population of the city proper probably
did not exceed fifty thousand souls
Undoubtedly there is at least little bit of
to see church removed Somehow-and
naturally so-there is certain irresistible
sentiment surrounding one of Gods tabsr-
nacles, just as there is sentiment attached to
cemetery, where our loved ones-or some
one elses loved oneS-are laid to rest, and
and is being stripped of all of its splendor
and past glory, and all that is holy to thou
sands of Washingtonians, it is more than likely
that these good old lines which many of us
have sung SO often, will come to the minds Of
some Of us at least:
1.-The church is one foundation,
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She Is His new creation,
By water and the word;
From Heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride:
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died"
MO doubt there are some people who, without
weighing the matter carefully, will think
that the District paid a large price for this
property, but If anything the reverse Is true,
and the local government really got hand
some bargain. for this old church cost its
congregation and outside contributors at least
100000 more when 1t was built than the
amc--rt the city is paying for it today, and at
a time, too, when labor and material cost
possibly as much as one-fifth what they would
cost now. Imagine, If you will, putting up a
building like this today, even for as much as
half a million dollars.
But the deal has been made, and another
year will roll around soon, and then-the
Metropolitan Church will be thing of the
past. However, even after the building has
been removed we old-timerS will never forget
the many occasions when Prof. widows played
those exquisitely sounding chimes-in the old
church-the Metropolitan chimes.
The spire was not completed and the chimes
were not installed until 1871, but for many
years thereafter these charming menow-toned
bells were played upon during most every big
parade and important function which took
place in the city. well selected program was
always supplied, and so accurate was the sound
OF each bell and SO excellent the playing OF
Prof. widows that the harmony was remark
ably perfect and always listened to with
enraptured delight.
The writer has never had the pleasure of
hearing the real chimes of Normandy nor the
bells of st. Mary" nor any other noted
chimes or bells-but he will never forget the
Metropolitan chimes of his childhood. Nor
will he ever forget the great number of times
that some person or some paper predicted that
the steeple would some day topple over and
cause considerable destruction of life and
property. Every time the wind blew hard we
were told that the spire swayed several inches,
more or less, out of perpendicular some even
went so far as to say they actually saw it
ewaying.
During every thunderstorm in the Summer
1t just had to be struck by lightning one
more times, especially If news was at all
scarce, and during the Winter months every
high wind or blizzard affected its equilibrium;
at least that is what were told But withal,
It still stands and doubt would stand
indefinitely If left alone and not pirposely