Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01


SON, John received his early education in the
academy Of the town. But It was while man.
aging store for his father In Berlin, Pa, that
he connected himself publicly with the church
of that village and when he pursued private
studies under the pastor, Rev. Jesse Winecoff.
DIR. Butler entered Pennsylvania College, at
Gettysburg Pa in 1896 and subsequently began
q course of studies in the Theological Seminary
there which, however, he did not complete.
because in 1S49, when he was just % years of
age he came TO washington to become the
pastor of st. Paul's English Lutheran Church,
still standing at the southwest corner Of Eiev
enth and H streets northwest but which had
its beginning six years before IN Odd Fellows
Hall ON Pennsylvania avenue, also known as
Todd's Hall, or Todd's Rooms which stood near
the Metropolitan Hotel and where the first
services were held ON January 8, 184S
A CCORDING to the record, we find that the
call of DR.. Butler to this charge was due
to the resignation Of the second pastor of this
church, Rev. j. E. Graef, who served from
November 49, 1916, to July 2, 1S49, and who
resigned on account Of i'll health. 1t was on
this last date and at a regular meeting of the
church council that the name Of J. @. Butler,
q student at the seminary, was presented as
suitable candidate to succeed the retiring pastor
"Mr. Grseff was instructed to write at once
to Mr. Butler and invite him to visit the con-
election Of Mr.. Butler by a unanimous vote
of the council took place on the 10th of July,
1849. The secretary was instructed to notify
him of his election, and that he should have
salary of $780, with the promise of larger
salary in case the congregation should in
crease" Mr.. Butler accepted the call, with its
stipulations, and soon entered on the discharge
of ministerial and pastoral work in st. Paul's,
where he continued in faithful and successful
labors for the period of almost "a years.
"The first communion and confirmation
services held by Mr.. Butler bear the date Of
November rs, 1849. First baptism, same date:
first marriage February 20, 1850; first funeral,
August 80, 1850"
From the Gate of the dedication of the
memorial chapel at Fourteenth and streets,
In 1868, to 1873, when Rev. II. B. Belmer sue
ceeded DR.. Butler at St Paul's, the latter, with
the aid of associate pastors, had charge of both
the old and the new organizations, and he
found plenty to do in his new charge in build
ing up the congregation and in paying or
the church debt. But he was equal to the
occasion and met every demand. He was a
tall man, built on the lines of Abraham
Lincoln, without any surplus weight; full Of
energy. The writer never saw him walking
slowly: he always seemed to be IN hurry to
get where he was bound, and even when he
was in his eighties he still maintained that
characteristic.
nURING the early history OF the Luther
Place Memorial Church one of the most
important events to take place was the placing
In front of that building, in 1894 of the
statue of Martin Luther, which was not alone
a matter Of local interest, but one in which
the Lutheran Church of the whole country
was concerned. The placing Of this massive
bronze statue in washington was the thought
Of Charles A. Schieren Of New York City. The
suggestion was passed along to DR.. Butler, who
4I,a
the Lutheran Observer, and who thought so
highly Of the matter that he gave it space
and advocated It in the Observer.
BY February IA 1888, circular was issued
for funds and in little over a year, on May
II. 1884, the statue was unveiled with exercises
extending over three days, as follows:
Sunday May 10, 7;45 p.m.-Memorial ora
ton. Rev. F. w. Conrad, DID.
Tuesday. May 20, 7:45 p.m-Gen. j. A.
Ekin, U. s. A., presiding. Addresses. Rev. j.
Fry, DID; Rev. D. M. Gilbert, DID; Hon. j.
NJ Miller, Rev. d. H. Geissinger, Rev. j.
SWartz, DID,; poem, Rev. NJ. Sheeleigh-
"Wednesosy, May 81, 10 am. Germany Mr..
A. J. D. Weaemeyer, presiding Addresses,
Rev. r. Pm. Henninghausen, Rev. A. c. wede-
kind, ID; Rev. Ed. F. Moldehnke, Pho.
"Wednesday. p.m- Mr.. Chief Justice Waite
presiding. Cratons, Hon. o. d. Conger,
Senate of the United States; Rev. j. G. Morris,
DID,, LID, unwilling the statue, and prayer,
Rev. c. A. Hays. Music by Marine Band"
A LII the services were held in the Memorial
Church except those ON the afternoon Of
the unwilling at which time Luther's battle
hymn, which begins with the well known Ger
man words Elm feste Burg list unser Colt, !"
was sung by those In attendance accompanied
~ the Marine Band. The song, rs translated
by Rev. Joel Swartz, DID,, and regarded as
ehe best that has been made. is as follows:
"A mighty stronghold is our God,
sure defense and weapon;
He helps us free from every need