Evening star., 1932-02-28

n Indeed, we are celebrating JnlS
year the 200th anniversary of the
birth of George Washington, and yet Wash
ington A years Of age at the time the
Declaration of Independence was signed, and
he died year before Congress began meeting
in this city At that, he has only been dead
1872 years With our own city, We find that the
lives of just two men. Benjamin Ogle Tayloe,
first president of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants, and Theodore w. Noyes. now
serving in that Office overlap the entire period
of its existence.
We might even go further and mention just
the life of one man-our venerable citizen,
Mai. S. willard Saxton now pushing his 103d
year Born in 1929, during the administration
of Andrew Jackson-before the war with Mex
leo, before gold was discovered in California,
before the telegraph had licked off its first
message, before Arkansas, Michigan, Florida,
Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota
and Oregon were admitted to the Union not
to mention the great number Of notable things
that have happened during and following the
Civil War
In it's young life this Republic Of ours has
made some real strides, some real progress, and
stands today at the top Of the nations Of the
world for its marvellous achievements-in
wealth, in education, in population, in re-
sources-and only 143 years this March since
the Constitution went into effect. 1t Is almost
unbelievable!
to the progress of this country. Indeed, 1t
has had much to do-aye all to do with the
shaping Of its destiny, and even in Its growth
has kept pace with national economic
progress.
IN 1890. the Baptist Church. just to mention
one denomination, had but one church in
Maryland, and that at Seneca three in Fairfax
County, Va, and five in Loudoun County Of the
same State, and it was not until 1902 that six
of the inhabitants of the District Of Columbia
were constituted into the First Baptist Church
which has now developed into 81 churches and
membership of about $4,000. The number Of
churches for colored Baptists during the origin
from the same source is greater and
amounts to about 78, with congregation that
totals nearly Al 000
While visiting the First Baptist Church, at
Sixteenth and o streets northwest, few days
ago, the writer stepped into the office to see
Rev. Samuel Judson Porter, D. D., the pastor
and one of the Capitals most noted divines.
The church is now celebrating the 130th ami
versary of its founding and Dr.. Porter, know
ing the writer's interest in the historic let him
read over the early minutes Of the church.
which were indeed interesting. and from these
records the fact was CLEANED that, "On Sunday
the 7th of March. 1902, six of the inhabitants
Of the city of Washington and its neighbor-
hood, being regularly baptized according to the
string to be established into regular society
to worship God, were constituted into the First
Baptist Church" Then follows the name of
the original six: Charles P. Polk, Cephas Fox,
Charles Rogers, John Burchan. Joseph Borows
and Sarah Borrows.
The Seventh Congress then meeting in
Washington, the Sixth which opened its sec
ond session few months before, having just
expired. Thomas Jefferson was President the
city was not incorporated until May 3, 1902
and the act by the way gave the President
the power to appoint the mayor while he in
turn empowered to appoint all the city
Ofhcials-just substantially as we have 1t to-
day, except that We call our executives Com
missioners' instead Of mayors" Naturally
the first act under the charter was the select
ing Of q city seal, and on this point it was
agreed that the seal Of the City Of Washing
ton shall be the representation Of an edifoe
supported in 16 columns having the word
Washington at the top, the words city seal
with the figures 1902 At the bottom, and the
motto Union beneath the dome" For the
making of the seal 500 was appropriated.
an old timer has said: IF street was then
the principal thoroughfare Pennsylvania