Evening star., 1933-04-09
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.


their annual convention in this city First
will come delegates of the Southern branch.
consisting of something like 2,000,000
members, and even before they have ad-
journed the Northern branch will be here to
meet and cooperate in the work.
It will be quite different Washington from
the first meeting held here 1872 years ago by
members of this church, of which an announce
ment Is made in the Museum, local news
paper of that period, which announced on July
/, 1901, that 1.-The Rev. Mr.. Richards of the
Baptist Church of Baltimore will preach In the
Treasury office next Sunday.
We hear a good deal nowadays about intoler-
ance and persecution, but few religious denomi-
nations in America had in the earlier days OF
the Republic harder time than did the Bap-
tist Church. In all the New England States,
except in Rhode Island, the Baptists were per-
soma non grata and were not only made to know
this but to feel it as well. Ministers OF this
faith were even put in stocks for preaching
elsewhere than in their own parish. For re-
fusal to pay taxes for the established church,
they oftentimes had their bodies seized upon
and thrown into the common jail as maefac-
tors-their cattle, swine, horses, household fur
niture and implements of husbandry forcibly
distrained from them and shamefully sold
many times at not one quarter OF the f1rst
value"
accomplished much spiritual good in Washing
ton and the architecture of some of its build
ings is in keeping with the growth OF the Ma
tions Capital However, aside from its at
tractive churches, no doubt its greatest monu-
ment is George Washington University the
outgrowth of old Columbian College, first con-
ceived by Rev. Luther Rice about 1877, who
was then the agent of the Baptist General
Convention.
The great vision of George Washington is
continually manifesting itself as the years go
BY and the more we read of him. and the
uo lear Of n
ticipation of the future-almost impossible of
conception in his day-the greater he becomes
in the minds of those who really appreciate
the genius of the First President. What man,
for instance, other than he 143 years ago
when the population of the United States num-
bered scarcely 100000 people-would have
thought of providing 100 square miles of terri
tory in q wilderness for Federal Capital?
Indeed, had those who followed him showed
one-haH as much judgment as he did, this
seemingly ridiculous large area at that time
would have remained as he left it, instead OF
returning to Virginia the one-third it had con-
tributed.
And SO it was with Luther Rice, whose vision
was far ahead of his time, when he advocated
the founding of college in the District of Co.
lumbia and the purchase of At acres of land
extending northward from Florida avenue
then Boundary street, where its buildings for
all time might be erected.
However he had before him, to limited
extent the example Of Rev. John Carroll and
others who had purchased in 1879 a piece Of
ground 210 by 270 feet adjoining Georgetown
for 75f, current money, this being the nucleus
Of the Georgetown University, the academy Of
which was opened in the Autumn of 1891.
IN 1919 the acreage property referred to was
] purchased by the Baptist General Conven-
ton for about $1,000, and early in 1920 the
main building, lit feet long by Al feet wide,
costing about $4,000, was begun, and sufh-
ciently completed in 1921 to allow of the open
ing Of the college the following year.
IN 1921 it was chartered by act Of Congress,
the document being signed by President
Monroe on February OF that year. In it
Congress gave university powers to the trustees
and faculty, allowing the organization academic
and professional schools, and the granting of
certificates Of attainment and diplomas of
graduation in the several departments Still
realizing, SO it seems, the persecution heaped
upon the church in its early days, and feeling
that education in its college should be unre-
stricted q clause in the charter provided that
Persons Of every religious denomination shall
be capable of being elected as trustees" and
further that Nor shall any person either as
president, professor, tutor or pupil be refused
admittance into said college or be denied any
Of its privileges. immunities or advantages
thereof for or on account of his sentiments in
matters of religion
Most of the funds for the vast project at the
time were obtained by Mr.. Rice from members
Of this denomination, though personal dona-
tions and expressions of interest were received
from men of eminence at home and abroad.
From our own great men of that period
including Moses Stuart, Richard Rush and
others-came contributions and words of en-
couragement. and from such kindred spirits as
Joseph Butterworth and William Wilberforce,
in the mother country, came advice and
sistance In Great Britain, also appeal on
behalf of the college was signed by Sir James
Macintosh, Ohnthus Gregory, Rev. DR.. Z.
Bickersteth, Adam Clarke and John Report.
John Quincy Adams assisted with loan of
$4,000 and subsequently relinquished $1,000