Evening star., 1934-02-11
Little White Church Built.

After the Capitol was burned by the
British. the congregation built the
Little White Church Under the Hill.
AS the congregation outgrew its four
small walls they moved to the Old
Brick Church. on the site where the
new Willard Hotel now stands.
Here was held the farewell service
for Gen. Lafayette after his last visit
to this country. Here John Quincy
Adams delivered his farewell address
as President of the United States.
From its pulpit Webster and Calhoun
have spoken.
Out of these small meeting houses
grew the Lincoln church. built on
New York avenue near H street in
the early 1850s, claiming proudly to
be the first Protestant church in
Washington.
Many Presidents have worshiped
here. In addition to those already
mentioned the list includes Andrew
Jackson. William Henry Harrison,
Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and
Andrew johnson. A regular attendant
for years in this church was William
Jennings Bryan.
One of the most impressive mo-
ments in the history of the church
occurred several Summers ago when
the body of the Great Commoner lay
here in state before interment in Ar
lington.
On November Is. 1908. the church
celebrated its Tooth anniversary On
few occasions not part of Govern
ment routine have so many distin-
guished and representative people
been gathered in one place. Justice
Harlan of the Supreme Court presid-
ed. The main body of the church was
| filled with members of the cabinet,
Justices of the Supreme Court, Sem
ators and diplomats, officers of the
Army and Navy. President Roose-
velt occupied the Lincoln pew with
his Secretary of State John Hay. the
same man who was Lincoln's private
secretary 40 years before. During the
service the President spoke from this
pew, saying:
"A man would be poor citizen of
this country if he could sit in Abra-
ham Lincoln's pew and not feel the
solemn sense of association borne in
upon him. I wish to thank the peo-
pie of this church for that reverence
for the historic past which has made
them keep this pew unchanged. I
hope 1t will remain unchanged in this
church as long as our country en-
dures."
Answer to Accusations.
After the President. John Hay
-F Id
answer to accusations made that Lin
coin was an "infldel and an atheist" Z"
Some of you share with me- he
said. "the memories to which this oc-
casion and place give rise-days when
have sat in this same church with
that illustrious patriot whose fame
even now has turned to something re-
mote and legendary.
But whatever is remembered or
whatever lost, we ought never to for
get that Abraham Lincoln, mighty
master Of statecraft. was also one Of
the most devoted and faithful serv-
ants Of Almighty God who ever sat
in the high place of the world.
From that dim and chilly dawn
when, standing on the railway plat
form in Springfield half veiled by fall
ing snowf1akes from the crowd Of
friends and neighbors who came to
wish him Godspeed. he acknowledged
his dependence ON God and asked for
their prayers-from that time to that
sorrowful yet triumphant hour when
he went to his account, he repeated
over and over in every form of speech
his faith and trust in that Almighty
Power who rules the fate Of men and
nationA"