Evening star., 1934-09-30

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agree with this statement. On land,
about the same conditions prevail as on sea-
and electric and other storms do not seem to
make detours for church property. OF course,
phenomenal cases do occur when the church
is saved and everything else goes. but these
isolated incidents are not taken into considera-
tiOn by the insurance experts in figuring out
the rates. which are much greater on churches
and church property than on business houses
and dwellings.
In Washington not only has fire destroyed
a number of houses of worship in past years,
but severe storms have done great amount
Of damage as well. Indeed for many years
the spire on the Metropolitan Memorial Meth
Odist Episcopal Church. at c street and John
Marshall place, now being removed, was suS-
pected as being unsafe in heavy winds, and
at one time it believed by many that it
would have to be taken down as unsafe and
dangerous, but time has conclusively proved
that it was sufficiently strong to have
weathered many a storm yet
1t was not standing during the Civil War;
nor was the body of the church completed
and dedicated until February 28 1869, and
in this connection the writer has before him
an octave book of 48 pages entitled Twenty
fifth Anniversary Services of the Metropolitan
Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, Held
November T. 1894" to which are added some
historic data by Andrew Brown Duval, the
following being pertinent to the erection OF
the spire:
when the church was dedicated it was still
incomplete, for it was without the spire and
also without the iron railing Mrs. A. Ensign
Newman, the wife of Dr. Newman, secured
contributions and donations to complete the
structure, as well as to furnish fountain
for the school room. On Thanksgiving day,
November 80, 1871, the spire, with the chime
of bells, was dedicated. The spire was named
after Mr.. Thomas Kelso of Baltimore, who
gave S., 600 for its erection. He had previously
given $1,000 for the erection of the church"
l. .Na
IA PPARENTLY the spire began to have its
\ troubles not long after it erected, for
On July 4, 1874 it was blown inches out Of
perpendicular and remained that way until
after the hurricane of February 1, 1875. when
it was blown almost entirely off its equilibrium
This was an unusually severe storm, and The
Star, in its issue of February 2, gives a good
account of the damage done throughout the
CITY, and refers particularly to the steeple.
saying:
During the prevalence of the storm the
spire Of the Metropolitan M. E. Church, which
for some time past has been considerably out
of plumb, careened still more toward Four
and-a-half street, making it dangerous to
passers-by. At every heavy gust Of wind this
morning the steeple careened, making an OPEN
ing where the woodwork joins the stonework
at least from to inches in width.
This steeple is known as the Kelso spire,
and is of the tallest and handsomest in
the District being of graceful proportions and
of pleasing color. The swaying to and fro
of the spre with the guests of wind today
very much alarmed the residents in the
neighborhood of the church, who fear damage
to property and life if it falls.
THE police cut off travel during the morn
ing by stretching ropes across Four -and-a-half
street, above and below, and on G street.
About 1 O'Clock worknen were sent up the
inside TO the portion where the chimes are