Evening star., 1934-03-24
STONE TO Be LAID
FOR NEW Church
Service to Be Held by
Reformation Members
Here Tomorrow. 4

The corner stone of the new Church
of the Reformation on East Capitol
street between Second and Third
streets, will be laid tomorrow MORN
ing. Members of the congregation will
meet for a short service at II o'clock
In the Avenue Grand Theater, where
church and Sunday school services are
now being held. DR.. Oscar F. Black
welder. the pastor, will preach on
THE Meaning Of Palm Sunday" The
members will then go to the site OF
the new church.
The stone will be laid by DR.. John
Weidley. pastor emeritus. who recently
retired after serving II years as pas
tor Addresses will be made by DR..
Weidley and DR.. Blackwelder.
The Church of the Reformation was
organized October %, 1869, by DR..
William E. Parson, who became the
first pastor.
The first church building was an
old Civil Var army hospital building
near the corner of First and c streets
southeast. DR.. ParSon resigned in
1872 to accept a professorship at the
Imperial College, Toxic. Japan. He
was succeeded by Rev. Philip Graef,
who served until April /, 1877. He
was succeeded by Rev. Lewis Hay, who
served two years. DR.. ParSon was re-
called as pastor in 1879 and served
until his death 26 years later. He
was succeeded by DR.. John Weidley,
who began his pastorate in March,
1906, and continued until he retired
in October 1888, to become pastor
emeritus. The present pastor, DR.. Os-
car F. Blackwelder, was formerly pas
tor of Christ Lutheran Church.
Church Built.
During DR.. Parsons pastorate the
church building, which stood for al
most a half century at Pennsylvania
avenue and B street southeast, was
constructed. This building was pur-
chased by the Federal Government
and razed in October, 1888. to clear
the site for the new Library of Con-
gress annex.
The new church building. the de-
sign for which was approved by the
Fine Arts Commission, is in keeping
with the Federal developments sur
rounding the site and blends with the
classic architecture of the Folger Lii
brary across the street.
The construction will be of Indiana
limestone on the front and sides, with
light brick and limestone on part Of
the sides and rear. Designed by Por-
ter e. Locke, architects, its style is
classified as Greek classical, with mod
ern interpretations. Perhaps the i'm
preston which the new church will
give is that of a blank wall pierced
by gigantic doorway, and with a
wing at either side to relieve the Sc
verify. The portal will be 80 feet high
from base to pediInent. or almost
three quarters of the buildings entire
height above street level. Its oak
doors will be Is feet tall and 10 feet
across. In the pedimen. will be carved
a life-size figure of Christ, with a
young boy and girl on either side. In
addition, the front of the church will
be provided with other symbolical
carvings.
Lobby and Chapel.
Entering the church, one will come
into large lobby with a chapel on the
east, a parlor to the west. and the
auditorium directly ahead. The audi
torium will accommodate about $50
persons. 1t Is so feet wide and eX-
tends back to the front of the chancel,
a feature of which will be reredoS
containing rich wooden carvings SYM
bolical of the Christian faith. On
either side of the chancel will be the
church Office, pastors study and choir
room.
Directly under the auditorium is the
Sunday school assembly room, class
rooms, kitchen and storage room.
The construction work is being done
by the firm of Davis, Wick g. Rosen-
garten Co.
The Building Committee is COM
posed of Henry A. HeSse, chairman;
Thomas P. Hickman, secretary; Ed
ward w. Raab. Merle Cain, Harry
DauHr,op opd Melvin w SondmeVPr