Evening star., 1935-11-23
Church TO MARK
133DANN|VERSARY
Trinity Methodists to Have
Naval Masonic Lodge
as Guests.

Trinity M. E. Church, Fifth street
At Pennsylvania avenue southeast, Will
celebrate its 1880 anniversary tomor-
row. DR.. Benjamin w. Meeks, super
tntendent Of the Washington District
OF the Baltimore Annual Conference,
will preach at IL am. DR.. Dan L.
Ennis, the pastor, will deliver an ao-
dress at 8 pm. on 1.-The Master Build
er," with Naval Lodge, F. A. A. M,
which is celebrating its l30th anniver-
sary, in attendance.
In 1902, few years after President
George Washington had selected this
section for the seat of the National
Government, the Baltimore Annual
Conference sent Rev. William Walters
to the Georgetown Circuit, which was
composed of two congregations-one
In Washington, on what was known
as Greenleaf Point, and the other in
Georgetown.
Made Separate Appointment.
Three years later the first-named
was made separate appointment and
known as Washington City, and Will
liam Waters was sent back to be its
pastor. In 1905 the congregation out
grew its quarters in house on Green
leaf Point and rented an old tobacco
warehouse which had been used for
80 years by Christ Episcopal Church
The section around the Navy Yard
had been building up rapidly, and the
church moved into its new quarters
near this growing center.
IN 1910 a lot on Fourth near 6
southeast, part of the Prout farm
was purchased and building erected
the first Methodist Church building
in Washington proper. The congrega-
ton took the name Ebenezer and dedi-
Gated this new building in November
1911, when Beverly Waugh was pastor
This structure served the needs OF the
church until 1857, when it was razed
and new building erected and named
Fourth Street M. E. Church.
This property was sold in 1896 to
the Methodist Protestants and the
present structure was erected. Be-
cause this was the third building
owned and occupied by the congrega-
ton the name Trinity was chosen
Ground was broken in the Spring OF
1896 and the corner stone was laid in
September by the Grand Lodge OF
Masons of the District, with Naval
Lodge, No. 4, and three communicates
of knights Templar in attendance
The dedication was on May %, 1897
Bought Cemetery Tract.
In 1925 this congregation purchased
land from the Government for a ceme-
terry, which it maintained for 10 years
but because of a restricting clause in
the charter that the cemetery should
provide burial for any citizen of Wash
ington who should die without means
Of providing burial place the bodies
were removed and the charter sur
rendered.
In 1852 and 1853 the church prop
erty was taken over by the Govern
ment and used as a hospital for
wounded soldiers.
The mortgage on the property was
burned at a service on May 16, 1910.
This congregation has contributed
largely to the religious life OF Wash
tngton. In 1888 it bought the ground
and erected a frame structure for the
Ebenezer Negro M. E. Church. In
1863 the Twelfth Street Church was
built and maintained for some years.
This society later united with Wilson
Memorial M. e. Church. In 1872 the
Tenth Street Church was built and q
Sabbath school maintained by the
members of this congregation. In
1845 this congregation organized
class, maintained a school and built
q small chapel on the River road,
which later became the AnacoStia
M. E. Church.