Evening star., 1935-10-20
By John Clasett Proctor.

ECENTLY, when the writer
drove through John Marshall
place between G and D streets,
l. y he observed workmen tearing
down the old First Presbyterian
Church. It was a busy gang that
day, and the laths and mortar and
bricks were flying everywhere and
dense clouds Of dust filled the air.
No mourners were present, unless it
was the writer, who felt touch Of
regret for this old landmark which
has meant so much to the religious
life of Washington for just 108 years.
The corner stone was laid on April
10, 1927, and the church was dedi-
Gated December of the same year.
How proud must have been the
little congregation that built this
church so many years ago. then one
of the finest buildings in Washington,
for. indeed, its members had their
early struggles, just as did all the
other pioneer religious worshippers in
the days when Washington was city
of magnificent distances. One sect
began its services in a tobacco barn,
and when it obtained better quarters
turned the older ediflce over to less
fortunate denomination.
The pioneer Presbyterian Church in
Washington, like many of our pros
porous and honorable citizens, had a
humble beginning. Its first meeting
place, according to tradition, was in
a small wooden structure used as
carpenter shop in connection with
the building of the White House.
Assuming this to be true, the first
meetings were probably held there in
1895, since the Rev. John Bracken-
ridge was licensed by the Presbytery
Of Baltimore and assigned to preach
on the second and third Sabbaths in
August of that year In this city.
A PPARENTLY this church had
name, and very appropriate one
as well, for in marriage announce
ment which appeared in the Wash
ington Gazette in the Autumn of 1895
we find the following: Married on
Sunday evening last by Rev. John
Breckenridge, pastor of ST. Andrews
Church." etc. Christian Hines, in
noting the buildings standing on F
street northwest in 1900. also refer
to this church by name, saying:
"On square bounded by F and G
and Tenth and Eleventh streets, three
frame houses; one a two-story, occu-
pied by Mr.. Crawford. constable; q
one-story house, occupied by Mr.. Per-
son; the other "a one-story round-top)
was Presbyterian Church or meet
ing house This and St. Patrick's
Church, which stood opposite each
other, were the only public places of
worship between Rock Creek and the
Capitol"
However, it did not remain long on
the F street site-now covered by a
large department store-for we soon
find it occupying quarters in the
Academy East-a Masonic Lodge
near the Navy Yard" Later the con-
gregation met in basement room in
the Capitol used by the Supreme
Court, and here, we are told. the COM
munion of the Lords Supper was first
celebrated by the congregation.
The Academy East" here referred
10, was erected as q school building.
according to an act of the City Council
6assed in 1905, which provided for two
School houses to be known as the
Eastern Academy and the Western
Academy. OF their construction we
know but little, and j. Ormond Wilson,
former superintendent of public
schools, tells us about all that history
records in the following brief SEN
tence: These school houses might
have been modelled after Noah's ark,
for we are told that they were built
of wood, one-story high, so feet long
and 40 feet wide"
The location of the Western Academy
is we'll known, for 1t was a frame
structure and it stood for many years
on the southeast corner Of Seventeenth
and I streets northwest. As to the
location Of the Eastern Academy there
might be some question, but the loca-
ton Of the meeting place Of Naval
Lodge Of Masons, the only lodge meet
Ing In the eastern part Of the city