Evening star., 1936-05-10

LEADERSHIP OVER CENTURY
Congress Street Methodist Protestant Congregation Has Been Rep
resentatve of Local Standards Unique Place Oc-
cuped by Big Bible Glass.
By John ClageH Proctor.

there are still remaining q few
i church buildings to remind us
OF the distant past, as well as one
cobble- paved street, anyway, which
the people are now trying to preserve.
Organized Christianity got very
early start in the city's west end, and
when George Fraser Hawkins and G.
Beatty placed on record their subdi-
vision Of q part of what Is now
Georgetown, they included in the deed
certain lots for religious purposes,
specifying: -Four of these lots we give
to public uses, to wit: One for building
on, a church for the use Of the Church
of England, one for a Calvinist
church, one for a Lutheran church,
and the other for a market house"
The sites for the churches and the
market house were indicated on the
plot. The first church to take advan-
tage of the provision of the donors
was the Evangelical Lutheran Church,
and although a church building was
erected on the site assigned it in 1859,
yet the deed and the subdivision was
not recorded until one year later. as
shown. Thus it was that the Lutheran
Church, which has stood in one form
or another since 1869, at the north
west corner Of Volta place and Wis
consin avenue formerly Fourth and
High streets was the first church
erected in the District west of Rock
Greek.
Though at first only a log building,
yet, even as such, it also provided
quarters for awhile for other denomi-
nations, including the Presbyterian
Church, under DR.. Balch, about 17s0.
Some of the earlier graveStones. which
stood for many years near the church,
bear out, to an extent, the age of the
site used for church purposes, three Of
the older stones being inscribed as
follows:
Died 1778, October 18th. Here
Lyeth the Body of Margaret Hermon.
Age, TO-"
In memory of Mary Morris, Daugh-
ter Of Randeal and Rebekah Morris.
Born June 4, 1892. Died Sept. 10.
1888"
"In memory of Elizabeth Morris,
Daughter of Randeal and Rebekah
Morris. Born Jan. 10, l795. Died
June as, 1896"
A CHURCH, not quite so old, but
one which retains the original
building, though somewhat modified,
Is the Congress Street Methodist Prot
'estant Church of Georgetown, which
stands at 1888 Thirty-flrst street. This
venerable structure was erected in
1929, and today. through having cele-
brated its one-hundredth anniversary
seven years ago, it still has large
and wide-awake congregation and a
Bible class which, although only 10
years old, yet has an active member
ship Of 211, many of whom are con-
nected with the Metropolitan Police
Force and the District Fire Depart
ment.
The Rev. H. A. Kester is pastor of
the church and the mems class, which
Is known as the Harrison Bible Glass,
has for its president W. H. Harrison,
retired police inspector, and Ernest
w. Brown, major and superintendent
first vice president, the other officers
being: Second vice president, Chief
Stephen T. Porter, instructor in the
Fire Department Training School;
third vice president, William N. Payne,
jr., president Of the National Capital
Insurance Co.; secretary, j. G. Ste
phenson, general manager of City
Bank branch; treasurer. G. c. Staub.
health inspector, District of Colum-
bia teacher, DR.. Elmer l.. Kayser,
dean of George Washington Univer-
sity; organist, John L. Apple, retired
Federal employe. Mrs. Brown, wife
Of Maj. Brown, is actively interested
In the welfare of the church.
During the decade of the existence
OF this class it has been addressed by
IL United States Senators and 1874
Members of the House of Representa-
tives, some returning to the church
for this purpose at various times.
Many of the members are connected
with the Masonic Order and at the
Tooth anniversary Of the church, held
June 2, 1929, Senator Samuel M.
Shortridge reviewed the history of
Masonry and many members Of the
Georgetown lodges and the Knights
Templar Commandery appeared in
uniform.
INCIDENTALLY, the laying of the
corner stone, more than a century
ago, was performed by Potomac Lodge,
No 5.
The National Intelligencer, usually
Of great value to those seeking in
formation Of early Washington events,
under the heading, Founding Of
New Church." said:
Our town was agreeably enlivened
on Tuesday last by the ceremonies
Of laying the corner stone of the
Associated Methodist Church, the first
foundation Of the name in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The Masonic Fraternity of Poto-
mac Lodge, No. S, under the direc-
ton of William Hewitt, ESQ.,, grand
master Of the Grand Lodge of the
District Of Columbia, accompanied
ty other brethren from the neigh
boring lodges, officiated on the occa-
sion"
METHoD1sM was comparatively a
new religion when it was first
introduced into Georgetown in 1772
by Robert Williams, who came from
England to this country in 1859, and
in the same year. we are told, Francis
Asbury visited this place In the further
establishment Of the church.
The original movement to form this
denomination began at Oxford Eng
land, in 1923, the chief leaders, be-
sides John Wesley. being his brother,
Charles, and George Whitefield, and,
strange to say, it was Just 100 years
later that the Methodist Protestant
branch Of the faith erected its build
ing in Georgetown.
A few years ago, when the writer
was in the British Channel. headed
for the Atlantic. and was passing