Evening star., 1937-12-05
By John Clagen Proctor.
vt HAS not been so many years age

Vt HAS not been so many years ago
since the city limit was regarded
as at M street north, where for
awhile the Seventh street cars had
their terminus and until 1878 the
Ninth street cars only went as far north
as Rhode Island avenue, and it was not
until about this time that the city
began to develop in this direction. In
deed, up to this period, there was little
encouragement to go beyond the car
service, for there were few if any i'm
provements in this direction until
Alexander R. Shepherd, with his dy-
manic energy, put his shoulder to the
wheel and actually did things.
OF course, prior to the Civil War
there were no car lines in Washing
ton, and those persons who lived as far
out in the country as was Massachu-
setts avenue at this time, and who did
not own conveyance, had to hire one
or walk wherever they wanted to go.
And calling this part of the city "out
in the country" is substantially what
it was, at least up to 1874, when the
site for McKendree Methodist Episco-
pal Church was purchased.
Then, or at least not many years
before, there was large spring in the
square between Ninth and Tenth and
M and N streets, and another in the
square to the south, bounded by K
street, Massachusetts, avenue, Ninth
and Tenth streets, known as Sandy
Weaver'S spring. The water flowing
from these springs, after merging,
joined forces with Burnes' or st. Pat
rick's spring at Ninth and F streets,
to which point the water that came
from the vicinity of Franklin square
also flowed, thus making up the stream
known as Sliuce run, that made its way
southwark to the Tiber.
The spring between Ninth and
Tenth. M and N streets, must have
been large, for We are told it cut a
deep ravine as it crossed Massachu-
sets avenue, over which were placed
a couple of logs, and a grapevine rail
for the convenience of those compelled
to travel this way. And it is also re-
lated that at this time some of the Or
1glnal trees and vines, placed there by
nature, and growing in this vicinity
could still be seen.
When the committee, appointed to
purchase the McKendree Church site,
made its report, the members said they
found 1t to be place in a rough sur
rounding elevation from which gravel
had been taken, leaving a great hole
In the ground in which was stagnant
water, while in its front was a deep
ravine, making the spot practically in
accessible for vehicles.
This old church which still stands on
the north side of Massachusetts, avenue
between Ninth and Tenth streets, was
one of the pioneer houses of worship in
this part of Washington, and was,
when built in 1845, the farthest north
OF any church in the city.
It had its beginning in the hal
over the Northern Liberties Engine
House, erected about 1910, destroyed
by fire about 1855, and which stood
where is now the main entrance OF
the Public Library, at Eighth and K
streets. It was quite meeting place
in the early days, and here met q
division OF the Sons of Temperance
and religious services were also hello
here on Sunday afternoons, and Out
of these grew the nucleus for what
later became the congregation of Nc
Kendree M. E. Church
But the time came when the hall
one Sunday afternoon was closed to
the worshipers, and it was then that
Jonathan T. Walker extended an in
vltation to them to occupy his car
penter shop on Eighth street north
OF K, and here the preacher mounted
a carpenters bench, and using that
as his pulpit, delivered his message to
his followers.
go RESOLUTE was the congrega-
ton then assembled" we are
told, that they Immediately appointed
a committee consisting of zephaniah
Jones, Asa Gladman, James H. Bush
by, Michael Reardon and Jonathan
T. Walker to procure a suitable site
upon which to erect frame build
ing for mission and Sunday School
purposes which Mr. Walker obligated
himself to complete as soon as site
and the materials therefor were pro-
vided.
For the meantime Mr.. Walker
offered the use of his carpenter shop
where they were assembled for the
mission and Sunday School services.
This offer was accepted and every
Saturday afternoon Mr.. Walker had
the shop swept out, rude benches ar
ranged, and the shop otherwise put
in condition for the Sabbath Day
services"
A few years ago. history of this
church by A. o. Latham, edited by
Charles A. Sutton, the present his
torian, was published. and in connec-
ton with McKendree's early days, the
author has this to say:
In that carpenter shop on June 7,
1874, q Sunday School was organized,
of which John C. Hardness was
elected superintendent, Michael Rear
don, assistant superintendent; Durbin
Walker, secretary, and Zephaniah
Jones, treasurer. Teachers for the
school were found among willing
workers of Foundry and Wesley
Chapel Stations.
"It will thus be seen that a car
penter shop was the birthplace oil
McKendree M. E. Church. The spirit
Of humility no less than the high anc
determined purpose-incidents of the
birth Of the church-have continued
to be peculiar characteristics of it:
membership to this day."
THE first pastor of the church wa.
the Rev. DR.. William G. Eg.
gleston, who in 1902, was still living
and making his home in Middletown
Va, and mentally able clearly to re.
late the details of the call to be &C.
cepted to preach the Gospel from
McKendree's pulpit fifty-nine year
before, and subsequent incidents dur
ing his pastoral incumbency at thi
church. Regarding his first contac
with Mr. Hardness he saws.