Evening star., 1939-03-19

appeared as Dickory in The Specter
Bridegroom In this play Mr. Nico-
demus started to Aldwinkle Hall to
marry Miss Aldwinkle, but on the way
there had an epileptic fit and died.
His cousin, also named Nicodemus.
then went to AldWinkle Hall to
notify Mr.. Aldwinkle of the death
OF his cousin. He arrived late, and,
being mistaken, on account of his
close resemblance to his cousin, for
the one expected, did not have an
opportunity to explain matters.
Dickory, who had been at the half
way house, had seen the dead body
Of Mr.. Nicodemus and reported his
death to Mr.. Aldwinkle. who would
not believe him. He thought that
Dickory had been drinking. and told
him that Mr.. Nicodemus had arrived
and was in the next room eating and
drinking and making love to his
daughter. Dickory reiterated his
statement that he had seen the
dead body of Mr.. Nicodemus and
that it must be his ghost that had
arrived
Variety of Uses.
Before this building was used as
a theater it was used for a variety
Of other purposes, and it was here,
in 1845. that st. Johns Lodge, No.
II. F.. A. A. NJ. was given its charter
and held its first and early meet
ings.
Still stands the Metropolitan M. E.
Church Building at the corner Of
John Marshall place and c streets,
minus its famous steeple, and the
prominent Bishop John p Newman
and his wife. Mrs. Newman. who
aided him in his work, have long
since met the inevitable fate.
OF course, it is only a question Of
time when the church and all the
other old buildings in the area will
be removed, to erect here other local
government or Federal Government
buildings, for, although only muni-
cipal buildings were intended orig
inally to be placed in this immedi-
ate vicinity, yet, since the District
people have little, if anything, to
say in their affairs, most anything
can and might happen.
The Federal Government paid for
this site (out of the Districts money
$50, 900, and the congregation moved
from here about eight years ago
and erected a church elsewhere.
The cornerstone of this old land
mark was laid on October %, 1854.
the ground having been purchased
March 80, 1852, by committee in
cluding Charles w. Boteler, Will
liam G. Dale, Charles H. Lane,
Samuel Norment, DR.. Flodoardo
Howard, Thomas Purcell, Thomas
H. Havenner and z. w. McKnew,
members of the old Wesley Church
at Fifth and F streets NV, now
the Adventists' Capital Memorial
Church.
Cornerstone Laid.
The cornerstone was laid under
Masonic auspices, DR.. William B.
Magruder then being the grand
master of Masons, but the church
was not dedicated until February
%, 1869, when the following prom
inent gentlemen are recorded as
having been present: Gen. U. S.
Grant, Chief Justice Salmon p.
Chase and Judge Davis of the United
States Supreme Court, N. G.
Taylor, commissioner of Indian af-
fairs; Speaker Colfax. Senators Har.
Ian. Cragin, Trumbull, Cole. Doo-'
little, Howe, Hendricks, Patterson Of
New Hampshire. Wilson and
Sprague, Judge Fisher of the Dis
trict Supreme Court. Judge PASCAL
Of Texas, D. N. Cooley. Repre-
sentatives Raum, Cobb, Van Aer.
nam. Clark of Kansas, Benton, Cliff.
Edwards, Mullins, Dawes, Judd. Nor
head, Terry, Eckley, Humphrey,
Churchill, Hubbard of West vir.
ginia. McKess, Window, Shanks,
Whittemore, Halsay, Shellabarger.
Koontz, Chilcot, Washburn Of Mas
sachusetts, Washburn of Indiana,
McCornike, Longbridge, Pile, Moore,
Corley, Newcob, Burleigh, Butler Of
Tennessee, Ross, Cullum, Highly,
Fields and many others. -
Among the big factors in making
this church q prosperous and prom
inent one was Bishop John Philip
Newman, who was ably assisted by
his devoted wife, to whom credit Is
largely due for placing in the tower
chime of 16 bells, one of which was
inscribed:
"A. Ensign Newman, wife Of Rev.
j. p. Newman, D. D., first pastor Of
the Metropolitan Memorial M. E.
Church. She hath done what she
could.-Mark. xiv. g."
In addition to those already mem
toned, President Mckinley was .
member Of this church and . con.
slant attendant,