Evening star., 1946-09-22
By John Cloeett Proctor

! BY John Cloeett Proctor
The President was then a bachelor
40 years of age, and the bride not
quite a.. Cleveland was the firsi
President to avail himself of this
privilege of White House Wedding.
John Philip Sousa
Played for Wedding
The bride and her party did not
arrive in the city until early on
the morning of the wedding, being
met at the depot by the President s
sister, Miss Rose Cleveland. They
were driven direct to the White
House, where preparations were
being made for the event, which
took place shortly after 7 o'clock
that same evening.
The ceremony was performed in
the blue room, which was trans
formed into a bower of beauty for
the occasion, and the noted band
master, John Philip Sousa, then di-
rector Of the Marine Band, came
with that celebrated organization
of musicians to enliven the occasion.
According to published state
ment, the time required for the
marriage ceremony was 7 minutes:
'"At 7:03 o'clock Mendelssohn's
march was played by the band.
At the same instant the booming
of guns was heard and the ringing
of church bells and blowing Of
steam whistles told the story to all
the people of Washington that the
marriage had taken place. The
Marine Band finished the march at
7:05. At 7:l2 the band again began
to play"
At the conclusion Of the cere-
mony Mrs. Folsom, showing traces
Of deep emotion, was the first to
tender her congratulations to the
newly married pair. She was fol-
lowed by Miss Cleveland, the Rev.
MIR. Cleveland and the other rela-
tives and friends in turn.
Metropolitan Church
Site Bought in 1852
Another church of great i'm
portance In its day was the Metro
politan Memorial M. E. Church
building at the southwest corner
of John Marshall place and c street.
The ground upon which this build
ing stands was purchased March
80, 1852, and the cornerstone was
laid October %, 1854 It's inception
began when the ground was pur-
chased by Charles W. Boteler, Will
liam G. Deale, Charles H. Lane,
Samuel Norment. DR.. F1odoardo
Howard, Thomas Purcell, Thomas H.
Hayenner and z. w. McKnew, men,
bers Of the old Wesley Chapel at
Fifth and F streets NV.
There are many people in Wash
ington who are older than this
cherished landmark, Of which The
Star. on March /, 1869, said at the
time of the dedication:
Yesterday the new church, at
the corner Of Four -and-one-h half
and c streets, known as the Met
ropolitan M E. Church "a descrip-
tion of which was published in The
Star few days ago. was dedicated
in the presence OF very large con-
gregation, every portion OF the
building being occupied and num-
bers unable to obtain admission. The
dedicatory services were read by
Rev. Bishop Simpson, Rev. Drs.
De Haas. Hamilton. Kyrett and
Goodman assisting. The choir sang
q dedicatory anthem under the lead
Of Prof. Daniel, Mr.. Tucker presid-
ing at the organ. Bishop Simpson
then preached q most impressive
sermon from the text, Ezekiel,
xlvii.9; And it shall come to pass
that everything that liveth, which
moveth, whatsoever the rivers shall
come, shall live; and there shall
be a great multitude of fish, because
these waters shall come thither; for
they shall be healed, and everything
shall live whittier the river cometh.'
Gen. Grant Present
At Church Dedication
"At the conclusion of Bishop
Simpsons sermon 4 collection was
taken up and q very large sum OF
money was realized. Among the
contributors were Mr.. Thomas Kelso
OF Baltimore, who contributed 81 900
in addition to the 5000 hitherto
contributed. An effort was made
to raise $25 900, but the collections
fell considerably short of that
amount, reaching only about 10000.
Speaker Colfax contributed 500 and
there were several contributions of
that amount.
ut is estimated that there were
at least 1000 people in and about
the church during the service. Hun
dreds were unable to get even inside
The door and were compelled to leave
Among the prominent gentlemen
present were Gen. Grant. Chief JUS
tice Chase and Judge Dayis of the
United States Supreme Court; Hon.
N. G. Taylor, commissioner OF In
dian affairs; Speaker Colfax, Sena-
tors Harlan Cra Gin Tr11y,h,,ll rolo