Evening star., 1950-04-20

Rector Emeritus Of
Baptist Church, Dies
DR.. John Compton Ball. 81
dean of Washington clergymen
and pastor emeritus of the Metro
politan Baptist Church, died last
night in Doctors Hospital, after
a brief illness. He lived at sic
A street NE.
Prior to being vested with the
emeritus title six years ago, he had
been pastor of the church at Sixth
and A streets NE, for Al years,
during which time he had won
the esteem of the whole city.
A high spot in his career oc-
Cured at his retirement in Sep
tember, 1914. President Roosevelt,
in a letter to DR.. Ball, which was
recorded in a memory book,
praised his long service in religious
circles in the Capital. The letter
read. in part:
IT have heard that your long and
faithful tenure as pastor of the
Metropolitan Baptist Church is
drawing to close. I cannot re-
strain the impulse to join the
members of your congregation and
other friends in a hearty, We'll
done, thou good and faithful serv-
ant I trust all your days may
be radiant with the memories of
Al years spent in our Capitol City
community as preacher of the
word of God and leader of all good
works."
Sketch by Star Artist.
The memory book in which the
letter is contained was compiled
by Miss Dolly Smith. In it also
are letters of tribute, drawings
and photographs from many
friends. An original sketch of the
church by Staff Artist Leslie
Bontz, published in The Star, is
included.
Following DR.. Balls retirement
as active pastor, a testimonial
celebration was held in his honor,
attended by many of the city's
leading clergymen.
An editorial in The Star said
this of him:
%. DR.. Ball has other monu-
ments than those of brick and
stone. In a very particular respect
he has been a mentor and guide
for many Washington families.
During the four decades since he
came here from Pennsylvania, he
has shepherded three generations
of people. Not all have been Bap-
lists. not all have attended his
church, not all have remained in
its neighborhood more than a few
days or weeks. Indeed, they are
scattered all over the earth. Yet
they are of the same flock. and
they do not forget"
Born i'm England.
DR.. Ball was born in England
and came to America at the age
of 7. He received his bachelor of
arts and doctor of divinity de-
grees from Temple University,
Philadelphia. He also was gradu-
ated from Crozier Theological
Seminary in 1899. He served as
pastor of the Baptist Church of
New Bethlehem, Pa, before COM
ing to Washington.
About 30 years ago, an incident
occurred illustrating DR.. Balls
well-known sense of human under
standing.
A group of boys carrying base
ball equipment were discovered
gloomily looking up at a broken
window in the church. DR.. Ball
came upon the youngsters. He
told them to wait, then disap-
peared into the church.
Game Goes On.
He soon emerged with the base
ball.
"The cost is $3.50 for every
home run that breaks a window, !"
he said. tossing the ball to the
groups leader. Laughter replaced
gloom; the $1.50 was somehow
raised, and with the pastor
watching. the game went on.
When DR.. Ball came here in
1908. Theodore Roosevelt was
President and Uncle Joe" Can
non was Speaker of the House.
DR.. Ball opened the House sessions
for. nine consecutive Speakers,
concluding with the late Repre-
sentative William Bankhead.
Washington still was a moderate
sized city in 1908, and the church
had membership of 361. Today
there are more than 5000 men,
bers.
DR.. Ball is survived by a daugh-
ter, Mrs. Ruth Mills of Harris
burg, Pa.
Funeral services will be held at
II am. Saturday at the Metro
politan Baptist Church. The
body now is at the Lee funeral
home, Fourth street and Massa-
chusetts avenue NE. Burial will