Evening star., 1952-03-08
First Baptist Church
Marks $50 Years With
Optimism for Future

"
One hundred and fifty years o,
Baptist witness in the Nation.
Capital by the First Baptis,
Church was celebrated last night
by the congregation in the Hote.
Statler.
President Truman, in message
declared: "The Baptists of this
country have proud heritage
from the founder Of their first
church in the New World, Roger
Williams, who despite persecution
and banishment, ever held aloft
the torch of religious liberty
complete freedom Of conscience.
when we see that great prin-
ciple Of freedom obliterated today
in once happy lands over the face
OF the earth, it should arouse In
all our minds and hearts a re-
newed determination to rededi-
cate ourselves to this fundamental
tenet of American policy.
The First Baptist Church of
Washington, now celebrating the
15Oth anniversary of it's founding
is. by happy coincidence, almost as
old as the National Capital.
Hold Fast to Principles.
My anniversary message to the
members on this auSpicious occa-
sion is to hold fast to. those prin-
c1ples Of freedom of conscience
and religious toleration without
which the spirit of justice will
perish and with it all the other
cherished institutions of de-
mocracy."
The Presidents message was
read to the gathering by DR.. Ed
ward Hughes Pruden. pastor of
the church.
DR.. Pruden recalled how
the church was organized on
March z, 1902, in the old
Treasury Building with six mem
bers. He then briefly mentioned
other places where the congrega-
tion worshiped before moving to-
It's present church at Sixteenth
and o streets NV. in 1890. The
church now has 1000 members.
The minister then brought ap-
plause from the 800 members and
guests present, when he announced
the program for building a new
church plant on the present site
would get under way before this
year ends.
$335,665 in Fund.
The building fund now has
1855 SOS, and we expect to reach
100000 before the end of 1897
DR.. Pruden said. Estimates made
by builders and architects indi-
cate that sanctuary and social
hail can be built for $12 million. Il
The entire church plant is ex-
pected to cost 81 million. 4
The pastor reported that $500
had been received from church,
members as an anniversary gift to
the fund, and that friends outside
the congregation had contributedt
1886. 4
In addition, DR.. Pruden said
that flags of foreign countries.
many of which hung from the
speakers table to the floor. had
been given by various embassies
to be placed in the Chapel of
All Nations, to be part Of the
proposed structure.
A piece Of wood and some nails
from the old meeting house of
First Baptist Church, Providence,
r. l., to be made into cross for
use in the proposed church, also
were presented. First Baptist
Church of Providence was estab-
ished by Roger Williams in 1889.
Other Gifts Announced.
Other gifts, including a repro
duction of a stained glass window
unveiled in the Bunyan Meeting
House at Bedford, England, last
year also were announced. The
glass window contains q scene |
from Pilgrims Progress" depict
ing Bunyan as Christian, the main
character of the book.
Interior Secretary Chapman
and Defense Mobilization Direc-
tor Charles E. Wilson brought
greetings to the gathering from
"Our Fellow Countrymen."
L. Howard Jenkins, president |
Of the Southern Baptist Conven-
ton Foreign Mission Board.
brought greetings from "Our Bap-
tist Family" and DR.. Frederick
e. Reissig, executive secretary of
the Washington Federation of
Churches. from Our Fellow
Christians"
The invocation was given by the
Rev. r. Edward Dowdy, pastor of
First Baptist Church. New Bruns-
wick. N. j.. and former associate
pastor Of First Baptist Church
here. The benediction was offered
by DR.. Arnold T. Ohrn, executive
secretary, Baptist World Alliance.
Members of Congress Present.
Among those present were SEN
ator Connally of Texas and Mrs.
Connally. Senator Green of Rhode
Island. Representative Priest oil
Tennessee and Mrs. Priest, and
Representative Kerr of North
Carolina.
Senator Kerr of Oklahoma, who
teaches a Sunday school class at
the church, and Senator Carlson
of Kansas, a church member,
were unable to be present. Mrs.
Carlson was at the banquet.
DR.. Kenneth S. Latourette,
president of the American Bap-
tist Convention. told the congre-
cation "our great opportunity int
the years ahead lies in being true
to our heritage. We must preach
the gospel, the marvellous good
news of God in Jesus Christ. to