Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-24

glory OF our Nations Capital
was still in the future. Per-
maps few institutions reflect
the history of a place as do
the churches. Certainly New
Y ork Avenue Presbyterian
Church mirrors the story of
Washington through the years
to the present.
This week a fascinating &C
count of the famous church,
known widely as the Lincoln
Church, was published. It's title
is "A History of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, ~
and the author is one of the
congregations most distin-
gulshed members, Frank E.
Edgington.
Started Forming in 1898
The history goes back to a
small group of PreSbyterians
who met in a carpenters shop
on the White House grounds
in 1893. Out of that group came
the F Street Associate Re
formed Presbyterian Church.
In 1859 this congregation
merged with the Second Pres
byterian Church, organized in
1920, to become the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
DR.. Laurie was the fore
runner of many great minis
tiers. They include such men as
DR., Phineas D. Gurley, DR..
Wallace Radcliffe, DR.. Joseph
Sizoo, DR.. Peter Marshall and
DR.. George M. Docherty, the
present minister. These divines
were notable not only in Wash
ington but throughout the
denomination.
One of the Second Church
ministers impinged upon the
social wars of the Jackson adj
ministration. According to the
account, the Rev. John N.
Campbell repeated a story
about Mrs. Peggy Eaton that
prior to her marriage to Gen.
Eaton she had been seen dining
in a hotel at noon one day, in
Philadelphia, with her future
husband, without a chaperone."
Jackson Denounced Pastor
President Jackson, an ardent
supporter of Mrs. Eaton, de-
nounced the minister and left ,
Second Church, where he had
been worshiping. On June 81.
1880, Mr.. Campbell resigned,
the inference being because of
his part in the above incident.
The growth of Washington
and its land values may be
suggested by the price Second
Church paid for the present
site at H. and Thirteenth
streets and New York avenue,
in July. 1820-$1,371.40 at 20
cents per square foot.
When the congregation ran
into financial difficulty a year
later the trustees asked the
Bank of the United States to
reduce the price to 1912 cents
on a cash basis. They con-
tended the lots had been sold
"at a price much above their
real value the adjoining
lots having been sold by the
bank at 1912 cents per square
foot" The bank acceded and
the deal was made.
Abe Liked DIR. Gurley
DR.. Gurley's relationship to
Lincoln is we'll known, but his ,
less well-known own life is told
in this book. A native of Ham ,
ilton, N. Y. he was early dis /
tinguished for his ability and s
Christian qualities. One of his
rougher classmates at Union ,
College said, "If all Christians !,
we're like Gurley, I would give :
the world to be one" He died ;
young, at 81, but the few years ,
we're packed with outstanding l,
achievements.
Lincoln said of him, Il like ,
Gurley. He don't preach poll ..
tics. I get enough of that 6
through the week, and when
I go to church like to hear
the Gospel" /
The minister, who was with |
Lincoln when he died and gave !
the final prayer and benedic- !
ton at the Presidents grave,
was also highly valued by I
President Pierce. When the l
latter was living in Concord, =
N. H., after leaving Washing
ton, a gentleman came to visit {
him bearing a note from DR..
Gurley.
The ex-President greeted the {
man and said, "Ah, you are
from Washington. Now before
you enter upon your own bust
ness, tell me all you can about '
that great and good man, DR..
Gurley."
Lincoln Anecdotes