Year: 1877

Washington Special to the Chicago Times


President Hayes, Mrs. Hayes,
and two of their children, Webb
and Fannie, attended divine service
at the Foundry Methodist church
te.day, it being their second atten-
dance at that place. Curiosity to
see the President has not abated
apparently among church-going
people, as the Foundry audience
room and the large galleries upon
each side above were crowded by
spectators. They were on hand
early, and were thrown into small
furry of excitement by the arrival
Of the Presidential party. Mr.,
Hayes and his company walked up
the west aisle to a pew three seats
away from the altar, and both Mr..
,and Mrs. Hayes were dressed very
plainly. During the services the for
mer sat with a brown-colored over
coat on and his wife didn not dispense
with the plain cashmere shawl that
the wintry atmosphere without
rendered necessary. The party
walked from the executive mansion
to the church, Notwithstanding the
keen wind that blew up the Poto-
mac valley and over the city made
pedestrianism extremely unpleas-
ant. Mrs. Hayes persists in a prac-


tical enforcement of the biblical
injunction, Remember the Sab
bath day to keep it holy" and will
not permit her carriage to be used
on that day. She also refuses to
allow any work about the White
House on the Sabbath. A large
crowd of outsiders were collected
at the church entrance to see the
party pass. The services were
marked by nothing of unusual in
terest except the very awkward per-
formance Of the organiSt and three
or four of the choir. In the midst
Of an impressive passage Of the
pastors sermon a piercing volley of
discords from the organ thoroughly
startled everybody in the house.
The organist had simply fallen into
doze and toppled over from his
stool upon the keyboard. A pre-
liminary lesson was read from the
open letter Of the Apostle Paul,
addressed to the Ephesians. The
opening words Of this extract were
as follows: "Unto me who am less
than the least of all saints, is this
grace given, that ! should preach
among the Gentiles the msearcha-
BILE riches of Christ, and make all
men see what is the fellowship of
that mystery which from the begin
ming of the world had been hid in
God who created all things by Jesus
Christ Rev. Peyton Brown, the
officiating clergyman, is the regular
pastor of the church, but it was
the first time he has preached since
his Presidential parishiouers arrived
in Washington. He endeavored to
make his lesson very impressive.
He is a pale faced, sanity gentle
man, with limited ideas and Ian
gpage, but he breaches plain SER
mons, without the semblance even
of rhetorical finish. Coronation"
beginning "All hail the power Of
Jesus name," was the opening
hymn. Mrs. Hayes joined in the
singing with a clear soprano voice
which was quite easily distinguish
able among all Of the hundreds of
voices taking part in the stirring
old hymn. The piece was sung at
galloping time, and the melodious
bass solo set by the composer was
ignored entirely. A feryent prayer
was offered by a young visiting
minister. A larger number kneeled
during this service, but their ex-
ample was not followed by any Of
the Hayes party. They simp-
ly leaned forward, resting their
heads upon the back of the seat in
front. AT one time there were two
amens heard. One of these eman-
ated from President Hayes, and the
other from an ancient member on
the opposite side Of the house. The
tplea that evoked the response from
the former was this; "And,oh Lord,
if we have done anything offensive
in thy sight since we last assembled
here in thy holy presence, we pray
thee, oh, for Jesus sake, we pray
thee, to forgive us this morning


Mr.. Hayes response to this feeling
sentence was audible within a circle
Of half a dozen of seats about him


Nearly the entire congregation
assembled in front of the church,
filing the street opposite the curb
stone and reaching well around The
corner on Fourteenth street, to sec


Mr.. Hayes when he came out. HI


remained in church some minutes


after the benediction, but did no


stay to the experience meeting
(which followed Immediately after