Evening Star Newspaper, October 20, 1935, Page 58

First Presbyterian Church on John Marshall] | Place Bows to March of Time—Played Large, Part in City’s Religious Life for a Century. By John Clagett Proctor. ECENTLY, when the writer| drove through John Marshall | place between C and D streets, ‘ down the old First prior to 1811, when Union Lodge, No. 6, was chartered, is quite well identi- fled as 1129 Seventh street southeast. Keaton N. Harper, author of the “History of the Grand Lodge of the | friends, and as I was considered toler- he observed workmen tearing | District of Columbia,” tells us this |ably qualified I was favored by Mr. | 1808, after having been driven from Presbyterian | building was a small, two-story brick | Elliot to the situation of assistant Church. It was a busy gang that|near the Navy Yard gate, the upper day, and the laths and mortar and | floor of which was used for lodge pur- bricks were flying everywhere and poses and the lower floor for & school. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, OCTOBER %0, 193%5_PART FOUR. home by his father. To use his own words: “I made my way to the City of ‘Washington, where I very soon found | teacher.” After serving in this capacity for some years Mr. Tippett was made terian Church”—to use its official Left: The Church of the Covenant, Eighteenth and N streets northwest. Top, left to right: The carpenter shop at the White House, first meeting place of St. Andrew's or the First Presbyterian Church, 1795; “The Little White Chapel Under the Hill,” site of the House Office Annex, erected by the First Presbyterian Church in 1812. At up- per right: First Presbyterian Church, John Marshall fum to be a regular attendant at | this old Presbyterian Church and often attended there with his sister. Later he was accomplnied there by Mrs. Cleveland, after the marriage, | place, between C and D streets. In insert: Rev. Byron Sunderland, who performed the wedding ceremony for President and Mrs. Cleveland. Center : President and Mrs. Cleveland attending services at the First Presbyterian Church shortly after their marriage. Right center: Rev. | which was the most notable event | Albert Joseph McCartney, D. D., pastor of the Church of | to occur at the White House during | his two administrations, and the only | time & President was married in his | official residence. | The President was then a month | over 48 years old; the bride, Frances | Folsom, 22, a handsome, lovable, gra- clous woman, admired by all. She is still living. N‘!x’l‘ June will mark just half a century since this event took place, and those of us who remember the Covenant. in the prints, and some of the pub- lications smack of intrusion into the sacred precincts of domestic life. Had | President Cleveland not occupied the exalted station he does, he and Miss Folsom might easily have taken the vows of matrimony without being subjected to conspicuous notice. But | it is not often that a President mar- | ries while occupying the White House, and to this and other causes may be |ing them. Rev. Mr. Sunderland and | Rev. Mr. Cleveland. brother of the President, stepped in front of the exe J pectant pair. | “A hush fell upon the assemblage as Dr. Sunderland stepped forward, | fronting the wedding couple. In a | distant tone of voice and with & | deliberate utterance the doctor began the simple and beautiful wedding | service: !when the land was sold to W. W.| the occasion, uhless ‘we look into the mirror, find it difficult to believe that nal ined on this site until | Corcoran the burial plot of the Brack- '50’ rs of our HYe have really elapsed. attributed the deep interest shown by | | the American people in the marriage |« | of their Chief Magistrate. While there ‘FOR as much as we are assembled me—remal dense clouds of dust filled the air.|He also says that the building now at | principal teacher and continued as | 1827, when it moved to John Marshall | enridge family was reserved, and is But let us turn back the files of to observe the holy rite of mar- No mourners were present, unless it | this number is the original one, slight- | such for 10 years. In the was the writer, who felt a touch of | ly modernized, and that the Masonic | gjven Gen. Lafayette in 1824 his school regret for this old landmark which | has meant so much to the religious ! life of Washington for just 108 years. | The corner stone was laid on April | 10, 1827, and the church was dedi- | more than the Western building, and | meet, and one of these was | since the latter was of wood 1t is more | the gospel, which he probably did in | How proud must have been the|than likely that the difference in cost | the building in which he taught school. | this| would not be sufficient to allow for | church so many years ago, then one | brick construction, and, therefore, it | tion was when the Pirst Church met | of the finest buildings in Washington, | is probable the original building is | in the Eastern Academy is not known, | cated December 9 of the same year. little congregation that built for, indeed, its members had their| early struggles, just as did all the| other pioneer religious worshippers in | the days when Washington was a city of magnificent distances. One sect began its services in a tobacco barn, and when it obtained better quarters | turned the older edifice over to & less fortunate denomination. The pioneer Presbyterian Church in Washington, like many of our pros- perous and honorable citizens, had a humble beginning. Its first meeting | place, according to tradition, was in| & small wooden structure used as a | carpenter shop in connection with | the building of the White House. Assuming this to be true, the first meetings were probably held there in 1795, since the Rev. John Bracken- ridge was licensed by the Presbytery of Baltimore and assigned to preach on the second and third Sabbaths in August of that year in this city. PPARENTLY this church had a| name, and a very appropriate one | as well, for in a marriage announce- ment which appeared in the Wash- ington Gazette in the Autumn of 1796 | we find the following: “Married on Sunday evening last by Rev. John Brackenridge, pastor of St. Andrew’s Church,” etc. Christian Hines, in noting the buildings standing on F | street northwest in 7800, also refer | to this church by name, saying: “On square bounded by F and G| and Tenth and Eleventh streets, three | frame houses: one a two-story, occu- | pied by Mr. Crawford. a constable; & | one-story house, occupied by Mr. Per- | son; the other (a one-story round-top) was a Presbyterian Church or meet- ing house. This and St. Patrick’s Church, which stood opposite each other, were the only public places of worship between Rock Creek and the Capitol.” However, it did not remain long on the P street site—now covered by a large department store—for we soon find it occupying quarters in the “Academy East—a Masonic Lodge— | near the Navy Yard.” Later the con- gregation met in a basement room in the Capitol used by the Supreme Court, and here, we are told, the com- munion of the Lord's Supper was first celebrated by the congregation. The “Academy East,” here referred to, was erected as a school building, according to an act of the City Council p in 1805, which provided for two chool houses to be known as the Eastern Acadelny and the Western Academy. Of their construction we know but little, and J. Ormond Wilson, former superintendent of public schools, tells us about all that history records in the following brief sen- | tence: “These school houses might | have been modeled after Noah's ark, for we are told that they were built of wood, one-story high, 50 feet long end 20 feet wide.” The location of the Western Academy is well known, for it was a frame structure and it stood for many years on the southeast corner of Seventeenth and I streets northwest. As to the Lodge met here from 1805 to 1821. 'HE Eastern Academy building cost the city $1,133.16, just $111.14 | teaching school in order to make ends | ing | 1827, the old church building, which not standing, and that the present one simply occupies the site of the East- ern Academy, where this early Pres- byterian congregation once held its meetings. The first teacher selected for the Eastern Academy was Rev. William Bentley, who was elected December 13, 1805. However, he declined the appointment and a Mr. Conroy, who was selected for the position February 3, 1806, did likewise, and a teacher was not obtained until the appoint- ment was accepted by Rev. Robert Elliot of Strasburg, Pa. Edward Tip- pett, rather an odd character, became assistant teacher to Rev. Elliot in D0 THE “WaN~KAN" 21' SHE OLD B1300 fot YEARS AGO. HOW DD SHE COMPARE WITH children were singled out for intro- duction to that great patriot. Mr. Tippett did many things besides | Just what the size of the congrega- | although the Sabbath school was an unusually healthy one for that period, numbering 9 teachers and 75 pupils. WH.!N this church first held its services in the White House carpenter shop the population of Washington was around 500. During the period of the War of 1812-15 the city had increased to more than 10,000, and the “Academy East” was found inadequate for its increasing enrollment, and what became known as “The Little White Chapel Under the Hill” was erected to the south of the Capitol, and the “First Presby- INBLOE® g N OvR RESENT- Ony gm %mcms? HERO FROM DEATH IN THRILLER, place. This part of Washington then was the most fashionable part of the city, and where many of the most distinguished people of that period resided. After moving to its new church, in stood directly west of the site of the Ben Butler residence—where now stands the House Office Extension— was sold, and the property bought by the Israel Bethel Church. The church building on John Mar- shall place, which the workmen were recently removing, was originally a sand-colored structure with three or four columns in front, above which was a kind of portico. In 1859 the church was renovated and remained unchanged thereafter unil it was re- moved. Rev. John Brackenridge, the church’s first pastor, was married in 1795 to Eleanor White, daughter of James White, who owned a large tract of land in the vicinity of the Soldiers’ Home. A part of this property— about 40 acres—was probably in- herited by Mrs. Brackenridge, and | ‘THOSE WERE THE HAPPY DAYS! the press and see what it says of this | W88 Do general parade or display con nected with the performance of the celebrated marriage of the Chief Mag- | .oremqny, and it was comparatively s | The stone over ome of the graves | istrate, the first Democratic President ' oo™ . v = private marriage, still all the sur- {reads: “In memory of Rev. John |after the Civil War, and performed by | . Mo Syenbiopr | Brackenridge, who died May 2, 1844. | the Rev. Dr. Sunderland of the Pirst | [OUndings were rich, beautiiu’ B | He was the first Presbyterian min- | presbyterian Church: | tractive and in keeping with |ister in Washington. Fully supplied | «president Cleveland is now a bene- | W:Shes of the contracting parties. | the congregation at Bladensburg for | gict,” so reads the news. “Last eve-| “At 7 oclock the band played the | 40 years. The Rockville Academy was reared under his superintendence. He | yp all the liberty, freedom and fasci- | President and Miss Folsom came down | sleeps after a prudent, useful, pious |pations connected with bachelorhood ' the west stairway arm in arm. The life heside his wife. The Orphans’ |and took upon upon himself all those Prefident wore the usual evening dress Asylum in Washington her unassum- | responsibilities delegated to man in ‘ of black, turn-down collar and white ing labor of love.”. The grave of | wedded life. The step has been con- | tie, and wore a pair of lavender gloves. James White, one of -the oldest | templated by the President for some | The bride's dress of ivory satin was in Rock Creek Cemetery, is close to |time past, and the act was near con- | Cut en train, with high corsage and the church and is marked with a |summation ere it became known that | elbow slegyes, two bands of mull edged marble slab. he entertained any ideas of embraeing | with lace across the bosom, and the Of the noted pastors of this his- | matrimony. It is only a few weeks | skirt, trimmed with the same sort of toric church Rev. Byron Sunderland, | since the announcement of his en- | scarfs crossed in the front, formed who preached there for half a cen- | gagement was made public in an in- | the trimming of the skirt. The orange tury, and Rev. T. De Witt Talmadge | direct way, and not a week has passed | blossom garniture, commencing upon were perhaps the most outstanding |since he confirmed the truth of the |the veil in & superb coronet, con- figures, though Donald C. McLeod From that time up to last | tinued throughout the costume. A and John Brittan Clark can be in- cluded among its great clergymen. Immediately after Presidrnt Cleve- | have been rapid. The steps and ac- | company stood against the decorations land took up his residence in the | tions of the fair brids and her honored | in the south oval of the room and the ‘White House, on March 4, 1885, he\husb-nd have beer. chronicled daily | bride and groom took a position fac- -—By Dick Mansfield | now inclosed by an iron railing in | the Soldiers’ Home grounds. “Scenes Change” JUST WONDER- \NG WHATD HAP SAW WOULONT CEN \E THAT SY0P IN iM E ~ E FAMOUS SAW-MILL Hsceede vsmsrze THE HEROINE SAVES THE ALMOST CERTAIN YHE BLOOD AND THONDER WHILE YOO LOOKED ON FRONT ROW INTAE CouLO == Var e o ® WHATDO YO0 REMEMBER D ANSWER “TOLAST WEEKS, QRQOESTION, |\ Here 1o ELECHANT RiLL™ QNSWEL, LEVENTAH & MARYLANO AVE » NoE. ON ‘THE S.E, (ORNER, NEXT WEEKS ning shortly after 7 o'clock he gave Mendelssohn ‘Wedding March’ and the | evening the movements of preparation | veil of tulle completely enveloped her | looking to the grand aud happy finale | and fell to the edge of her train. The | | riage, it is needful that we should | seek the blessing of the great God, our Father, whose institution 1t is, and therefore I beseech you now to follow me with reverend hearts in | prayer to Him." * * * “Addressing the company, he said: “‘Marriage is honorable among all men, in that a man shall leave his | father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh. It was constituted by our Creator in the first Paradise. It | was confessed by patriarch and priest, | prophet and apostle. It was cone firmed by the teaching and adorned | with the presence of the Redeemer, and has been honored by the faithful, keeping of all good men and women | since the world began. It is not, therefore, to be undertaken lightly | or unadvisedly, but soberly, discreetly and in the fear of God. - “‘Into this holy estaie this man and this woman come now to enter. ‘1( any now can show just cause | why they may not be lawfully united in marriage let him now speak or | else hereafter forever hold his peace.’ | “To the bride and groom: ‘If you desire to be united in marriage you will signify the same by joining your right hands.’ “(The groom and bride | hands.) “‘Grover,” said the minister, ‘do you take this woman whom you | hold by the hand to be your lawful wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of wedlock? Do you promise to love her, cherish, comfort and keep her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, and, forsaking all others, keep you only unto her so long as you both shall live?” “The groom (firmly)—1T do.’ “Dr. Sunderland—Frances, do you take this man whom you hold by the hand to be your lawful wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of wed lock? Do you promise to love him, | honor, comfort and keep him in sick= | ness and in health, in joy and sorrow, and, forsaking all others, keep you only unto him so long as you both shall live? “The bride responded in a low, but clear voice, ‘T do.’ “Dr. Sunderland—In token of the same let the wedding ring be passed.” (The groom placed the ring on the bride's finger.) “Dr. Sunderland (solemnly)—TFor as much as Grover and Prances have here agreed and covenanted to live together after God's ordinaljce in the holy estate of wedlock, and have con= firmed the same by giving and taking s wedding ring, now, therefore, in the presence of this company, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, I pro- nounce and declare that they are husband and wife, and what God has joined together let not man put asunder.’ joined “THE Rev. Mr. Cleveland then pronounced the following bene- diction: > “‘God the Father, God the Son snd God the Holy Ghost, bless, pre- serve and keep you. The Lord merci- fully fill you with all temporal and all spiritual blessings, and grant that you may so live together in this world that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen.’ “At the conclusion of the ceremony Mrs. Folsom, showing traces of deep EANO - NeWa REMEMBER T emotion, was the first to tender her congratulations to the newly married ‘pair. She was followed by Miss Cleve- (Continued on Tenth Page.) WHERE WAS WASH \é&ron's Fiesy THEaTER LOCATED . location of the Eastern Academy there might be some question, but the loca- tion of the meeting place of Naval Lodge of Masons, the only lodge meet- ing in the eastern part of the city . OPERA HOUSE, \LL SAY YOU DO.