USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The chronicles of Georgetown, D.C., from 1751-1878 > Part 12
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admonish us, with an eloquence more than human, to prepare for that eternal world towards which change and chance inevitably impel us all !
" Time allows me to give but a rapid sketch of the restoration of the church to the holy purposes for which it was established. It is less needful to be done, be- cause, having been of recent occurrence, the circum- stances of that history are familiar to those who hear me. With whatever indifference the desecration of the church may have been generally regarded, there was one to whom, as he passed it in his daily walk, it was a pain and grief .* It became a subject of conver- sation among his family and friends. The idea of re- storing it was suggested. The Rev. Mr. Peterkin, to whose early zeal and activity in its behalf this church is much indebted, gave of his means, as well as his services, to the object. A zealous lady, to whose ac- tivity and zeal the church is also under deep obliga- tions, established a sewing circle of young misses, by whose industry fifty dollarst-the sum which had been
*Allusion is here made to Mr. William G. Ridgely. the present register. The first action by the vestry towards ro-opening the church for regular services. was had on the 21st October, 1837, which resulted in the appointment of Messrs. C. G. Wilcox, Wil- liam Stenart, and W. G. Ridgely (the last not then a member of the vestry), to investigate the fiscal and all other affairs of the church. and to solicit donations to repair and refit it for public worship, &c.
+Miss H. L. Steuart, directress : and Misses Harriet B. Williams, Eliza Williams, Catharine Davidson, Eliza Davidson. Lonisa J. Ridgely, Emily Ridgely, Anna Key Ridgely, Sophia M. Ridgely, Virginia Williams, Mary A. Harry, Harriet B Harry, Elizabeth Harry, Mary E. Berry, Soloma Pickrell. Lavinia Lyne, Arianna French, Anna Morton, Mary Magruder, Nancy Board. Ellen Pear- son, Josephine Pearson, Sally Hanson, members. This association, the number of members being increased, subsequently paid over to the vestry of the church, a further smu of three hundred and seventy-five dollars, to be applied towards its repairs, and for the procurement of a bell.
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paid for the church by the gentleman who had bid in the building when it was sold for taxes-was raised for the purpose of repurchasing the dilapidated edifice. The gentleman* who had bidden in the building gene- rously returned the money, and with it a title deed to the property. A fair was held in the latter part of 1838, the vestry reorganized, the church rendered fit for public worship, and the Rev. Dr. Marbury's ser- vices obtained as rector of the church.t Gradually, by untiring devotedness of the little flock, and by the Christian aid and sympathy of the members of Christ Church, several of whom took pews in the church to assist in its support, the building was furnished with all the conveniences which it possessed before its en- largement, and an income obtained for the support of its pastor. Since then you know its history. Dr. Mar- bury resigned the charge of the church in September of 1841, and its present pastor immediately succeeded him. It then numbered about thirty families and thirty-five communicants; at this time, it has about sixty families and one hundred and ten communicants. Since that period, as well as before, the church has had reason to use the language of the Psalmist, ' The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.'
* W. W. Corcoran, Esq.
+ Vestry-Messrs. J. Gozler, Dr. N. W. Worthington, R. H. Vil- lard, F. Lowndes. W. G. Ridgely, William Steuart. C. G. Wilcox, G. B. Magruder; F. Lowndes, register. In order to secure the services of a rector of the church, and provide six hundred dollars for his salary for the first year, four members of the vestry entered into a written obligation, binding themselves for fifty dollars cach, one of the four agreeing to make good all the deficiency.
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" The brief history which I have given, and the cir- cumstances under which we meet to-day, afford im- portant lessons which we can but suggest to your con- sideration :
" 1st. The ruin of the church in time past, speaks to us as a congregation, 'Be not high-minded, but fear.' It is not for man to say, without divine war- rant of such an event, that it was God's judgment on the church for its worldliness, lukewarmness, and faith- lessness to the cause of Christ. This, however, we may say that God's judgments are denounced against the lukewarin and worldly churches. He who walk- eth in the midst of the churches, and holdeth the stars in his right hand, declares of those who have become lukewarm, who have lost their first love, who have fallen into the impurities of licentious practice, or the delusions of licentious doctrine, that their candlestick shall be removed, and their star extinguished. ' He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.'
" 2d. The success which has attended this enterprise, teaches us another lesson. We are not to take the world's opinion as to what is practicable when we would do something for the cause of Christ. When the effort was made to restore this church, and when the plan for enlarging it was suggested, in both cases the enterprise was judged visionary by men of the world. The church is often made faint-hearted, and frightened out of her duty, by the ridicule of such men, and their oracular decision that her plans are visionary, fanatical, and unnecessary. Now, my Chris-
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tian brethren, I hope that you have learned to take counsel elsewhere than from them, as to what can be done when you would extend the privileges of the gospel. If we had listened to such wisdom, we should not this day have worshiped with grateful hearts in this our enlarged and beautified sanctuary. Let worldly wisdom busy herself about worldly things, and let us take counsel of heavenly wisdom when we are engaged in the work of heaven. Henceforth, when we find anything needful to be done for the honor of God, the good of this church, and the conversion of men, believe that it can be done, and resolve that it shall be done. You have every reason so to believe and so to do.
" 3d. The success of this effort teaches us another lesson. It is this : we should show forth our gratitude to God for such a blessing, by doing and giving more than ever for his service and honor. Are any dis- posed to say, ' Now we have done so much, let us have a pause, let us have no more calls on us for subscrip- tions and contributions, let us rest ?' To such I an- swer, 'Nay.' On the other hand, as God has done so much for us, let us do what we can for those who have not the same heavenly blessings ; let us give more largely than before to missions, schools, and to every object of Christian benevolence. You have given this year much more largely than usual (as I am happy and proud to say for you as your pastor), and with great liberality And now do you wish to be re- leased from it ? Why, brethren, I had hoped that the luxury of giving largely had just begun to be realized 24
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by you, and that you would not forego it. Let me ask you a few plain questions. Have you been, or do you expect to be, any less comfortable this year than usual ? Have you been in want this year ? Have you been less happy this year than usual because of giv- ing more largely to the cause of Christ and of his Church ? Nay, have you been any poorer ? I do not believe that any one of you can say you have. Then I will believe that one of the greatest blessings con- nected with the enlargement of the church is, that it has shown you the luxury of saving and giving to a holy cause, and that it has taught you that you can give much, and be neither the poorer nor the less happy. My duty, then, is plainly to call upon you to continue to save and give, and, so long as I shall be with you, I shall not cease to do so. You are but stewards of God's bounty, and never are you so hap- pily occupied as when dispensing it in his service. Let, then, your mite go on its way to the destitute of this and other lands, bearing with it the message of salva- tion ; let the poor about you rise up and call you blessed ; let the church of your love continue to re- ceive your liberal contributions for all she needs; let not your dying hour be darkened by the consideration that you have withheld, from selfishness, or expended upon self, that which Christ claimed, and his spouse, the Church, needed for her welfare. And let not this duty be regarded by any one as, because a more external duty, little connected with our spiritual inter- ests as individuals or as a church. It is, on the con- trary, one of the highest importance; it is a test of
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our profession ; it shows whether or not we have given up all for Christ; it brings down God's blessing. To what was it that the great promise was made-prove me now herewith, saith the Lord, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room to receive it ? It was in reference to this duty, too often regarded by Christians who profess to be eminently spiritual, as Pharisaical and legal, and therefore held almost in contempt, that the direction was given : 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat, and prove me herewith, saith the Lord.' Brethren, by prayer, and by the consecration of yourselves and substances, another blessing like that which came down upon this place once before, shall visit us again. This house of prayer shall become the gate of heaven to many im- mortal souls. May He to whose service it is dedicated ever be present here with his people! Thus, and thus only, will it be verified, 'That the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former.'"*
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[ History prepared from the records of the church, by Rev. W. W. Williams, rector, December 27, 1868. ]
" Fifty eventful years have now passed away since our organization as a church, and it may lend impres- siveness to the solemn lessons of this day, if we re- trace all the way by which the Lord our God hath
* Vestry at this time-Messrs. John Waters, JJ. H. Offley, John Hopkins, P. G. Washington, C. E. Rittenhouse, A. H. Marbury. L. Thomas (treasurer), W. G. Ridgely (register) ; Messrs. Waters and Hopkins, wardens.
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led us these many years, and recall his loving kind- ness in the midst of His temple.
" The records of the first establishment of an Epis- copal Church in Georgetown are very few and imper- fect .* It is a pleasing circumstance connected with the first movement which was made by the Rev. Mr. Addison, that he received the concurrence and assist- ance of the Rev. Dr. Balch, then the esteemed minis- ter of the Presbyterian Church of this place, whose memory is still warmly venerated by the whole of this community.
" The kindly and fraternal feeling thus manifested by our Presbyterian friends and brethren, I rejoice to say, has still been kept up, and has quite lately laid us under great obligations, by generously placing their commodious chapel at the disposal of our congrega- tion when the work of enlarging the church had de- prived us of a place of worship. May coming years cement and deepen the fraternal feeling which now exists, and the great Head of the church so guide and govern us by his good Spirit that all who profess and call themselves Christians may hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. At the time Dr. Balch thus extended a help- ing hand to the movement of establishing an Episco- pal church in this place there were but few Episcopal families in the town. The Rev. Mr. Addison, at this time settled in Broad Creek parish, Prince George's
* For the facts connected with the first establishment of an Epis- copal Church in Georgetown. I am indebted to a sermon of Rev. C. M. Butler, D. D., preached on the re-opening of St. John's Church.
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County, opposite Alexandria, was induced to visit them, and invited by Dr. Balch to hold an Episcopal service in his church. Occasional services were thus held during the years 1794 and 1795. In the summer of 1796 the first effort was made to organize a congrega- tion and build a church. Whether a vestry was or- ganized does not appear. The only record of this ef- fort is a list of subscribers, whose contributions were to be applied ' to building the walls and covering in a Protestant Episcopal Church in Georgetown.' The amount collected was fifteen hundred dollars, and a lot given upon which St. John's Church now stands. What causes prevented the completion of the building does not appear; but it was carried up only to the first range of windows, and remained in that unfin- ished state until the year 1803. During this period of seven years the Rev. Mr. Addison continued to hold occasional services, but the prospect of establish- ing the church seemed far from encouraging.
"In January, 1803, however, another effort was made, and a meeting of the citizens of Georgetown called for that purpose. The minutes of this meet- ing commence as follows: 'At a meeting of a num- ber of the inhabitants of Georgetown, at Mr. Semmes' tavern, on Tuesday evening, 28th of January, 1803, pursuant to a notice in the Washington Federalist, for the purpose of adopting regulations for building a Protestant Episcopal Church, Walter S. Chandler, Charles Worthington, and Walter Smith were ap- pointed a committee to inquire into the situation of the building commeneed for that purpose, and to ex-
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amine into the state of the accounts relative thereto, and to judge of the propriety of completing the same, or to purchase ground in any other part of the town, in their opinion most appropriate, to solicit subscrip- tions therefor, and to make all such contracts and agreements as may be requisite for carrying into effect the same.'
" Among the list of subscribers is found the name of Thomas Jefferson, and also Dr. Balch, and the amount raised on this occasion was about four thou- sand dollars, not enongh, it would appear from the records, to complete the unfinished structure, for we find a letter was addressed about this time, by the Rev. Mr. Ratoone, associate rector of St. Paul's, Baltimore, to the vestry of Trinity Church, New York, asking their assistance, and urging the 'great importance of having an Episcopal Church firmly established at the seat of the General Government; so that from it, as a center, the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church might be widely diffused throughout the United States.' There was but one Episcopal Church to minister to the spiritual wants of both our cities-that of Christ Church, Navy Yard, and its lo- cation would necessarily preclude the attendance of the Episcopalians of this place. Whether this appeal to Trinity Church was successful does not appear, but in this year (1803) the building, which had remained so long unfinished, was covered in and sufficiently completed for the celebration of public worship. In 1804 the first rector of St. John's, Rev. Mr. Sayrs, of Port Tobacco, Maryland, entered upon his labors,
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and, under his faithful ministry, the first Episcopal Church gained a permanent foothold in the place. In 1809 the Rev. Mr. Sayrs died, and was succeeded by the Rev. Walter Addison, who, with the interval of two years, continued the beloved and efficient pastor of St. John's until the year 1827, when the increasing infirmities of age and a malady of the eyes, which ended in total blindness, disqualified him for labor and terminated his connection with the church.
"The earlier years of his ministry here were emi- nently blessed; the church grew in numbers and spir- ituality; many high in station and authority attended upon its services, and the church was so thronged that the seats in the gallery were in great demand and rented at high rates. In 1811, an effort was made to enlarge the church, the capacity of the building being far below the wants of its increased numbers. But it failed, and this led to a movement, six years after, which resulted in the organization of a new congre- gation. It is, at this point, our own history as a church . commences. On the 10th of November, 1817, a meet- ing was held at the residence of Mr. Thomas Corco- ran, 'for the purpose (as stated in the minutes) of or- ganizing a new congregation, and devising a plan for building an additional Protestant Episcopal Church.' Mr. Corcoran was appointed chairman, and Mr. Wm. Morton, secretary of the meeting, and steps were at once taken to accomplish their object. A committee was appointed to procure a suitable building for hold- ing public worship, until a church could be erected, and also secure the services of the Rev. Ruel Keith,
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then assisting Mr. Addison at St. John's. The names of those who inaugurated this movement, and by whose energy and zeal it was brought to a successful issue, deserves a lasting place in our remembrance; they were, under God, the founders of Christ Church. As given in the records of that first meeting, they were the following: Thomas Corcoran, Clement Smith, Francis S. Key, John S. Haw, John Myers, Ulyses Ward, James A. Magruder, William Morton, Thomas Henderson, and John Pickrell. Twenty-six names of pew holders and subscribers are appended to the orig- inal articles of agreement, and as they are, in some measure, part of the history of the community, as well as of the church, we give them in the order in which they were signed by themselves: C. Smith, J. S. Haw, Joseph Brewer, S. Henderson, John S. Comp- ton, William Morton, John Abbott, Thomas Corcoran, Jeremiah Williams, Darius Clagett, Wm. W. Clagett, George Clarke, C. A. Burnett, II. Horel, Ninian Ma- gruder, Thomas Hyde, James Getty, William Hay- man, Jr., Ulysses Ward, Richard Burgess, Thomas Pla- ter, Ann Key, J. J. Stull, Robert Read, Otho M. Lin- thicum, Francis S. Key, James S. Morsell. The prom- ise of Him who declares ' them that honor me will I honor,' seems to have been graciously fulfilled in their case. Their decendants, to the third and fourth gene- ration, are still represented among us, and their at- tachment and love to the house their fathers built, has been conspicuous in their liberality and zealous efforts in the enlargement and completion of our present beautiful church edifice. On the 18th of November,
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1817, a week after the first meeting, the committee made their report, recommending the Lancasterian school-house (a few doors below the present church building), as a suitable and commodious place for hold- ing service, and also the willingness of the vestry of St. John's Church to dispense with the services of the Rev. Mr. Keith for two Sundays in the month.
"This meeting proceeded to ballot for a vestry, and the following gentlemen were elected as the first vestry of the church: Thomas Corcoran, Thomas Henderson, Clement Smith, John S. Haw, James S. Morsell, John Abbott, William Morton, and Ulysses Ward. A letter, dated November 19th, 1817, still on record, was addressed by the vestry to the Rev. Mr. Keith, asking his acceptance of the rectorship of the new congregation. After stating the causes which led to its organization, they go on to say :
"'The most prominent, important, and interesting duty devolving on us in the selection of a minister, in whose devotion to the religion of Christ, and the doc- trines and forms of the Episcopal Church, the utmost confidence can be reposed, we are happy in assur- ing you we have every reason to expect from you a conscientious discharge of the duties attached to the ministerial office, and, therefore, take unfeigned pleas- ure in asking you to take charge of the congregation.'
" How largely blessed they were in this choice and expectation, we need not say. Dr. Keith here made full proof of his ministry, and has left the impress of his earnest spirit and rich gifts, not only upon this community, but the church at large. Ilis praise is in
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all the churches, and there are still some living who remember his apostolic fervor and eloquence, and, at times, the awful earnestness with which he pressed home upon the heart and conscience the great truths of redeeming love. As a professor of theology at Williamsburg, then in a most flourishing condition, its venerable halls filled with the youth and rising tal- ent of Virginia and other States, his field of useful- ness was a most important one, and his great intellec- tual gifts and ripe scholarship were doubtless largely instrumental in moulding the religious beliefs and principles of its students. After occupying this posi- tion at William and Mary College for two years, he removed to Alexandria, in 1823, and, together with Dr. Wilner, established the Theological Seminary of Virginia, which has done so much for the resuscitation of the church, not only in that State, but for the spread of the evangelical truth throughout our whole land- supplying earnest and faithful ministers to almost every diocese, and honored by God as the source from which our missionary bishop and laborers have been almost entirely recruited.
"To Dr Keith's logical, discriminating, systematic teaching of theology, and, above all, to the atmos- phere of true spiritual religion, which his life illus- trated, and his influence generated, is that institution, under God, largely indebted for its early success ; and the honored names, who now till its chairs and watch over its interests, are striving to keep it faithful to the great doctrines he taught and the high spiritual stand- ard he set up. The pleasing association which con-
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nects Dr. Keith the first rector of Christ Church, and the first professor of the seminary, is a bond of union which has been increased by many subsequent ties of interest; many faithful pastors has the seminary fur- nished to this church, and many times, when without a minister, have its professors broken to this people the bread of life.
"To return now to our more immediate history : The invitation extended by the vestry to Dr. Keith was accepted, and the congregation assembled to- gether, for the first time, in the Lancaster school- house, on Sunday, December 21, 1817. There are, perhaps, but few representatives of that first service now living; one of them, Judge James S. Morsell, whose absence from our midst to-day we deeply re- gret, is now bowed with the weight of years, and wait- ing, like the aged Simeon, for joyful dismissal. He has been associated for more than half a century with the church, and, by his consistent Christian life and 'earnest devotion to its interest, adorning the gospel of Christ. Under Mr. Keith's labors the congregation greatly increased in prosperity.
" At a meeting held in April, 1818, at the Lancas- ter school, and opened with prayer by Mr. F. S. Key, a committee, consisting of Thomas Corcoran, Charles A. Burnett, Thomas Hyde, William Clagett, Ulysses Ward, and John Myers, were appointed 'to secure subscriptions, purchase a lot, and contraet for a church edifice.' The present site was then purchased, and on the 6th of May, 1818, the building was begun. On the 21st of December, it seems to have been com-
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pleted ; and at sunrise Christmas day,* 1818, the con- gregation assembled for the first time within its walls for prayer. On the 30th of December the church was consecrated by the Right Rev. James Kemp, bishop of Maryland. At ten o'clock the morning service was performed, and a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Keith. It must have been a joyous Christmas morn- ing, not only from its own blessed associations, but be- cause it witnessed the successful completion of what was then the largest Episcopal Church in the District. Would it were in my power to give some extracts from the first sermon preached within these walls. What changes have half a century wrought ? Your fathers, where are they ? How many who here bent the knee in prayer are now in the vast regions of the dead ? How many who joined in the sublime ascription, ' Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ!' do now be- hold Him face to face ? How many who here pro- claimed the blessed gospel, do now rest from their labors and are at home with the Lord ? And we who now occupy their places and join in the same solemn prayers, will, in a few brief years, be gathered to our fathers and receive the great recompense of reward according to the works done in the body. Oh, that the gospel here preached may be to us ' the Saviour of
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