People's Seventh-day Adventist Church of Washington, D. C.
By Lewis C. Sheafe
A FEW words concerning what the Lord has wrought through the labors of Elder Sheafe in Washington, D. C., will doubtless interest the many readers of the REVIEW.
S. D. A. CHURCH, COR. 10TH AND V STS., N. W.
Three years ago last May we located our tent at Sixteenth and R Streets, N. W., and there began a movement that has continued to the present, with a spirit and power that only the Lord can give.
During the season of 1902 over sixty accepted the message. This greatly increased the membership of the first church of this city. There was an infusion of new life from the Lord. The fall and winter following, we continued our meetings in halls, holding special services Sunday nights, with large audiences and constantly deepening interest.
Others were gathered in, and those who had taken their stand were strengthened and established.
The tent season of 1903 found us with a new tent, sixty by one hundred and ten feet, which cost five hundred dollars, the purchase price having been raised on the field. We then had accommodations for our increasing congregations.
A new church, the People's Seventh-day Adventist, was organized Dec. 5, 1903, with forty-five members. Services were held in the True Reformers Hall, Twelfth and U Streets, N. W. The fruits declare that the Spirit of the Lord attended this organization. The church has maintained a good spiritual condition, and souls have been added from week to week, until now the membership is one hundred and thirty.
A church building became a necessity. We prayed, watched, and worked. In February, 1904, we deposited one thousand dollars in the bank toward a building fund, and we continued adding to this amount from time to time, until in April, 1905, we found that we had to our credit fifteen hundred dollars for this fund.
After most earnestly seeking the Lord, and experiencing much trial, perplexity, and difficulty in looking for a location for our church house, in a providential and unexpected way opportunity came for us to purchase the church property of the New Jerusalem Society, corner of Tenth and V Streets, N. W. It is a very desirable location in a thickly populated section of the city, near the car lines. The building is a three-story brick, occupying part of a beautiful corner lot fifty by ninety-five feet, and so located that another building can be added at any time if needed. The auditorium will comfortably seat two hundred and fifty persons; on the floor below there are two large rooms with folding doors between them. On this floor there is also a toilet- and bath-room. On the lower floor there is a large room that we use for a printing-office, and a large kitchen, which we expect to use for a cooking school, also bath- and toilet-rooms.
The building was erected in 1896 at a cost of about ten thousand dollars; the lot cost seven thousand dollars. Everything about the property is in good condition. Learning that it could be bought, we made an offer of nine thousand dollars, which was rejected. The owners stated that if we would offer ten thousand dollars, and would pay two hundred dollars down, they would consider the offer. We promptly met these conditions. We paid them fifteen hundred dollars cash, gave them five notes of five hundred dollars each, bearing interest at five per cent, then put a trust on the property of six thousand dollars at six per cent, with interest payable monthly. In July we took up one of these notes, making, in all that we have paid on the property up to date, two thousand dollars. This money was raised right here on the field, with the exception of a very few dollars that were given from outside the city.
There was no furniture in the church, so we had to furnish all the rooms. Our seating is of chairs, of which we have about three hundred and fifty; we also purchased tables and an organ. All of these we have paid for.
The Lord's hand was surely in the movement to secure the property. It is admirably adapted for the general work of a training-school for young men and women. Why would it not be a good idea to send some help to those who are trying to help themselves, and thereby hasten the good work? With some substantial financial help at this time, a noble work may be done in this city that will be far-reaching in its effects. We ask all who are interested, to pray and give, that this well-begun work may move forward to the glory of our Heavenly Father. The people have a mind to work, and the interest grows as they work.
Two brethren have entered the work from this church during the past season, B. F. Washington and W. H. Green. We hear that they are doing well in their respective fields. We hope to send out others. Who will help?
Our tent-meetings this season have16stirred the people as never before. Eager souls come night after night and listen attentively to the glorious message. Our tent was injured by a storm early in July, and we were without a tent for a week, but we arranged the chairs on the lot, and went on with our meetings, to which the people came as before. We have baptized eight, and there are twelve now waiting for baptism. We need a baptistery, and a baptismal outfit for the pastor.
The work speaks for itself. We hope that definite steps may be taken to give this branch of the work some financial help.
