Arrival in Washington, D. C.
By A. G. Daniells
MONDAY, Aug. 10, was the day fixed for our arrival in Washington, with our four carloads of goods. Professor Prescott, S. N. Curtiss, and Brother Coyle and wife were the first on the ground. They reached the city early in the morning. Bro. Edson Rogers and I arrived at noon, having come direct from the Ohio camp ground. In the evening Bro. E. R. Palmer reached the city, with his sister, Bro. Joel Cady, and my family. During the day a number of our Virginia brethren and sisters, who were returning from the camp-meeting to their homes, called at our building, 222 North Capitol street, to assure us of a hearty welcome from Virginia. Elder H. W. Cottrell, who was passing through the city, spent the day with us. Thus our first day was a busy, and very pleasant one. Tuesday we began in earnest to attend to the many affairs that had to be disposed of. Early in the day Bro. H. W. Kellogg, of Battle Creek, called on us. He was on his way to Florida. At our request he went with us to inspect the place we have selected at Takoma Park. After going around and across our land, and following the creek all the way through our place, he expressed great satisfaction with our selection, and advised us by all means to go on with our negotiations. We greatly appreciated Brother Kellogg’s visit. By night our ranks had been increased by the arrival of Bro. C. F. Wilcox, the mailing clerk of our papers; Sister Welch, the head proofreader, and Bro. H. H. Burden, an accountant. Wednesday our numbers were further increased by the arrival of Sister Estella Houser, of the Mission Board Department; Ethel Edwards, in charge of the paper lists, and Bro. D. K. Nicola, one of our accountants. Professor Griggs, of South Lancaster Academy, spent the afternoon with us in counsel regarding various features of the educational work. Although we were exceedingly busy with local affairs we were glad of this early visit from Brother Griggs. We have secured for our general offices for one year a building known as the Washington House. It is the house in which George Washington was often entertained on his visits to this city. It is six stories high, and contains sixteen light, airy rooms, eight of which are 16x20 feet. The building is in a perfect state of preservation, and has just been papered and painted throughout. It has a vacant lot on the south side thirty-seven feet wide the entire length of the lot. This place is but one-half a block from the Capitol grounds, and one block from the Baltimore and Ohio Railway station. We pay a rental of $100 per month. This is less than one-half the price of any other place we found with the same amount of room, and as well adapted to our needs. This will be the headquarters of both the General Conference and the Review and Herald Publishing Association, the new corporation which has been formed in Washington. When our furniture is all placed and everything is ready for action, we shall all gather for the dedication of ourselves, our furniture and rooms anew to the ministry of God’s boundless love for lost humanity. This dedication will be reported in due time. Washington is a clean city, and it is adorned with beautiful parks and shade trees. It is a city in a forest. There are three hundred thousand people gathered here from all parts of the world. This is truly an important mission field.