Washington’s Appeal to Every Seventh-day Adventist in the United States
By J. S. Washburn
The church at the corner of Twelfth and M Streets, N. W., formerly known as the Central Methodist Protestant church, was purchased by the Second Seventh-day Adventist church of Washington, D. C., Nov. 1, 1902. The location is excellent,—one square from the highest point of the city, in the very heart of Northwest Washington, by far the largest and most important part of the nation’s capital. Here is the chief business section of the city. Here are the principal hotels, the government department buildings, the residences of senators, congressmen, ambassadors of foreign governments, and the president of the United States. This church is but one square from the Eleventh Street car-line, two squares from the Fourteenth street line, and can thus by these two systems of car-lines be reached by one fare from any part of the city. The land alone, without the building, is valued at $2.50 per foot, and is actually priced at nine thousand dollars. The plat of ground is 57x80 feet, and would thus permit the building later, if desired, of a much larger church than the present one. The church building is 33½x70 feet; it is well built of brick with a massive brown stone front, has a seating capacity of at least three hundred, and an excellent schoolroom below. It is heated by two first-class furnaces, and is most comfortably furnished throughout. There is in the church building, a library room, kitchen, living rooms, and in addition a three-story brick annex, containing living rooms. The church was built fourteen years ago, and is in an excellent state of preservation. The cost of the building was $14,000; furnishings, $1,500 additional; so that, including the cost of the land, the whole would be worth considerably over $20,000. The Central M. P. church is now building a larger church, and they were willing to sell this church to us for $12,000, with the privilege of immediate possession. Terms, $500 cash, $2,500 in ninety days from date, the remainder to bear interest at 5½ per cent. The value of this property must increase as long as Washington stands. We most earnestly request you to give toward this purchase any sum your generosity may prompt you to contribute. This money can be sent to the pastor or given to any of our agents, who will also accept subscriptions if it is not convenient to pay cash. Washington, D. C., is the capital of the United States, and all Seventh-day Adventists realize, to a certain extent at least, the vital importance of having our work rightly represented where our national life centers. For many years we have known by the positive statement of inspired prophecy that this nation which has stood in the past for political and religious liberty, would turn back to Egyptian darkness and bondage, to a tyranny and despotism worse than that of the Middle Ages. In years past we have seen many indications that the great crisis was approaching. Of late there has been a lull, an ominous quiet,—the hush before the storm,—and our people have lost much of the interest they once felt in “the United States in prophecy.” But the enemy has not slept. Silently, while we have slumbered, the mighty forces of evil have been wheeling into position, fortifying their camps, and preparing to strike the final blow when the moment shall have arrived; and we know it is very near. Near the close of the last session of Congress a strong attempt was made to pass a stringent Sunday law for the District of Columbia. I had the privilege of appearing before the commissioners of the District to oppose this measure in a public hearing. The head commissioner of the District of Columbia is committed to this Sunday legislation. The ministers of the city strongly urged the13passage of the law, but there was much opposition by the Jews, the Secular Society, and others, and it was evident that for the time the strong local opposition killed the proposed law. But this effort will be renewed at the first opportunity, and must finally succeed locally and nationally. Local influence here does have an effect on congressional legislation, district and national. Local laws for the District of Columbia are made by the national Congress. There is no other lawmaking body. Consequently when a law is made for the District of Columbia, it is a precedent for the same law, the same principle, to be applied to the whole nation. Sunday-law advocates realize this, and for years have been seeking to get Congress to pass a district law which would be an entering wedge, a precedent, for a national Sunday law. Here in Washington we must have a strong church that shall be as a city set on a hill—a light shining brilliantly, showing the dangers and pointing the right way, and acting at least as a living witness to the eternal truth. The Lord will not permit the last terrible step in the fulfillment of his warning prophecy, he will not bring the work to a close in this country and in the world, until his truth is rightly represented here before men who shape the destiny of this nation. Satan knows the value of this local influence on the national life. Here in this city the Roman Church is mighty everywhere, influential in the government itself, in the departments, and in the press; has her marble churches, her colleges, and her universities. Here Spiritualism is surprisingly strong, aggressive, and bold. Washington is honeycombed with Romanism, Spiritualism, and other delusions more modern, and if possible more dangerous. The enemy is here before us, strongly entrenched. Here, as in no other city, Seventh-day Adventists need a respectable, comfortable house of worship, so situated that we can reach the men who make Washington what it is. For several years we have had a small church building in Northeast Washington, practically out of the reach of the Washington that is Washington; that is, the Northwest part of the city. There were conditions in this church organization that made it impossible, and increasingly so, to reach those who make this city what it is. A report by Elder H. W. Cottrell in the Review of October 7 has made the present position clear to all who have read it. Following their own convictions and the advice of the General Conference Committee represented by two of its members, a good number formed a new church, meeting for a time in our tent, then in a small hall. October 19 it was first publicly stated that the time had come for us to plan to build or buy a church. This church, which has been fully described, suddenly came into sight, and on November 1, thirteen days after the matter was first mentioned, the church was purchased ready furnished, and November 8 we held our first meeting in the new church. The first payment, five hundred dollars, has been met, and in all about fifteen hundred dollars subscribed. The church has now sixty-six members, but nearly all are poor. They are willing to sacrifice to do their utmost to secure this place that is so wonderfully situated and suited for the very work that must be done here in the heart of the nation’s life. To this place men in the highest positions, of the mightiest influence, can be invited. It will be an ideal place for our work till the end of time. It is a very modest, but a most comfortable and pleasant church. Several years ago Sister White suggested that a memorial church be built in Washington; that is, a church toward which all our people should contribute, as was done when the Tabernacle was built in Battle Creek. But the conditions here were such then, and have been for years, that it could not be done. Just as soon as we were ready, the Lord provided a most suitable place ready built and furnished for our immediate use. And it seems this church has been waiting for us a year. It was once offered for thirty thousand dollars, but is now sold to us for twelve thousand nine hundred dollars—a direct providence of God. Now we will do all in our power here, but we most earnestly appeal to every Seventh-day Adventist in the United States to send us help. If every member of the church, young and old, in this country would contribute twenty-five cents, the church would be clear of debt at once. But as we fear all will not do this, we ask if there are not those who will contribute at once any amount from one thousand dollars down. This may be sent directly to us or through your local church elder or conference secretary. Instead of making a payment of only twenty-five hundred dollars at the end of ninety days, we desire and intend to pay the whole amount. This can be most easily done if all will help, as we fully believe the Lord will lead them to do. If possible, send immediately, as every payment will stop the interest on the amount paid. It would be a glorious thing if Washington could have a place of worship free from debt, and a representative church prepared to do a representative work. Just now the Lord is greatly blessing us in the work here. I am certain the great consummation, the glorious coming of the King, cannot take place until the work is rightly represented here in Washington. God is guiding in his own wonderful way. May all realize the glorious privilege of having a part in this work which is so soon to triumph. It will be a blessing to all to have an actual interest in the work in the national capital. We have not acted in this matter without advice, the purchase of the church having the sanction and authority of Elder O. O. Farnsworth, president of our local conference, the Chesapeake. We also consulted Elder H. W. Cottrell, president of the Atlantic Union Conference, who has sealed his approval by a donation of one hundred dollars. The situation here is fully understood by the president of the General Conference, the president of the Mission Board, and other members of the General Conference Committee, to whom we refer any one who may desire to understand the situation more fully. As a business matter alone, this property is a wonderful bargain, and will increase in value to the end of time. As our fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to build up and to free this nation, shall we not accept this God-given opportunity to let the light of the last saving truth shine here, and thus to all the nation and all the world? What a testimony to the reality and power of the faith we profess if the church here, free from debt, can go forth to do a representative and an aggressive work on this high mountain top. You are interested in this matter, help now, and thus hasten the coming of the King. Nothing has ever more clearly shown me the imminent nearness of the great day than the resurrection and the new life that is coming into our work in Washington with this clear providence leading toward the great things he is about to do for his people. The situation here at the present time is most encouraging. A doctor and his wife have lately begun to keep the Sabbath, and are doing all they can to bring the truth they have found so beautiful, to the notice of their friends. This has brought to the regular readings held every Tuesday evening at the home of this doctor, a number of doctors, who have listened with the deepest interest to the great truths of the second coming of Christ “in this generation,” the great prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, the sanctuary, the state of the dead, the Sabbath, and the preparation necessary to meet the Judge at his soon coming. I have never seen people more ready to receive the truth than are these people of education and influence. Their deep interest has14been most encouraging. This interest so aroused the pastor of the wealthiest church in Washington, and one of the most influential, that he preached in his church three times against the commandments and the Sabbath. A personal interview with this pastor at the home of these friends completely settled their minds on the great Sabbath truth. This opposition, as usual, has helped us in the work of arousing minds to the importance of the truth. We all feel that a great future is just opening before the work in this most important city. There are people here from every part of the United States, people of education and influence, also representatives of nearly every country on the globe. Washington is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and is constantly visited by Americans and foreigners, and is thus a most excellent place for missionary work of the highest class. There is an air of freedom here, and less class distinction and religious prejudice than in almost any other place where I have labored. When all this is considered, and also the fact that here is largely shaped the destiny of this great nation which in a measure leads the world, surely it is of the utmost importance that the work here should be on such a basis as shall rightly represent the great truth of the third angel’s message. Right here the great conflict in large measure must center. Here a faithful witness must stand. Right here there must be a mighty influence for the commandments of the Ruler of the universe and for the true Sabbath as the sign of his power when this country shall directly make void his law, and seek to exalt the false sabbath, the sign of the power of a world in rebellion. As every part of this country and all its citizens have contributed toward the expense of the government seated here, toward the erection and maintenance of the national Capitol and other great public buildings, so surely every believer in the third angel’s message is interested in the work here, and will rejoice in the privilege of helping to pay for the church that has come into our hands in a manner so directly providential. The city of Washington belongs to the whole country, to every citizen. The church here must be a representative church, and belong to every member of our church in the United States. A payment of twenty-five hundred dollars must be made January 29. The interest is now $1.81 a day. I am certain that our people everywhere will gladly respond to this appeal by sending help immediately.