Part 13 (1/2)

The Rev. Mr. Rathbun was pastor from 1890 to 1900.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. J. W. Seay]

The church has a large members.h.i.+p and the congregation continues to increase.

The Sunday School connected with the church, of which Mr. E. C. Hough is Superintendent, is one of the largest in the village.

DULIN CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. After the close of the war of 1861-65 the Methodists of Falls Church found themselves without a house of wors.h.i.+p, the church in which they had formerly wors.h.i.+pped having been destroyed by soldiers of the Union Army while encamped close by. For a time they held services in the ”Old Falls Church,” the present Episcopal Church of the town until some of the leading members, desirous of having a house of wors.h.i.+p of their own, took steps towards the erection of the present building near the site of their old church, among them being the late H. W. Febrey, John E. Febrey, B. F. Shreve, Jos. E. Birch and Wm.

Dulin.

Mr. Wm. Dulin gave the site and soon there was erected thereon a church which was dedicated in the spring of 1869. The parsonage was built a few years later. The church as first built was remodeled in 1893. The church officers are as follows: W. H. Torreyson, W. H. Shreve, R. W.

Birch, W. S. Tucker, W. M. Ellison, Trustees; W. H. Shreve, F. L. Birch, J. H. Brunner, E. J. Febrey, W. M. Ellison, Stewards.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. J. H. Wells]

COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH. Columbia Baptist Church was organized in 1857 by Rev. Hiram Reed, and up to the beginning of the civil war had about 300 enrolled on the church books as active members.

Services were discontinued during the war and the church used as a hospital by the Union troops. Later it was used as a public school for a number of years prior to 1870. In that year the State Mission Board sent the Rev. W. S. O. Thomas to reopen the church as a place of wors.h.i.+p.

Rev. Mr. Thomas was succeeded by Rev. Hugh McCormick, now in Porto Rico.

The Mission Board a.s.sisted the church liberally in a financial way up to the time Rev. Mr. McCormick a.s.sumed charge, since which time the congregation has been self-supporting.

The following pastors have occupied the pulpit for various terms since the church was first organized: Rev. Hiram Reed, Rev. Hugh McCormick, Rev. George E. Truitt, Rev. G. W. T. Noland, Rev. J. B. Clayton, Rev. J.

T. Barbor, Rev. J. W. Kincheloe and Rev. A. W. Graves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. M. H. Brinkerhoff]

The church at this time has a members.h.i.+p of 103 and is in a more prosperous condition than at any time since the war.

The officers of the church are: Deacons: E. J. Galpin, Thomas Hillier, Frank Williams. Clerk, Thomas Hillier; Treasurer, Mrs. Geo. W.

Hawxhurst; Trustees, E. J. Galpin, Geo. F. McInturff, Elijah Berry.

The Sunday School has about forty scholars on the rolls, the officers of which are: Mr. R. S. Ilsley, Superintendent, Mr. Van Quick, a.s.sistant Superintendent, Miss Emma Seaman, Organist.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The First Congregational Church of Falls Church, Va., was organized and duly recognized by Council May 30, 1876, the Congregational Society having first been organized in October, 1875.

Services were held in the Baptist Church up to 1879 when the present attractive church building was erected. It is of Gothic design, with main audience room seating 300, and a Sunday School room in the rear. A fine toned bell was purchased in 1881.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mrs. A. V. Piggott]

At its organization 25 members united in forming the church. At that time it was thought by some that another church in such a small town would result in dissension among the Christian people. Such was not the intention of this church. At its first annual meeting a resolution was unanimously adopted expressing ”good wishes toward every church of Christ in this place, and its readiness and desire to co-operate with them in every good work.” The other churches responded in a Christian spirit, and the pastors and churches of this town have always cordially worked together in the cause of the Master.

The first minister engaged by the Society was Rev. J. W. Chickering, Jr.

The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. L. B. Platt, who supplied the pulpit from November, 1877 to July, 1880, followed by Rev.

A. L. Park, November, 1881 to December, 1882. Rev. Wm. W. Jordan, May, 1883 to October, 1885. Rev. F. W. Tuckerman, September, 1886 to May, 1890. Rev. R. E. Eels, acting pastor, February, 1891 to December, 1891.

Rev. J. H. Jenkins, January, 1893 to July, 1897. Rev. a.r.s.ene Schmavonian, May, 1899 to May, 1901. Rev. Franklin n.o.ble, the present minister was called to the church December, 1901.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. G. B. Ives]

The following are the officers of the church: Trustees, Geo. F. Rollins, M. H. Brinkerhoff, Geo. W. Poole; Treasurer, Dr. J. B. Gould; Clerk, Frank H. Eastman; Superintendent Sunday School, Miss Gertrude Nourse.

Deacons: Geo. F. Rollins, G. A. L. Merrifield and Albert P. Eastman.