Background: The first Free Methodist Church was founded in 1860 in Pekin, New York, under the leadership of Rev. Benjamin Titus Roberts, a staunch Abolitionist. Based on freedom for all people, freedom to worship in the Spirit, and freedom to sit where one wished, the church expanded around the country. It was particularly favored by those opposed to slavery, a very volatile topic of the day, eventually leading to the Civil War. Our story takes place a little more than ten years later and involves people, some of whom were teens during the War Between the States. This story deviates from the one presented by me at the campground on July 13th. Afterwards, I received “new” information from a transcription of an original handwritten sheet in the records of the Alexandria Free Methodist Church. I will attempt to portray events more accurately here, and thereby “correct history." It’s really only a technicality!

Old Dominion Bank Alexandria Free Methodist Church (c-1930s)

The year is 1879. The following information is handwritten on a piece of paper: “On September 21, 1879, Joseph Travis responded to an invitation and commenced preaching in a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, in a tent erected in Washington, D. C. A class was organized at the home of John Cavanaugh, 427 Tenth Street, S. W., on Thursday, the 25th of September and one on the following day at the home of George Peverill, Alexandria, Virginia…”[“paper torn and illegible”]. This provides an all-important missing piece of the historical puzzle and fits nicely with information we now have from other documents. Further history tells us a revival was held in the Presbyterian Chapel at 112 South Lee Street in Alexandria. (I suspect prior to September 21, 1879.) The evangelist was Rev. Thomas Dolan, a member of the New York Conference of the Free Methodist Church.

The revival led to tent meetings by Rev. Joseph Travis, Chairman of the Philadelphia District of the New York Conference. (Were these the same tent meetings as those mentioned as having been held in Washington, D. C.? My guess would be, “Yes.”) Soon a church was desired. Influenced by Thomas Dolan and Mrs. Calista Fairchild, wife of a member of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Travis founded a church in Washington on September 25th and one the next day in Alexandria. I had always thought that the first church was organized in the Alexandria home of my great-grandparents, George and Fannie (Haynes) Peverill, and reported it as such. But, now I have specific dates, not just a month. The reason for the misunderstanding is better explained on the 100th Anniversary bulletin of the Alexandria Church, where it is written: “Although the Washington Church organized one day ahead of the Alexandria Church, Alexandria is considered to be the “Mother Church” since as late as 1915 (some 36 years later) the Washington Church was still meeting with the Alexandria Society.” Finally, we have a plausible explanation for early strength in Alexandria, and can imagine leadership preparation for the Washington church. My great-grandfather, George Peverill, his brother, Lewis Peverill, and Samuel English built the first actual church at 424 South Lee Street on land donated by Mr. English and with funds and labor donated by brothers George and Lewis. The story in our family is that our great-grandfather donated the money he had been saving for a new farm. The lot was directly next door to his home at 426 South Lee Street. In information taken from the 50th Anniversary account of the Maryland-Virginia Conference, Charter members were Mr. and Mrs. George Peverill, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel English, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Peverill, and Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Lloyd. Following very shortly were Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Butts and Mrs. Georgiana Robey. In 1925, the parsonage at 507 North Columbus Street was exchanged for a historic building of Greek architecture built as a bank in 1851. However, it is also listed in historical records as having been the location of a home, perhaps dating to 1780. Published historical documents tell us that the bank was taken over by Union forces after the first battle of the Civil War (Bull Run) and was used as a triage station for wounded soldiers. I remember being shown a musket ball in the doorframe when I went there for a church service as a child. Another interesting Civil War tidbit: the Cashier, with the bank president’s permission, carried the bank’s assets off in the cover of darkness on a non-descript wagon and buried them in a spot, known only to each other, until after the war. It is written that Old Dominion was the only bank to survive and exchange dollar for dollar when the war was over. Back to the church. Under the direction of Rev. J. M. Jennings, the building was remodeled as a church. Pews and pulpit were constructed by member J. Ernest Finnell. The church contained a sanctuary for 200, a parsonage, a fellowship hall, five class rooms, rest rooms, and a kitchen. The spiral staircase was built by the Alexandria Iron Works, owned at this time by T. Frank Butts. Frank was a son of Calvin Butts, founder of the business, and the man who designed our campground Tabernacle. At this point in my talk I sought permission to digress. This was the last evening the teens were to be in our service. I was convicted to speak about the untimely death of T. Frank Butts, whose suicide was a family tragedy of unimaginable proportions. A thought had been on my mind throughout the day. It struck me that in an audience of this size, there could very well be someone else who had contemplated suicide, was now contemplating it, or who may contemplate suicide in the future. I felt compelled to share this story. As I mentioned, by the mid-thirties, Frank Butts had assumed direction of the Alexandria Iron Works. They had built such notable structures as the gates of Arlington National Cemetery and the iron infrastructure for the George Washington Memorial Temple in Alexandria. However, at this time, people were still recovering from the effects of the Great Depression. Frank was a kind man who did not have the heart to collect debts owed him by people for whom he had extended credit. He was under tremendous personal strain because the banks were now calling for payment of his notes. In a letter he left, he expressed desperation and panic. Thinking he would save his family and business from financial ruin with the insurance money on his life, he drove his car onto Key Bridge in Georgetown, got out, and jumped to his death. His body was not found for some time.

Everyone knew he was a good swimmer. The family was inexpressibly and totally devastated. “See that tan cabin over there,” I said, pointing to Cabin 30. “The one with the pink trim? That was his. From then on, when the family came to camp, they did so without a husband and father. Suicide doesn’t solve anything.” I concluded by appealing to anyone who may be on such a course to please reconsider, seek counsel, and to call upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Footnotes: In 1963, the church members bought a lot at 4901 Polk Avenue in Alexandria, and constructed the present day church. My brother, (now retired FM Army Chaplain) David Ballew, followed Mary (Butts) Steucke as the organist in the mid-1960’s. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association purchased the old church building. Today it is called “The Athenaeum” and is on both the Virginia Trust and the National Register of Historic Places, America’s official list of historic properties. George Peverill’s great-great-great grandchildren, Lauren, Joseph, and Julianna Rosasco, attend Spencerville Camp. Their mother, Lisa Estevez, is on the Youth Staff.		Athenaeum

Update 6/2/2007