86 and 1887, and John T.
Mitchell in 1888 and 1889.

[13] The organization of the Bethel Literary and Historical
Association by Bishop Payne in the early autumn of 1881 was an event
worth chronicling because of its immediate influence on the individual
church, the community, the denomination and the entire country. For
twenty-five years the Bethel Literary in the fall and winter seasons
was recognized as an intellectual clearing house. In distant
communities the reflex influence was just as unmistakable because of
the newspapers, whose Washington correspondents did not fail to
register the utterances and the discussions which the Literary
occasioned.

[14] Union Bethel became the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church by order of
the General Conference of 1872, affirmed by that of 1876 and
reaffirmed by its successor in 1880.

The church building is 80 x 120 with a sub-basement for domestic
purposes and a basement above grade containing lecture, Sunday School,
library, and class rooms. The cost was $70,000 on ground, the assessed
valuation of which at the time of the erection of the edifice was
$25,000. The cornerstone was laid in 1881. The basement was opened for
divine worship November 8, 1885, and dedicated by Bishop A. W. Nayman,
Dr. J. A. Handy, Dr. B. W. Arnett, and Dr. G. T. Watkins, pastor. On
the completion of the main auditorium services were first held Sunday,
May 30, 1886. When dedication features extending one week took place,
John A. Simms, Andrew Twine, William Beckett, John Shorter, George C.
Brown, James Washington, Walter F. Hyson, George R. Dalley, and J. T.
Harris were the trustees.

In 1886 the new edifice was dedicated with elaborate exercises. T. G.
Steward was the first pastor to serve in the new building. After an
administration of two years he was succeeded by Dr. John G. Mitchell.
John W. Beckett followed Dr. Mitchell in 1889 and remained three
years. In 1873 John T. Jenifer, who bears the distinction of being a
member of the first graduating class of Wilberforce University, was
appointed and served three years. He was succeeded in 1896 by John
Albert Johnson, who served a term of five years with unusual success.
Daniel J. Hill followed J. Albert Johnson and remained two years.
Oscar J. W. Scott, who followed in 1903, filled out three terms and
was serving his fourth when he received an appointment as Chaplain in
the 24th United States Infantry to succeed Chaplain T. G. Steward.
John H. Welch, nam