loped.[25]

The next efforts in the District of Columbia were of the Baptists.
Albert Bouldin, who began public prayer services near Fourth and L
Streets in 1857, was a prominent influence in the organization of the
Third Baptist Church.[26] On June 20, 1858 there was held a council of
ministers at which were present G. W. Sampson, Chauncey A. Leonard, A.
Rothwell, Lindsey Muse, Evans Stott, Henry H. Butler, Sandy Alexander,
and L. Patten. There were also the following laymen: Joseph Pryor,
Joseph Alexander, N. Nookes, Henry Scott, John Minor, Charles
Alexander, and Austin Robinson. The trustees were William B.
Jefferson, Joseph Alexander, Henry Scott, Charles Alexander, Vernon
Duff, and Henry Nookes, who assisted in effecting the organization and
served it as the first deacons.

In 1863 there was secured on Fourth and L Streets a lot on which the
people began to erect their meeting house. On account of disputes,
four years afterward it became necessary to look elsewhere, and
William B. Jefferson became the controlling spirit. Then a lot was
purchased on Franklin Street between Fourth and Fifth at a cost of
$1,198.50. In September, 1871, the church was dedicated. Rev. D. W.
Anderson, at that time pastor of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church,
delivered the sermon. After a lapse of thirteen years, August 2, 1884,
another lot situated on the corner of Fifth and Que Streets was
purchased.[27] The next forward movement was toward the erection of a
new building which was completed July 1893 at a cost of $26,000 and
dedicated the fifth Sunday of July 1893.[28]

There soon followed another significant undertaking. After preaching
regularly to four persons for four years, Sandy Alexander organized on
October 5, 1862, the First Baptist Church of West Washington. Two of
the four pioneer members were from churches in Fredericksburg,
Virginia. Dr. G. W. Sampson, president of Columbian College,
subsequently Columbian University, now the George Washington
University, was of great service to Mr. Alexander in this work of the
organization of this church. The church was first located on the
corner of Greene and Beale Street, Georgetown, where it remained one
year, after which a lot was purchased at the corner of Dumbarton and
27th Streets and a large frame building was first constructed at a
cost of $15,000.[29] From this church there have been regularly
organized the Macedonia, the First Baptist Church of Rosslyn,
Virginia, and th