The Ministers’ Journey Toward Social Justice

The Silver Souls invite you to learn about the history of ministers, from 1821 onward, who struggled to frame the world as it changed around them, to build and finance three churches in Washington, DC, and to keep their congregations and their own hearts and thoughts committed to this church. Learn about the renaming of the church, about the abolitionist ministers booted by their congregation!

Learn about the minister whose brother was poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. You’ll find his songs in our hymnal. Learn about a reverend who was born to a slave-holding father and an abolitionist mother who escorted his own family’s escaped slaves to freedom in Ohio; about the minister whose uncle was William Ellery Channing, who moved the congregation so that the church could be used as a hospital during the Civil War; the reverend who founded the “Unity Club” for members to meet and discuss music, religion, and social issues; the very successful minister who started the Sunday Evening Motion Picture Hour among many more stunning accomplishments.

As you read and browse the panels, you will hear a recording created by Matt McClesky, host of WAMU’s Morning Edition until 2020, and Scott Stark, author of Live Sound Reinforcement. As a response to the words about each minister read by Silver Souls members, and prophetic words in their own voices from Reverends A. Powell Davies, Duncan. Howlett, David Hilliard Eaton, Daniel Webster Aldridge, and Robert M. Hardies, the recording intersperses the work of the All Souls Choir and Jubilee Singers that respond to the prophetic words.

Silver Souls created a booklet that tells the story of each minister, through to Rev. Robert Hardies, that you may take home to read, and there will be celebratory cake to go with your other “coffee hour” refreshments in Pierce Hall.