Lansdowne Christian Church - Hull Memorial

03/16/2025

If you are upset by the administration erasing mention of heroic Americans due to their minority status, please know we offer an opportunity to celebrate these heroes (or that of any true patriot you'd like to commemorate).
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/arlington-cemetery-black-veterans-women-history-website-dei-trump-rcna196586

"Among the pages that have disappeared from the cemetery’s website include links on the graves of prominent minority veterans, as well as educational pages on the Civil War, African American history and women’s history."

The third annual Hull Memorial Prize oratory contest is accepting submissions. The winner will be guest speaker at Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial)'s Memorial (Sun)Day service and will be awarded a check for $1000.00. Details at www.lanscc.org/hullprize

To comply with the administration’s anti-“DEI” policies, the cemetery has scrubbed its webpages on minority veterans and Black history.

07/09/2024

At long last, we are proud to share with you our 2024 Hull Memorial Prize winner...Jo Ann Daly Carr.

2024 Hull Memorial Prize winner Jo Ann Daly Carr delivers her address about the women of Fort Summer in the days leading up to the launch of the Civil War.

05/21/2024

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) invites the general public but especially local VFW Post members to join us this coming Sunday, May 26th at 10am for our 119th annual service commemorating the Grand Army of the Republic. This is less a religious service than a patriotic one, featuring remarks by the 2024 Hull Memorial Prize oratory contest winner. The service will be followed by a light lunch and fellowship against a backdrop of period music provided by members and friends of the Benfield Brass Band. Event details are found at: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02b2ttYbk2W9NNhvZFrDAzL1dNw3QaFJH4B5KCPPvtDkgSrUw3sB43C6jod5v3T8aHl&id=100083072335565
Please use the link provided to rsvp so that we can plan accordingly. See you there!

https://www.facebook.com/vfwpost304
https://www.facebook.com/ColHarryCooperVFW160
https://www.facebook.com/VFW2462

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) announces the winner of the Hull Memorial Prize oratory contest—historian Jo Ann Daly Carr of Wisconsin.

The Hull Memorial Prize was created to stir 21st century congregations of its namesake church’s annual Grand Army Day Service with pride and gratitude for those who gave or risked their lives in service to our country, instilling in attendees the same spirit for which Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) was dedicated in the wake of the 19th century.

This year’s winner is Jo Ann Daly Carr: leader in academic libraries and information technology, author/editor of academic books and journal articles, frequent conference presenter, and past member of boards and committees for the University of Wisconsin System, professional associations, the State of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Possessing two degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, Jo Ann’s life-long interests are historical research and writing. Her primary research focus is the roles and contributions of Northern women in the American Civil War. In 2020, she published Such Anxious Hours: Wisconsin Women’s Voices from the Civil War (University of Wisconsin Press). Jo Ann’s research alerted her to the presence of women during the crisis at Ft. Sumter that began the Civil War and launched her on a four-year study of the women of the Federal Garrison in Charleston in 1860-1861. Jo Ann’s prize- winning lecture will focus on these women of Charleston, including Baltimore natives Mary Moale Foster, Nanny Moale Smith Lincoln, and their daughters, Annie Foster and Nannie Smith.

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial), founded in 1903 just over a mile southwest of Baltimore City, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Maryland Civil War Trail for being the only church in the United States of America dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Civil War veteran Charles Wesley Hull and his wife Mary A. Hull gave the ground and the building as a memorial to the men with whom he fought to preserve the Union. Included in the original deed was a clause stating that a Sunday in May of each year must be observed as Memorial Day of the Grand Army of the Republic, a tradition the church has maintained for over a century without interruption.

The first annual memorial service was held on May 14,1905. "Grand Army Day" quickly became one of the highlights of the year: veterans came from Baltimore via the B&O Railroad; a grand parade was held through the streets to the church. After the service the old soldiers gathered in the church picnic grove for an evening of sharing stories, remembrances and stirring speeches delivered by very able speakers.

The Hull Memorial Prize again calls forth very able speakers to stir contemporary attendees of the church’s ongoing Memorial Day celebrations. In addition to distinction and a receptive audience, Ms. Carr will be awarded a check in the amount of $1,000.00.

The service is open to all and will take place at 10 am, Sunday May 26th in the beautiful and patriotic sanctuary of what veterans call the “Hull Chapel” at 101 Clyde Ave in Lansdowne. The residential neighborhood offers unrestricted street parking. RSVPs are requested at the event’s sign-up page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BA4AF2BAAF8CF8-49038963-2024

Press and event inquiries can be directed to Scott Murphy-Neilson, Hull Memorial Prize Coordinator at [email protected] or via phone at 202-657-3405.

04/14/2024

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) announces the winner of the Hull Memorial Prize oratory contest—historian Jo Ann Daly Carr of Wisconsin.

The Hull Memorial Prize was created to stir 21st century congregations of its namesake church’s annual Grand Army Day Service with pride and gratitude for those who gave or risked their lives in service to our country, instilling in attendees the same spirit for which Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) was dedicated in the wake of the 19th century.

This year’s winner is Jo Ann Daly Carr: leader in academic libraries and information technology, author/editor of academic books and journal articles, frequent conference presenter, and past member of boards and committees for the University of Wisconsin System, professional associations, the State of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Possessing two degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, Jo Ann’s life-long interests are historical research and writing. Her primary research focus is the roles and contributions of Northern women in the American Civil War. In 2020, she published Such Anxious Hours: Wisconsin Women’s Voices from the Civil War (University of Wisconsin Press). Jo Ann’s research alerted her to the presence of women during the crisis at Ft. Sumter that began the Civil War and launched her on a four-year study of the women of the Federal Garrison in Charleston in 1860-1861. Jo Ann’s prize- winning lecture will focus on these women of Charleston, including Baltimore natives Mary Moale Foster, Nanny Moale Smith Lincoln, and their daughters, Annie Foster and Nannie Smith.

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial), founded in 1903 just over a mile southwest of Baltimore City, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Maryland Civil War Trail for being the only church in the United States of America dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Civil War veteran Charles Wesley Hull and his wife Mary A. Hull gave the ground and the building as a memorial to the men with whom he fought to preserve the Union. Included in the original deed was a clause stating that a Sunday in May of each year must be observed as Memorial Day of the Grand Army of the Republic, a tradition the church has maintained for over a century without interruption.

The first annual memorial service was held on May 14,1905. "Grand Army Day" quickly became one of the highlights of the year: veterans came from Baltimore via the B&O Railroad; a grand parade was held through the streets to the church. After the service the old soldiers gathered in the church picnic grove for an evening of sharing stories, remembrances and stirring speeches delivered by very able speakers.

The Hull Memorial Prize again calls forth very able speakers to stir contemporary attendees of the church’s ongoing Memorial Day celebrations. In addition to distinction and a receptive audience, Ms. Carr will be awarded a check in the amount of $1,000.00.

The service is open to all and will take place at 10 am, Sunday May 26th in the beautiful and patriotic sanctuary of what veterans call the “Hull Chapel” at 101 Clyde Ave in Lansdowne. The residential neighborhood offers unrestricted street parking. RSVPs are requested at the event’s sign-up page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BA4AF2BAAF8CF8-49038963-2024

Press and event inquiries can be directed to Scott Murphy-Neilson, Hull Memorial Prize Coordinator at [email protected] or via phone at 202-657-3405.

03/13/2024

photo credit: Dan Rodricks

It's time again!
The Hull Memorial Prize calls forth communicators to stir contemporary attendees at the Church’s ongoing Memorial Day celebration. As the featured speaker of its Grand Army Day Service, the prize winner will rouse 21st century congregations with pride and gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to our country, imbuing in them the same spirit for which Lansdowne Christian Church was dedicated.

The prize is open to any age group, though submissions from juniors (individuals under 16 years of age) will be judged separately.

Prize winners will present their submission live to the church congregation and others in attendance at 10am on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend as the featured speaker of its Grand Army Day Service.

Presentations should be 10-15 minutes in duration (5 minutes or more for junior submissions) and address a topic related to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Memorial Day, notable veterans, or individuals/groups who have demonstrated service to the country in foreign or domestic conflict or in the service of promoting celebration of the same.

Submissions of written text or other media formats are welcome and are to be accompanied by a video sample of the speaker’s presentational style.

In addition to distinction and a receptive audience, The Hull Memorial Prize winner will be awarded a check in the amount of $1,000.00 ($500.00 for a junior prize winner).

Email submissions by April 15th to [email protected].

05/29/2023

Announcing the inaugural winner of the Hull Memorial Prize and guest speaker of our 118th Memorial Day Commemorative service, Matt Gresick!

05/29/2023

Announcing the inaugural winner of the Hull Memorial Prize and featured speaker of our 118th Commemorative Service of the Grand Army of the Republic: Matt Gresick!

02/05/2023

Contest Announcement! The Hull Memorial Prize

Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) is on the National Register of Historic Places as being the only church in the country dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic. Its founder, Charles Hull, a Civil War veteran who fought for the Union, stipulated in the original deed that a Sunday in May be reserved to commemorate his comrades. We’ve maintained that tradition for over 100 years, now on the Sunday before Memorial Day, by hosting veterans of domestic and foreign wars as our special guests. Representatives from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and its Ladies Auxiliary stage a commemorative ritual, colors are presented by members of the Dushane Corp #3, and Walter Howard Shaw VWF Post 327 regularly participates. Patriotic songs replace the usual hymns and a light lunch follows the service, often featuring special music. It is a joyful but solemn way to celebrate Memorial Day and the GAR with the reverence they both deserve.
As the years wear on, the usual veterans get fewer in number and guest speakers are harder to come by. The Hull Memorial prize has been created to elicit contributions from a range of service men and women, history buffs and simple patriots to help carry on the tradition. Contestants are invited to be guests at the upcoming GAR Commemoration Service on Memorial Day Sunday, May 28th, 2023, where the prize winner will present his or her submission as featured speaker, and there be awarded a $1000 prize.
Guidelines for submission:
• Contestants will be prepared to speak or present on any individual or group whose actions in defense of the United States of America merit commemoration befitting a high but solemn and reverent national holiday
• 10-15 minutes in duration
• Deadline of March 31st
• Submissions are to be sent to [email protected]
This contest is open to all except members of Lansdowne Christian Church (Hull Memorial) or groups that have participated in its annual GAR service.