In course of time the Memorial itself planted three missions, one for the German Americans, "Zion's Church"; one for colored Americans, "Church of Our Redeemer;" and the last in 1891, the "Keller Memorial," in the northeastern part of the city, whose pastor is Doctor Butler's second son. Reverend Charles H. Butler.
In 1889 the Lutheran Eye, Ear and Throat Infirmary was established in the Memorial Chapel, for the free treatment of the worthy poor, with Doctor Butler's elder son. Doctor W. K. Butler, as surgeon in charge. Thousands have received treatment here.
In 1884 the colossal bronze "Martin Luther," duplicate of the one in the famous group at Worms, was erected by the Luther Statue Association, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the great reformer.
It must be said in justice, that many people of Southern sympathies were Mr. Butler's fastest friends.
During this transition period, he accepted the chaplaincy of the 5th Pennsylvania regiment, one of the first to come to the defense of the capital, in 1861. He was appointed by President Lincoln hospital chaplain, and served in the Union Hotel and Seminary hospitals, Georgetown, and in Cliffburn and Lincoln hospitals, of Washington, until the close of the war. In 1867, he was made chaplain of the house of representatives, and was continued in that capacity throughout the forty-first, forty-second and forty-third Congresses. In 1886 and for several years thereafter he was chaplain of the United States senate; while from the inception of Howard university, he occupied the chair of homiletics and church history for twenty years. For twenty years he was the Washington correspondent of the "Lutheran Observer," the chief English paper of the General Synod; and for ten years past he has been editor of the "Lutheran Evangelist."
Doctor Butler's career has been characterized by great industry and an untiring devotion to all those humane objects which have enlisted his sympathies. As a pulpit orator, in his pastoral relations, and in the associated work of his church and denomination, he has gained equal distinction. He has received the honorary degrees of M.A. and D.D., from Pennsylvania college, of which institution he is now a trustee.
The length of his pastorate in Washington (over fifty-five years), his deep and broad sympathy with the poor, his generous cooperation with all sound efforts for moral reform and social betterment, and
