Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-09
Rev. DE-. Byren Wonderland and hts
C00gFegNttOm.
A POINTED SERMON AND THE OCCASION


For some time PAST eonsiderab BILE dissatis-
faction has existed among some OF the MEM
hers 81 DT. Byron Sunderland's (First Pres
bN tcTiaD) Church for several reasons IL is
alleged by the disanecte, that for five or six
years PAST the congregation has been dwin-
ding down until il has reached its present
numerical status; that there is an absence OF
spiritual zeal in The church; and finally that
the revenues of the church have greatly
fallen off, in fact that there is a lamentabie
lack OF vitality in the church. Under
the circumstances, therefore, this wing
Of tire congregation consider themselves
justified in assuming the position that DIR.
Sunderland ought To resign and give way To
some ore who can retrieve the fallen fortunes
Of the church. 1t is but just to say, however,
that this opposition To Dr. :. is not based on
personal grounds. The opinion seems to be
almost unanimous that the Doctor himselfis
personally unobjectionSble: that he is a gen.
Ueman gilmore than ordinary ability; that
ne IS earnest and sincere; that he is blameless
in his daily life; hut his opponents allege that
be i lacking in judgment and has Thought
lessly involved the church i'm various diff
culties which have resulted in the
WITHDRAWAL OF MANY PROMINENT MEM
BERS
of his congregation; in fact that he is not the
man to build mp the church and restore il 10
its original status. In January last resOIu-
ton looking to his resignation as pastor was
offered and considered at a congregational
meeting, bat was rejected by an almost
unanimous vote. The resolution was TO the
effect that the pastor be informed of the
status of the church, spiritually and pecuni-
ariIy, and that under his charge IL had sur-
fcTed i'm both respects.
There was a larger attendance at the
church Easter Sunday than usual. owing 10
the fact that ii had leaked out that DIR. Sun
deTland
WOULD DEFINE HIS POSITION,
on certain personal matters. Expectation
was not Disappointed. At the II "a. M. service
he took for ms text the words from JOB xxi,
10th verSe-'TheTefOre said, Hearkcn to me-
] also will show mine opinion"
He began by saying that he would first
give his opinion as 10 the pastOrship and
status of the church. He had been there
twenty-five years as pastor, during which he
had received twenty-five calls from other
churches. all of which mad been declined. He
had held under consideration the last call.
from the North Presbyterian churcilD be-
cause. in his judgment. the First and the
North churches should be united: but having
discovered a Discrimination on the part of his
people To unite with the North Presbyterian
church. he had declined the call being fur
Their influenced in this decision by the voice
OF the last congregational meeting. which
meeting was almost unanimous in his sup
port The doctor then briefly alluded To the
PERSONAL reasons influencing him to remain
As pastor OF the First Presbyterian church
and spoke Of his reputation. both lOrai and
general, a. having become established du-
ring his present pastorNhip. Here was his
home. all nl> friends and family associations,
and hlS lot in lie cemetery vet unbrOken
thank God. by single mound" Hari work
is before the church. II they desire To he sue
cessful in the future. they must work harder
church has been called upon TO maintain
severe struggle. Some Of the causes of the
struggle were first
HIS OWN CONVICTIONS IN REGARD To
CHURCH QUESTIONS,
which were matters of discussion in 1857. anil
subsequently; and. second, the war which
caused lines quickly to be drawn. Many
could not bear the position, the pastor as
sumed. and forsOok the church. After his
return from Paris another discussion arose.
ut is understood that he had reference to the
II st - risH
lass lectured from his DIR. SIS pulpit on no
litical subjects, which had the effect of alien
ating many members of his congregation of
southern prOelivitieS, who left the churchD
Without, however, battling to specify the cir
cumstances referred 10, the doctor went on
TO congratulate the church on the fact that
for some two years past il has enjoyed
state of harmony not exceeded. in his opin-
ion, by any other church in the land.
ANOTHER DIFFICULTY
under which the church hal la bored was his
discussion of RomaniSm and other questions.
He had been honest in his opinions. and did
not hold himself responsible for the villiiica-
ton consequent uIon this expression of
opinion. While deeply conscious of the in
hTmi, ieS Of his life. he had to accuse himself
more for duties neglected than for things
done. He then went on to state that there
was lack of thorough organization in his
church. of visiting among the people. and
visiting among the poor. He chided church
members for going TO theateTj operas and
balls, instead of attending the PRAYER meet
iDgs, and said another cause of The difficulty
the church has labOred under is the great
competition of other churches spriuging up
Forty years ago his was the only church in
the section where thirty now stand. Was il
not most clear that if they expect to hold
their own they must 20 To work? He then
spoke of the change in the population of the
city consequent upon the war. Still another
cause was the disintegratiOn of the church by
The withdrawal of members through love OF
novelty, death, removal from the city. and
personal diSaffection. In spite of ali These
things the First Presbyterian had
GLORIOUS OLD HISTORY.
The membership was now about tire same as
when he became its pastor. The church has
been the scene of many notable events.
Among these were meetings in the early his
tory o! the Bible cause; the revival of 1853.
which began in this church; the reception of
the English delegates in tt1e height OF civil
war at this church; the tri centennial of the
Scotch reformation, and the attendance from
time TO time OF different Presidents of the
United States, including Gen. Jackson.
rom this church have gone forth many mis-
SlOnarles of the gospel, and souls have been
BORN in the kingdom Of Christ. These fur
nl>h motives for fidelity i'm the future
They might be now. for all ne knew leading
1.-the forlOrn hope" but. said he where could
bravery be better shown than i'm such a
cause? While speaking of the needs OF the
church, in the way of repairs and money, he
SAID he wanted neat. clean, cOmmOdiOuS
and Tree church. Il wish the day might soon
come said he, when we shall have free
church. As far as my salary is concerned, you
may make this a free church Tomorrow
lie waited every Body to have the privilege
money and without price. He concluded
with reference to the day. Easter sunday
and cNhOrted his people TO renewed q diligence
IN The cause of Christ.