New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-20
:1NsrALLtNa rHEIR NEW pAsroR.
THE CHANGE DELIVERED TO THE Rev WILTON
MERLE sMITH AT THE CENTRAL Presley.


TERRAIN CHURCH.
The Rev. wilton Merle Smith was installed as pastor
Of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fifty-seventh
st., near Broadway, last evening. Tho church
well filed that necessary TO place chairs in the
aisles. Mn Smith has been settled In Cleveland
whore committee Of the church heard him and IN
vited him 10 come to New-York. He preached his
first sermon In the Central Presbyterian Church on
Sunday Masch g. and full report of II was published
n The Tribune the next day, Mr. Smith was grad
uated from Princeton In 1877 In college and also in
the Auburn theological Seminary he took an active
interest in baseball and played the mines of both in
sttutions pitcher. He is young man Of fne build.
The Rev. DR.. Thomas 8. Hastings presided at the
exercises of the installation After the singing OF the
anthem 81 Send out Thy Light by the choir, DR..
Hastings read the second chapter Of St. Paus Episte
to Titus The congregation then Joined with tho
choir in singing Hymn 761, The Ministry The
Rev. Dr. John Hall preached the installation sermon,
taking for his text st. PsuIs Epistle to Titus,
II, IL and IL.
He began by asking II the message here given was
appropriate to the work Of the churches In NewYork
Rome he said, at that time the centre Of wealth
and of learning immortality prevailed there TO o
fightful degree. There was much sceptlcsm, and
when there was no belief In God worldly lust was
sure 10 prevail This moral degradation dfused
nom Rome throughout the Empire Tho message
Given by Paul, who knew the state Of affairs In
Rome and who wrote from inspiration
detailed the course wrich the Church then 10
pursue, and was Of equal value to-day in stemnling
tho tide Of immortality and sin in New-YorR. He
defined ungodlinoSs and worldly lust and urged his
hearers to live upright and virtuous lives, In their
business and in all their to be guided by the
spirit Of Jesus Christ Religion q tree Of which
Christ was the nfe and pemeated every branch and
Leaf Jesus came tn save. by being substitute, to
suffer to die on the GROSS that he might mako it con-
sstent Of Jehovah before all the worlds TO forgive the
sinner and to take him to an abode Of happiness
These were the truths which he hoped would DO
preached In this church and were the Evangelical
doctrines.
The choir th-n sang the anthem, HOW Beautiful
upon the Mountains" DR.. Hastings propounded the
usual questions to Mr.. Smith and the members Of the
church. having first said that Mr. Smith had received
q unanimous call and had accepted It The congre-
cation Joined in singing hymn 76s. Prayer for the
PASTOR after which the Rev. DIR. Henry Van Dyke
made the charge to tho pastor, He spoke In an
impressive and forcibe manner referring TO his friend
ship with Mr.. Smith, and saying that religion mane
truer and better friends. He urged him TO act wen
his part not to be cast down by the trials which would
come; to gain the confidence OF bis people
by his sympathy and earnest work IN ncr
behalf and in his preaching to be simple and not 10
endeayor to win fame but TO gain souls Tor ChrisI
He referred TO his physical strength and his capacity
hard work In the OF the Shu sc ne S
10y atty to the Presbytery =, ,r.
The installation prayer was by the Rev. DR.. J. ~ Wor
DIE arns them to give every assistance thelr new
pastor ana to trust In him and mako hts WORK success
full he told them that much depcnoed on ,e
sung by the congregation, after which tho pastor
pronounced the benedcuon.