Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-14
ms FALLING A PAS TOR
Rev. ]. Russell Verbrycke Given Formal
Charge of Gurley Memorial
Earnest sermons by Installing OIL
eials-Christianity Strong in This
City-Citing the Moody Meetings.


congregation and Presbyterians at large
had assembled last evening in Gurley Me-
mortal Presbyterian Church. The occasion
that attracted the large assemblage was the
installation of the new pastor, Rev j. Rus
sell Nerbrycke, a sketch of whose life. and
also history of the church, was published
IN The Star on Monday last.
Roses, tulips and pink and white carna-
tons profusely decorated the chancel, and
the church as a whole presented a very
pleasing appearance. Rev. 3. F. Bittinger,
ID. D., presided over the service which be
gan shortly after I'D O'Clock with an organ
prelude, followed by a vocal selection by a
quartet comp rsed OF Miss Hazel Hen1er-
son. Miss Mary Clear. sir. Robert Hark-
ness and Mr.. VIII Doyle.
A fitting invocation was' delivered by Rev.
c. Alvin Smith, and next in order was
psalm reading. The choir, augmented by
the quartet mentioned. rendered Gloria
Patria. and at its conclusion the congrega-
ton sang "Oh, Thou, That Hearest Prayer
Attend our Humble Cry" y Scripture les
son, by DR.. French. preceded DR.. Il. c.
Easton's prayer, which was eloquent and
lengthy. and IN which the speaker referred
10 the duties Of the new pastor. and asked
a special blessing on him and on Rev. VIII
liam Alvin Bartlett. -. D., pastor OF New
A'4A avenue ItSSbN Le4iSn OnufCl, who,
3lter The congregation bed sung ''Savitr.
King, in HalioNeI Union a Thy sacred
r eel We Bow, preached the sermon of the
evening.
DIR. Bartlett announced as his text the
9th chapter Of john, 5lth ycrse-..W hoso-
ever eatcth my flesh and drin,.e,h my blood
hath eternal life the speaker sall that
1t seems absurd that any human being has
ever considered the passage in literal
sense, for no amount OF praying could turn
loaf Of bread into flesh. TIE chapter was
characterized as very remarkable one
leilnS OF JESUS performing. the miracle Of
feeding i've thousand people. and making
the assertion that lie is the 5~eai OF heaven
Nv hat does it mean u eat the flesh and
drink the blOod?' ASKED Dr.. bartlett. In
the first place, Il must mean something
very thorough. There is q suggestion in
blood OF suffering and OF everything ;er-
rlble- The food You eat is transformed into
You. and in the same sense Jesus asks you
to feed upon His character until you are
transformed into HIS life"
The fact that the prisoners confined in
the Maryland penitentiary had recently
given 5000 toward the relief of the poor of
Baltimore was cited as an instance that the
religion of Jesus Christ is deeper In men
than can be believed who's 1ever eateth
my flesh and drinSeth my blood is the CEN
ter OF all Christianity said the speaker in
concluding his sermon. Let that be your
ambition-to feed e Christ and let His life
be produced in your life"
DcciIminG Pastor.
Mr.. Robert Hardness sang a solo. which
began, Behold. there shall be a day when
the man upon the mountain top shall cry,
arise. ye!' Then Rev. Mr.. Bittinger pro-
pounded to the pastor-elect and to the con-
gresatiOn the solemn questions required by
the constitution of the church, saying in
conclusion: by the authority vested In me
ms presiding officer Of this service, / row
declare the pastoral relations between this
in nd
may the blessing Of God descend upon both
the congregation and the pastor Amen
Next in the program was a charge to the
pastor by Rev. &. =. Ramsdeu. who stated
that ne wished to refer to a few things
about a pastors life IL Washington. This
city, according 20 Rev. Mr. Ransdell is a
church-going city, and its people are atten-
tive to the Word of God, nctwithstan ling
reports to the contrary. You may refoicc
at coming into a community where there is
SO much religion. continued the speaker
That result is due 10 the faithful work
performed during the past twenty-five years.
Those large audiences at the Moody meet
inSS did not spring from the ground, but
they showed the result of earnest and con-
tinUOus endeavOr. We rejoice in having YOU
as a co-labOrer. and Thank God that there
IS such a strong body of religious workers
in the capital city.
What kind of leader are you going to
be in regard to this church, Rev. Mr.
Ramsdell went on TO ask. 'Uuder you is it
tc stand in full sympathy with its sister
churches? l trust So The pay of a min
ister is not money alone, but the love OF his
congregation. l hope yOu will have all that
belongs TO you, and may God bless You"
Rev. G.. b. Patch. ID. D.. was to have
made a charge to the people. but was I'M
able to appear. DIR. Chas. French acting in
his place. The latter gave a lengthy talk
in which he pointed out the duty of each
member of the congregation toward the
pastor.
Rev. Scott F. Hershey. d. D., said SOL
emn prayer of installation. the doxology
was sung. and Rev. J. Russell Verbrycke
pronounced his first benediCtiCn as pastor
Of Gurley Memorial Presbyterian Church
Then the members of the congregation ad-
vanced to the front of the church and
grasped the hand of their pastor, and for
an hour or more a sociable time was en-
joyed-