Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-25
DR.. EASTON INSTALLED
The Popular Pastor of the Eastern Presby-
terrain Church Formally in Charge.
Prominent Presbyterian Ministers
Take Part-Dr. Hamlfn's Sermon
and DIR. BartIett's Address.

The services of formally installing Rev.
DIR. Thomas Chalmers Easton as pastor of
the Eastern Presbyterian Church, Stanton
square, were held last evening at the church
In the presence Of the members of the con-
gregation and friends and number Of the
pastors of the Presbyterian churches of the
city. DIR. Easton has been serving the
church for some time as pastor. and the
success which has rewarded his efforts has
attracted general attention throughout the
denomination in this city. The occasion.
which marked the beginning Of the official
relations between pastor and people, was of
more than usual interest. The presbytery
Of Washington city had taken action and
had appointed those who were to take the
leading part In the service. Rev. DR.. Bit
tenger was selected to preside. the prayer
was offered by Rev. Charles b. Ramsdell,
the sermon was delivered by Rev. DR.. Ham
lin, the charge to the pastor by Rev. DR..
Bartlett, the charge to the people by Rev.
Dr. Chester and the prayer of installation
by Rev. DIR. Sunderland. Rev. c. Alvan
Smith read selections from the Scriptures,
Rev. DR.. Patch offered prayer and the con-
stitutional questions were offered by Rev.
DR.. Bittenger.
A special program of music was rendered
by the choir of the church, under the direc-
ton of the leader. Mr.. John Roeder. A
solo was sung by Miss Dorothea Byrde
Rogers. DIR. Hamlin's sermon was a strong
and practical presentation of the theme of
eternal life. which, he said, was not mat
ter for the future. but of the present. The
meaning of the phrase eternal life, as used,
the preacher said, was personal knowledge
Of God and acquaintance and fellowship
with God. He spoke of human friendships
and their influence on men. He dwelt on
the educational effect Of contact with men
and with life, something which the most
intimate knowledge of books would not give
The modern influence of the pulpit he at
tributed In some degree to the personality
to the life which was there. Men wanted
the contact of men and mind, one with
another.
Then They All Laughed.
The charge Of Rev. Dr. Bartlett to the
pastor was received by the newly installed
pastor while standing in front Of the pull
pit. He frequently smiled and laughed,
as did the congregation, at the bright COM
ments and the humorous anecdotes which
DR.. Bartlett is fond of introducing into
his public addresses He said at the out
set that he did not know what he could
say to a brother having the experience and
the record of DR.. Easton. He intimat ted
that he and Dr. Easton had entered upon
the work Of the ministry about the same
time and that therefore the latter's stock
OF experience was quite as abundant as
that of the speaker. He, however. gave
him some suggestions which he thought
would be especially suited to this city,
where the speaker said the government
was that of an absolute monarchy, and
where every four years the process was
gone through of turning the rascals out Of
the public offices and bringing into their
places the white saints from the various
congressional districts Of the country to
their heritage. which was sometimes a
blood-bought heritage.
He spoke of the debt which was on the
church, and said that difficulties to be over
come sometimes spurred to greater activity
and evolved higher type. He told story
in Illustration which related to the optimis-
tic and pessimistic frogs which had I'M
fortunately fallen into a milk can which
the milkman. as 1t is said that milkmen
are in the habit of doing, had left at the
side of a spring. The pessimistic frog took
In the situation and concluded that the
prospect of getting out was hopeless. and
so relaxing his efforts went to the bottom
and was drowned. But the other frog took
the opposite view and concluded to make
every effort, which, in this case, consisted
of thrashing around, and in the morning
he was found floating around on a cake of
butter, which his agitation had churned
up. He advised the congregation to hus-
tie around and get cake of butter under
them. 1t was some minutes after the
speaker had reached the conclusion of his
story before he was able to go on on &C
count Of the laughter which filled the
church.