Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-21
A LONG PASTORATE.
Rev. DIR. Pitzer's Sermon at the eth
Anniversary Celebration.

Rev. DIR. Pitzer's Sermon at the 25th
Anniversary Celebration.
Yesterday marked the beginning Of the
twenty-eighth year in the history OF the
Central Presbyterian Church, and on this
anniversary occas on special services were
held and a large congregation came to-
gether In the morning an appropriate SER
men was delivered by the pastor, Rev. A.
w. Pitzer, DID,, and in the afternoon there
were exercises for the pupils of the Sunday
school.
1t has been the custom of this church
to give to each scholar on anniversary
Sunday a souvenir in the form of a hand
some book, but this year, on account OF
the prevailing distress among the poor, 1t
was decided that instead of receiving the
members of the school should contribute
something for the relief of the needy.
Quite n large amount of provisions and
clothing was brought in, which will be
distributed by committee of the church.
A financial statement made to the con-
gregation showed that while ten years ago,
when the new edifIce was erected. there
was a floating Indebtedness of $1,000 and a
mortgage on the property for similar
sum. the entire floating debt had been
liquidated and the amount of the bonded
debt reduced by $3.50. leaving a balance
of $500 to be provided for. This sum had
been borrowed on very advantageous terms
ard the trustees expected soon to see the
church free of all incumbrance.
For the text for his anniversary sermon
DR.. Pitzer selected the passage from II
Timothy, A., Il have kept the faith" He
spoke Of the marvellous changes which
had taken place since he assumed his pas
tcrate in this city; changes in municipal.
governmental and religious ideas and
afh n.ly rat Ill l.
had not wavered. but remained firmly es-
tablished and grounded in truth and ortho-
doXy. The doctor called the attention of
his congregation to the length of his pas
toral relations with them-twenty-seven
years-and mentioned the names of sew
era, other city pastors who had served
their people for longer terms, some of them
even for forty years.
When he first came to Washington the
southern states were conquered territories,
under control of war governors, where CT
der was preserved at the bayonetS point.
He had seen the country rehablitated.
slavery prohibited and the Union preserved
He sketched rapidly the significance of
three remarkable religious conferences that
had occurred here within a quarter of
century-the Worlds Evangelical Alliance,
the Methodist ecumenical council and the
Presbyterian general assembly. Speaking
of the notable change in the methods of
carrying on religious work, he rejoiced in
the prominence given laymen and said the
WORTH Gouiu never De eVanSellZeQ by the
ordained ministry alone. Mr.. Moody was
never ordained by human hands," exclaim-
ed the speaker. yet would to God there were
ten thousand Moodysv' He also noted the
advancing position women We're assuming
in religious work, and paid high tribute
to their increasing usefulness, stating in
cidentally, that to the influence and efforts
OF two godly women the church of which
he was pastor owed its existence.
rs this faith preach asked the speak
er, able to meet the problems of the day?
Can it Srapple with the questions of anar-
chy, disquieted social conditions, increasing
tendency toward lawlessness? There is
well nigh unlimited power in the falls Of
Niagara, yet western New York will not lie
supplied with light and electricity until
connection is made with the turbine wheel
in the rapids. Just so the Gospel is power
full to solve the perp!exing problems Of life
but the man must lay hold on 1t, the prop
er connection must be maintained between
Christ and the sinner. Faith will never die
out or lose it's power or become obsolete
cal truth will accomplish all God ever in
tended 1t should; it shall not return to Him
void; God is behind it and in 1T and His
Word shall abide forever
1t is something, said the speaker, for
church to say In these days of unbelief and
misbelief and violent attack upon the in
tegrity of the Scriptures that 1t has kept
the faith. He called on his congregation
not only to keep. but also to propagat the
faith; and concluded: Il am not ask for
large numbers, wealthy parishioner l.
fuential attendants; give me rath lie
few who hold fast to the integrity g
Word, who can withstand the viol.
SaultS of criticism of the body =
truth and say, have kept the fl