Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
The Ceremonies Conducted Under
Auspices of Washington City Pres
bytery The Addresses.


Memorial Church, following which a quar-
tet, composed of Miss Nina McEwen. So
prano; Miss Ema V. Brandenburg, alto
Mr.. w. Spencer Armstrong, tenor, and Mr.
r. G. Sutton, basso, sang an anthem
Praise the Lord" The scripture lesson for
the occasion was read by Rev. DR.. George
p. Wilson of Assembly Church, at the
close of which Rev. DIR. Bittinger announc-
ed the hymn commencing Lord Pour ,-hy
Spirit from on High" In opening the ex-
ercises DR.. Bittinger told of the proceed
ings OF the presbytery at its recent session
In Ballston, Va, in regard to the call to
Mr.. Wilson to become pastor of the West
ern Church.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. DR..
Hamlin of the Church of the Covenant
His theme was The Moral Use of the Di-
VINE Omnlpotence. The constitutional
questions required by the ritual to be asked
of the minister-elect and the congregation.
respectively, were propounded by DR.. Bit
finger After these questions had been an
sWered in the affirmative, DR.. Bittingar
declared that Mr.. Wilson had been Installed
as pastor of Western Presbyterian Church
ana anu o1ered brief Invocation asking Gil
vine blessings on both pastor and people.
solo, Behold, There Shall ne a Day."
was then sung by Miss Nina McEwen.
~, me charge to the pastor was delivered
by Rev. DIR. George N. Luccock of the
metropolitan Church, Capitol Hill
DIR. Luccock's Address.
Addressing Mr.. Wilson, Dr. Luccock said
in part: You have come to a good place
for preachers; a most brothery coterie of
your class; a church-going community: a
Rible-loving constituency. On the other
hand there is plenty to do. There
is abundant need of preachers of righteous
ness IN Washington. There are plenty of
sinners to be won.
And within the church itself there is no
fty- d.,
our Potomac flats fill our atmosphere with
mlaSmauc poison. You will find among
those over whom you are the shepherd
some not thoroughly acclimated spiritually
they are subject to the chills of a moral
malaria. And you are fortunate if in your
barrel you have brought good supply Of
theological quinine
Suggesting a few general observations.
l name. first, as a condition of the cumula-
tive power of Christian minister, that he
should be man of books. Let him have
dress suit if he can, and wear patent leath-
ers if he can, and get all the equipment he
can, but let him fast as he can buy
books. The most unworked field of minis
terial influence is that arising from a mas
terly grasp of the oracles of God.
"A minister should ever be striving to
make himself possessor Of an effective lit
erary style. Don't be afraid of the cry
against literary preaching. Spread eagle
oratory Is not literature That literature
is noble which is embodied in letters-beau-
tiful truth crystallized in the enduring form
of beautiful language.
BY literary style / mean the power of
characteristic utterance-to give to God
that as nearly as possible in language the
fullness of its glory, the express image of
its being. All sacred history is the record
of the Great God striving to utter himself
to His children.
For another thing, striving after pure
literary style will sft the results of ones
reading; will make his knowledge coherent;
will verify the truth to himself; will save
him from the snare of teaching error IN
the guise of half truths.
Moreover, an effective literary style
gives to the preachers message the force
of his own personality. He is felt to be
genuine, to be declaring the truth that has
meaning to him, that has permeated his
soul and become in turn living with his
life.
"A literary style does not mean for all
men a written, much less a read, sermon.
But it does mean for all studied express
sion. Some men, however, like DR.. Storrs,
DR.. William Paxton, DR.. Meyer, have the
gift of mental composition-that is. the
power to think out without writing a ser
mon in substantial fulness of suitable
words
Particularly with ones own pastorate,
his best life should be there, and all the
luster of his name should be associated
with it,
Charge to the People.
The charge to the people was delivered
mortal Church, who has also occupied the
pulpit Of the Western Church since the pas
torate of the latter became vacant by the
resignation, several months ago, OF Rev
Howard w. Ennis, who accepted charge of
a church in Brooklyn N. Y.
Mr.. Smith said 1t would be taken for
granted that the Western Church has
drawing pastor, and he hoped 1t would be
a holding church. 1t is often the case,
10 oJI rIar, No
church for the congregation to stare at
them; to wonder perhaps If they were re-
Gently married, and sometimes TO make
comments on their attire. The effect was
frequently that the strangers Who per-
baps, might otherwise have united with
the church would in future keep a good
distance from 1t.
Among other things which Mr.. Smith
urged the people to do was to give their
pastor the first place in everything; to
follow him, not to try to lead him. and
also to believe that he is the best preacher
they had ever heard. Don't tell him."
he said, what your previous pastor or
the one before him did. Remember, no
two men work precisely alike. Talk him
up. Don't be afraid to invite some one
to come and hear your preacher.
Let him have free access to your life
in Christ-your spiritual life. Keep your
life fervent, sweet and sunshiny. Let him
help you set up family altar, II he shall
so elect. Do we not lack just this close
spiritual contact in the home life?
I'VE have enough power for money
making, for business. We want power
with God, like Abraham and Daniel and
Paul had. Your pastor may some day
come up to you in your dependency or
Indifference or GOODNESS and say: oh, my
dear friend, I want you to be closer to
Jesus. 1 want you to get greater bless
ings. I want to see your face shine and
your heart glow.
ooh, yes; he has feelings We all have.
He may make mistakes; we all do. But
let the failings and mistakes be covered
up. OF excellencies and good works he
house tops and street corners
Installation Prayer.
The prayer of installation was made by
Rev. DR.. A. s. Ftske Of Gunton Temple
Church. The benediction was pronounced
by Rev. Gerhart A. Wilson. After the
close of the meeting the congregation came
forward and extended the right hand Of
Mr.. kfrnbau rendered an organ selection.