Evening star., 1901-10-21

into this church in 1863 to hear DR.. Sun
derland preach" began DR.. Ramsdell, "and
in diary which 1 kept at that time
memorandum appears of the occurr nee,
with the comment that the sermon was
eloquent. Whenever any one came to
Washington in those days and said, Where
shall l go to church? the answer always
was, Go to hear DR.. Sunderland and this
church was filed in those days as complete
~ as. 1t Is today. IL was, however. in his
personal ministraticns in the homes or
the members OF mis- flock that DIR. Sunder-
land had shown even more brilliantly as
pastor He was never falling IN his pas
tora1 visits, and whether these took him TO
to the White House Or to the humb,est cot
tage, he met with the same hearty
welcome and ministered with sense of fit
ness of his surroundings which bespoke his
true gentlemanly instincts and quaiittes.
Som times he had been misunderstood"
said DR.. Ramsdeil, "and was credited with
fnlpetuoSity." The speaker recalled an ia
cident which occurred in 1S.,3- when DR..
Sunderland was sitting on the platform Of
the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
during a meeting of the general assem-
bly,. DR.. Johnson was addressing the as
sembly on some subject in which DR.. Sun
derland was greatly interested. Suddenly
DR.. Sunderland grasped the speaker by his
coat and exclaimed, "Dr. Johnson, you
going straight to the devil" DR.. Johnson
replied that he did not care If he was and
continued his remarks
In conclusion, DR.. Ramsdeil said there
was no minister in Washington whom he
had learned to love he had loved DR..
Sunderland. while l miss him much,' he
said, II would not have him back today. /
know he has gone to his home. to mis- true
wife and loving daughter. He has gone
home And what genial atmosphere there
must be in heaven with DR.. Sunderland
there"
As an "AlI-Round Man."
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage spoke on DR..
Sunderland as an "all-around man" He
said:
What season for obseauies! Before it
is time to take down the folded shadows Of
one bereavement they are kept up for an
other grief Sorrows are gregarious. They
go in focks and herds.
How hard 1t is to realize 1t! DIR. Sunder-
land has gone. VIII he never again open
that side door and ascend this pulpit with
message from heaven? VIII he never sit
again at that communion table?
From early manhood In the twenties to
old age In the eighties, he was always busy
on the right side He was in makeup and
characteristics unique and different from
any man we ever knew. In personal pres
ence he was, as we all thought, impressive,
though short in stature. Isaiah prophesied
such man when he wrote, "A little one
shall become thousand
Our departed friend illustrated what we
have often noticed. that the height of stat
ure and amount Of avoirdupois weight does
not decide the amount Of ones effectiveness.
Many man with imposing physical equip
ment does not weigh g half ounce on the
slde OF the worlds betterment, while many
one OF small stature has weighed a ton
on the right side of the moral balances.
David, the King Of Israel, was so small a
mite that he upset the gravity of Goliath
Yet the sword Of the giant is hung up in
history as fmpotent beside the sling of his
small combatant Napoleon was about five
feet in stature
President LincoIn's Comment.
President Lincoln made allusion to his
physical size when the doctor at the White
House, confronted the Presiuent for the
purpose of advising some movement in the
time of the civil war. The President look
ing at the doctor from head to foot, said.
Well. every little helps
But what a great soul he was Conse-
Grated, cneerful, patriotic, poetic, logical,
eliectiVe-in parlor, in pulpit and on plat
1orm Fearless he well knew how to WELD
a battieaX. Against the evils of his dav he
gave many stout blow. At times he was
d warrior OF the type of Joshua but the sun
ana moon did not have to stand still to AL
low MIN to complete his victories.
Inns Gear old church Is filled from pulpt
- 'front.' ooor, and from floor to ceiling. with
ms memories. Officiating at weddings he
was especially effective and sweeter fban
the breath of the orange blossoms were the
words he would utter After the vows wers
P!eused ana the twain moved down the
tha 49, a,r tlousnt ~ that II the happiness of
M lhe young couple were ever wrecked on the
sea OF life it would not be from anv ,an,- af
suspicious LAUNCHING ' -'eh u
but the volume of his life is closed
tb11a ~ e oid friend, till we meet where
there Is no parting''
Expression of Esteem.
Rev. Dr. Bittinger presented DR. sundsr-
lana S qualities
oiehce. lf you will permit me to saw
few words before begin" said Dr R,t.ir
ger 1t VIII be to convey to this large and
sympathetic audience on behalf Of the Pres
bytery of Washington CITY its high ostear,
" Ut. sunderland, not only as a man 4
a presbyter'' Do' t'iSo ds
When he came to Washington to assume
tne pastorate of what was then known as
ine Inc seventh Street Church, but now as the
westminster Church Memorial Dr G.
derland was then in the zenith Of bis So
the the speaker said. This was in 1857. and DR.
blttlnger referred to the fact that ne was
now Ine sole survivor of the Presbyterian
ministers who were residents of this Nv
at that time He is also one of three of al,
ministers OF the various denominations VIII,
were present then and who are living TODAY
The other two are Drs Butler and ~
Meador. oiio LIZ.
AS a presbyter the grand characteristic
OF Dr; Sunderland was faithfulness," said
Dr; blttlnger. DIR. Sunderland was NOT
only present al the meetings of the nres
pytery' but he was power there He was
wise IN MS counsel and discriminating in
MS Judgments, and was ever on the side
OF right and truth His influence was wide
ly felt not only in the presbytery. but in
the general assembly,"
Change in Church Name.
solo, THY VIII Be Done" was sung
by Miss Symonds, after which DR.. Macleod
announced that there was strong sent1-
ment among those who were the closest
friends of DR.. Sunderland, which was erys-
talizing In an endeavor to have his long.
self-sacrif1cing and efficient services to the
community commemorated by a lasting
memorial to his name and memory, To do
this, 1t had been proposed that the First
presbyterian Church be known to the pub
lie as the Sunderland Memorial Presby-
terian Church. To make this a lasting me-
mortal, it was proposed, he said, to remove
the present mortgage Indebtedness of s1S-
900 by popular contributions. He was con-
fident this plan would meet with the en-
thusiastic approval of DR.. Sunderland's
many friends. Already he had received
several substantial promises of financial
assistance to this end. A committee was
announced, with DR.. Macleod at its head,
tn hoe TN q