Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-18
DECIDES TO REMAIN
DIR. WILSON CONTINUES WITH AS
sEMBLY's CHURCH.

The pulpit of the Assembly's Presbyterian
Church was occupied yesterday by Rev.
George p. Wilson, the PASTORAL the morn
ing service he announced that, having re-
ceived the unanimous request of the congre-
CATION that he remain as pastor. he would
withdraw his resignation, rendered some
time ago. His decision was received with
much qualification by the members and he
was welcomed home from his vacation with
enthusiasm.
In Withdrawing his resignation the pas
tor said
II desire to make a brief statement this
morning. l have received a communication,
forwarded to me through the secretary OF
the congregation. regarding the action OF
last Thursday and for its unanimity and
its more than cordially l thank you from
the bottom of my heart. This second at
testation of your good will and devotion is
more emphatic, If possible, than the other;
and it has, together with some especial
cases of devotion, sweetened my heart
II am proud, though a little skeptical and
suspicious, as becometh man who has
been twenty-five years in the Christian
ministry, and think know what Is due
go my own self-respect and to that poise
* That belongs to perfect manhood, to lean
40 charity rather than to severity. l, there
Tore this morning want to express not only
devotion and gratitude to my friends, put
the spirit of Cancellation to those who may
have been opposed to me. Nothing re-
mains for me to do or to say than to with
draw the resignation placed in your hands,
and to summon you all by the cords or
friendship, the very sensitiveness OF which
has been an evidence of strength to Chris
tian fellowship and Christian work.
The reading clerk, also, among other no
tices. read some from individuals, giving
thanks for answers to our prayers and
suggesting that the midweek meeting,
Thursday evening next, be made thanks
giving serevice for the same.
Subject of Discourse.
The subject of the sermon was chosen
from the mystic vision described in the
47th chapter of the prophet Ezekiel. coupled
with the vision of John on the Island of
Patmus.
The former graphically described the
Dead sea, body of water without paral-
lei, forty-six miles long, lying in the bot
tom land of the valley of Jordan In the
southeast of Palestine. 1t lies lower than
any other body of water in the world the
surface being 1900 feet below the level of
the Mediterranean, and portions of 1t are
apparently bottomess, though with no
known outlete. 1t is feed by the Jordan on
the north. From it's shores bold limestones
cliffs rise. partly perpendicular from 1,5OO
feet on the west to $500 feet on the east.
The only surrounding vegetation is in oc-
casional ravines feed by fresh water stream
let's.
"A more desolate, dreary and forbidding
vista" said the minister, is hardly con-
ceivable than stretches away to the north.
Blackened trunks of trees strewn over a
muddy fat. with incrustations of the all
Astounding salt one ridge of which is no
less than seven miles long and 300 feet
high. The Dead contains more than
eight times as much of saline matter as
water.
Referring to the vision of Ezekiel, we
are reminded that the element of water is
symbolic of very many Bible truths. Bread
and water for sustenance; water of purifca-
ton and of separation; bread and water of
affection"
lkened to the arid waste of the shores of
the stony hardness of the towering cliffs
that border the polluted waters of this
vast sea, where nothing can live; streams
there may be that here and there flow from
purer sources higher up, but the unregen-
crate state of man is lil<ened to waters
that throw up mire and dirt
THE water of life, that alone reach
and cleanse, can rene ewand redeem our
fallen humanity, flows out from meath the
throne of God.
THE Astounding love of God, poured out
like water sweetens all miseries, heals all
dissensons and brings blending of the
best that earth and heaven can give"
At the close of the sermon the people
fingered, with handgrasping and smiling
congratulations. The ovation to the pas
tor blocked egreSs and delayed for a long
period the final dismissal of the congrega-
ton.
Talk of union with the First Church is
now a thing of the past. All opposition to
DR.. Wilson Is said to have died out In the
Assembly's Church, which has been placed
on a sound financial basis by liberal SUBJ
scriptions.