Evening star., 1946-12-20
Dr.. EIson Installed
As Pastor Of Covenant
Presbyterian Church


The Rev. DR.. Edward l.. r. Elsor
was installed last night In simpl,
but impressive ceremony as pAstol
OF the historic Covenant-First Pres.
byterian Church.
Among those taking part In tht
ritual was the Rev. DR.. Albert J
Mccartney. pastor emeritus o1
Covenant First Presbyterian Church
and director of the Chicago Sun
day Evening Club. Dr.. McCart.
ney made. special trip to greet his
successor and wish him well on en-.
tering the pastorate he had occupied
for Is years, from 1880 to 1886.
The ceremony began with tht
choir Of 40 men and women march
ing into the sanctuary from tht
chapel behind the church audito-
rum.
Clergymen Enter.
The clergymen, in traditional
black academic gowns and vari-
colored hoods, followed the choir te
their seats. Then the elders OF the
church took their places in the front
row pews directly before the chancel
DR.. Elson and the Rev. Franklin B
Gillespie, moderator of the Presby.
terry of Washington City, brought
up the end of the procession.
The call to worship was delivered
by the Rev. John D. Hayes, mis-
sionary of Covenant-First Presby-
terian Church to China. After thu
prayer Of invocation and confession
had been said, the choir sang the
"Te Deum." The Rev. DR.. r. Pau
Schearrer, minister of Takoma Park
Presbyterian Church, said the litany
with the congregation responding.
The Scripture lesson was read by
the Rev. James l.. Lundquist, assist
ant minister of the church.
The Rev. Dr.. Roy Ewing Vale
former moderator of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church, q. S. A., and now pastor OF
the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
of Indianapolis, delivered the ser
mon.
The traditional constitutional
questions were then propounded by
Mr.. Gillespie to DR.. Elson and the
congregation. The affirmative an
swers brought the formal proclana-
ton by the moderator that DR..
Elson had been duly constituted the
pastor of this congregation" The
Rev. DR.. Peter Marshall, minister OF
New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, gave the prayer Of installa-
ton.
In his charge to DR.. Elson, the
Rev. ]. Hillman Hollister, pastor OF
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church,
said a minister must inspire MEM
bers, be guide for them and be an
ambassador of Christ.
War Record Cited.
DR.. Mccartney, in his charge to
the congregation, told of the war
years at the church and of the part
the congregation played in the pro-
gram during that period.
Army Chief of Chaplains Luther
D. Miller outlined DR.. Elson's five-
year record with the service during
the past war. He read the Bronze
Star, Legion of Merit and Army
Commendation Ribbon citations OF
the minister who was in the Battle
of the Bulge and served under fire
for 167 days. The superior rating
of DR.. Elson given by officers over
him and his three promotions, the
last one to colonel, also were noted
by Chaplain Miller.
After the choir, ministers and
elders had left the auditorium, DR..
Elson pronounced the benediction.
DR.. Elson, native of Mononga-
hela, Pa, is a graduate Of Asbury
College and the University Of South
ern California. He was minister OF
the La Jolla (Calif) Presbyterian
Church in 1941, when he entered
active duty in the Army Chaplains