Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-04
The Human Side Of Religion
Another Pastor Joins Ranks
Of 20 Years Service Club
By Casper Nonnes
Religious News Editor Of The ssar

'r~''D'~~~ 1922 AssNSs w sbsS St1s
Some years ago a noted WASH
tngton minister said the ministry
in our city were always speaking
to a passing procession"
It Is true the rapid turnover
In membership Of Washington
congregations somewhat justifies
the above characterization. Each
year pastors rather ruefully
check over their membership lists
and note the large number of
their flock who no longer are in
the congregation.
But, paradoxically, our city
probably has as large a number
OF clergymen who hold long
pastorates as any other city. Only
recently two of Washington,s
outstanding ministers, DR.. Fred
erick Brown Harris of Foundry
Methodist Church, and Rabbi
Norman Gerstenfeld Of tn e
Washington Hebrew Congrega-
ton. celebrated 80 and 20 years,
respectively, with their congre-
cations.
And tomorrow another District
area minister. the Rev. j. Adrian
Pfeiffer of st. James Lutheran
Church, Silver Spring, Md,
enters the 100 years club" ranks.
And the tall, pleasant and en-
thusiastic Lutheran pastor is a
welcome addition to this group.
Since Adrian came here as a
young man Of 20. he has been
noted for the verve and vigor
with which he tackles any and
all tasks. When he came to his
present congregation, then
known as the Takoma Lutheran
Church, it had Sc members and
the building was up for tax sale.
These obstacles provided him
with an incentive for action,
rather than a cause for despair.
He pitched into the job with
characteristic enthusiasm and
soon had the church humming
with activities. Today the Capt.
tai University graduate has a
congregation of nearly 500 men,
bers housed in one of the areas
most attractive churches.
Others in Washington than
those connected with his church
felicitate the Rev. j. Adrian
Pfeiffer on his anniversary and
wish him many happy years as
pastor in our city.
Seeks Greater Membership.
Pastor Pfeiffer's continuing
enthusiasm for the church may
result in a countrywide drive
for members by congregations
throughout the United States.
starting in the fall of 1855 and
going through 1856.
AS a result of attending a spir-
itual life mission meeting in De-
troit recently. the Silver Spring
Lutheran minister conceived the
project of Nation wide drive
that might bring 5 million new
m m bers into Protestant
churches. To do this Mr.. Pfeif-
fer wants 500 spiritual life mis-
sion meetings held in late 1855
in various cities throughout the
country. One would take place
here. with the National Guard
Arnorv as the meeting place.
To further his plan. Mr.. Pfeif-
fer first spoke with and sold the
Department of the
Washington Federation Of
Churches on the idea. This,
week he submitted resolution
to the National Council of
Churches on the project.
The council approved the plan
and sent it to the oreariza-
lions Evangelism Committee,
which meets in New York next
week for further action. Pastor
Pfeiffer will be there to present
his case. and you can be sure
the response will be favorable.
Brilliant Speaker.
Prof. Roland H. Bainton of
the Yale Divinity School, author
of a life of Martin Luther, Here
I Stand" has an unusual way
Of putting together his speeches.
He writes them out in short
hand. Pitman. and then speaks
from these notes. His brilliant
speech Monday night on Free
uom's Religious Foundations"
was without question one of the
forensic highlights of the Ma
tional Council of Churches this
week. 1t brought the audience
to their feet cheering.
Guidance Sought.
The Right Rev. Norman B.
Nash, EpiScopal RiShon of Mas.