Evening star., 1961-07-01
THE HUMAN SIDE OF RELIGION
Poetry EmbeIIishes
Ministers Sermons
BY CASPAR NAMES

Reigtous News Editor of The Star
Thirty-five years ago today a
soft-spoken young man came to
Hyattsville Presbyterian Church
and quickly impressed its mem
bers with the effectiveness of
his scholarly preaching.
Even then the sermons of the
Rev. D. Hobart Evans con-
tained apt poetry quotations,
historical illusions and con-
temporary applications.
Through the years these quail
tiles have deepened as the min
ister's inquiring mind searched
numerous avenues of knowl-
edge. The wide range of his
studies are indicated by the
many books filling the shelves
of his office. In addition to
the volumes on religion ex-
pected in minister's study,
there are literary masterpieces,
works on science and medicine,
biographies and history books.
Not present but read for re-
p taxation are Western and de-
tective stories.
Mr.. Evans favorite shelf is
devoted to works by and about
Lincoln, encaSed on each side
by bookendS of the Great
Emancipator.
II try to keep up with every
thing that comes out about
Lincoln" he explained.
His copious use of poetry in
sermons reflects Mr.. Evans en-
joyment of the field. Shake
spears sonnetS and plays nat
urally form a large portion of
his reading. Some years ago
he spent two years studying
carefully Robert Browning's
"The Ring and the Book"
Direct from Scotland
This affinity did not go un-
noticed by church members.
In 1887 Elizabeth Cole, now
chief of the chronological divi-
sion. District of Columbia Lii
brary, went to Scotland and on
her return presented Mr.. Evans
with 5 miniature book of Burns
poems. On the first blank page
of the plaid-covered thumb-size
book. she wrote, More poetry
for your sermons-right from
Scotland"
Out of his literary interests
evolved a pre-Christmas read
ing service that has become
traditional at HyattSville Pres
byterian Church. During his
undergraduate days at Buck
nell University, Mr.. Evans had
a professor who gave readings
of Pilgrims Progress" In
1925, four years after he was
graduated from the university
end a year following compile
ton of his work at Princeton
Theological Seminary, the
young minister thought this
would be a good way to bring
a pre-Christmas message to
members of the Doe Run Pres
byterian Church, Wilkes-Barre,
Pa.
For this purpose he used a
story by Henry Van Dyke, THE
Other Wise Men," The next
year he gave the writer's "The
Last Word" and the third year
Van Dykes The Mansion.
Each reading, given the Sum-
day before Christmas, takes so
minutes. Mr.. Evans relates the
story from memory, with an
organ accompaniment. From
1939-49 he gave the reading
service at Bucknell University.
At the HyattSville church, Mr..
Evans starts the cycle every
four years.
Ties Sermons to Living
The conscientious minister
takes great care in preparing
his sermons.
Il think of the needs of my
people and how from my con-
slant reading and study of the
Bible, I can find the best mes
sage for them" he explained.
Il think I am a Biblical
preacher who always ties it up
with the way people live. I
never explain passage of the
Bible without tying it up with
1861 and Hyattsville."
Washington has changed
greatly since Mr.. Evans first
came here in 1926.
Many of the areas that are
busily suburban now were
almost country then" he re-
called. "Silver Spring had dirt
BIBLE PRES