The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-03 00:00:00

RECOGNITION SERVICES AT THE
BAPTIS r CHAPEL.

At the Baptist Chapel, on 'Wednesday evening
last, a tea and public meeting was held for the
purpose of inaugurating the settlement amongst
the congregation of the new minister, Mr. J. N.
Rootham. For some months past the services
have been carried on at the above place of
worship by different members of the congregation
as there has been no resident Baptist Minister
in the town since the departure of Mr. Jones
from the pastorate.
A large number of members and friends sat
down to tea in the school room, after which an
adjournment was made to the chapel, where a
public meeting was held, which was presided
over by the Rev. J. Richards. late pastor of the
Congregationalist Church in this town. There
were also present on the platform : The Rev. G.
'loge's from London), the Rev. Young, Rev.
, McMichael (of Dudley), Rev. J. Skeinp, (Brierley
I Hill), and Rev. J. N. Roothana The latter
gentleman thanked the congregation for having
selected him as their minister and assured them
that he would do all in his power to deserve the
confidence reposed in him, and implored the
Livine assistance to guide and strengthen him
in the task he had undertaken.

The Rev. G. Rogers, then addressed him in a
very eloquent and impressive discouise, and
gave him certain rules for his guidance in the
discharge of his duties. He told him that he
never ought to allow himself to be idle, or too
feud of taking his ease. A minister could be
lazy if he liked, as he had his time at his own
disposal; but a minister who wished to do good
would not allow his usefulness to be destroyed
by sloth. He advised him to busy himself with
the Sunday School, and not leave the work to
he done by others, lie told him to constantly
read the Bible so that It weight become theiongkli
imbued with its spirit, and preach the gospe: as
it was in Unist Jesus. What tbey all wanted
was confidence in the gospel itself. He
did not mean intellectual confidence, or a CJll-
fideuce in his own eloquent exposition of then'.
, 'rile confidence that he referred to was faith in
the saving powers of the goaoel, and in what the
latter could do of itself. It, should look to the
gospel not as a prescription, but as a cure. Ho
should have the gospel not only on his lips but
in his heart. He kthe speakertirecollected the first
occasieu on which a soul had been brought to
grace through his iatlewnee. He should never
forget the seuse of the power of the gospel which
lust iticident had given. He concluded by hop-
big that through Mr, Mellen's influence
many souls would be brought to the Lord. He
koew he was not one of those who wished to
wear the crown before he earned it, and he hoped
that his ministry would be profitable to the con-
gregation and to himself ; and that when the
tune was come for him to reap the reward for
his labours he would be greeted with those chest.
leg words, " Well done, thou good and faithful
servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
The Rev.— Coseus, of Cradles', gave out the
429th hymn, after which the Rev. J. Richards
apologised for the absence of the Revs. Fisk
and Jackson, who were prevented by other en-
gagements from being present.
The Rev.— Young then addressed a few prac-
tical words of advice to the congregation, with
reference to their treatment of their minister,
and told them not to form too high an opiuion
of him ; becttnse it sometimes happened when
that was the case that afterwards when the min-
ister failed to realise the ideal standard which
they had themselves set up they became no.
reasonably dissatisfied. He also told them, on
the other hand that they must not underrate him
or look upon him as a sort of hired servant paid
to preach the gospel. That was not the ease,
for though Christ came to save all, be was minis.
tered to himself, but he himeolf, ministered unto
none.He urged them also to eo-operatelwith their
minister and render him all the assistance in
their power.
The Rev.— McMichael, of Dudley, and the
Rev. J. Skeinp, of Brierley Hill, also delivered
addresses and the meeting was brought to a
close by offering up of a prayer by the Rev. .7.
Richards.