Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-22


itual analogy, and referred to the true ex
fold, viz Bishop, the High Priests, 6
Priest and Deacon the government Of
three in one ; the government of three per
sons-one God.
i He drew many learned comparisons, and
alluded to the manner in which we clune
to civil government, the constitutional au
thority, and reasoned well the church''
proper position to the sacred right. He
remarked that having considered the of
fee and its rights and necessities, he would
pass on to consider the work of the Office
as set forth in the scripture. He 1.-THE
bishop or governor of the church) must
feed the flock of Christ with the food Of
wisdom and religion f; the lamb as well as
fold the little ones as well as the matured
feed them with the word of God. Admon.
ish, rebuke, with all authority, when neces
sary raise the afflicted with apostolic zeal
be kind, gentle, humane. All these quail
fcations should be had
For such an Office, strength from Christ
should he sought for, by him that shall
seek to be bishop. When Christ assembled
into heaven, he said &C / am with you al
ways, even to the end of the earth," and
the church is with that promise, and the
government of the church looks with hope
and Joy to the always promised help Of thai
Great Power to enable them to do well
their duty, and give them strength and
zeal. He continued, that it was hardly
necessary to say that of the nature of the
Office there was prejudice existing, but he
contended that it was even patriotic in its
character, to be exercised in spirit of love
in and out of the church for all Christians
in the religion of love a true foundation of
the holy system, to be administered in that
spirit of love that seeks to forget itself in
the happiness of all others-the love of all
it's true character. This is the true govern
ment of the church, which, if rightly I'M
derstood, no man would or could feel pre-
JUDGE against. He continued then by re-
ferring to the often-asked question of why
the Office was ever abandoned, and in de-
tail referred to the action of the Roman
Church as to its corruptions and innova-
tons ; to the actions of it's heads or popes,
and its adoption of a vicar of st. Peter, or
lord of lords upon earth. He desired it
particularly understood that he wished not
to refer to the Roman Church with any
feeling at this time. He referred to the
many good men in that church, and of the
vast amount of good they had done in this
world, and spoke in his many references to
them in the same feeling of christianity
with which he hoped to enter the kingdom
of Heaven. But he further said, history
does not change and he fully reviewed
this history of the Roman Church in the
seventh century, and fully developed it's
innovations, etc, etc, of that period. He
then reverted to Martin Luther and the
Reformation, and the period of Christianity
from 1917 to the present time. Of the &C
tions of Henry VIII, and of his son Ed
ward VI, and of the times then of Luther
Calvin and others, and refuted the charges
that they would not have bishops They
would have been glad to have had them,
only made virtue of necessity, and they
were created as soon as practicable. This
church is the government of Heaven
" My father sends me, SO send you"-It
is of the kingdom of Christ, by his own
authority. He then compared the church
to all life, joys and happiness, and after
death, of that boundless hereafter, and
marked it that there was nothing better,
purer or holier-a solemn subject-the
government of Christ's children that
there was no dignity equal to that position,
and the satisfaction of the lasting JOY and
felicity, in that government of Christ.
The reverend speaker then addressed
himself to the newly consecrated bishop,
saying:
My beloved Brother-In the presence of
God, you have been called to that apostolic
office you have the same reverence, you
have the same humility as any Christian
man, and it has pleased the Lord, glory to
him, to call you to the sacred trust. 1 have
known you many years, with affection and
Christian brotherhood, am sure you are
perfectly placed i'll the faith, and capable
of the full performance of your duties,
and thus, by your christian zeal, you will
have that stength to labor in your works of
good and peace
Bishop Hopkins then made full and feel
ing remarks, as related to the late Bishop
Polk, the predecessor of Bishop Wilmer.
He said in substance
Your predecessor, the late Bishop of
Louisiana, was man of uncommon ener-
gy, elevation of character, nobility of soul. |
You are the successor of such man none
who knew him but admired and loved him. |
1 was often connected with, and met him
at one of the universities of his
founding, (many of these will you meet
with, that were of his erection and upon
frequent occasions OF Christian duties, and
it is among the pleasant and sad recollec.
lions of the past. You will find in your
path many mementoes of his zeal monu-
ments of his worth it is indeed high
privilege to be his successor. We claim no
perfection for Bishops, he may have erred
in his career; he may have made mistakes, |
but his soul of christianity and magnanimi-
ty, which his life exhibited, is true pres
tige for you, and God grant you all the
faith and support to its proper ends. 1 hold
1t great privilege to bestow the dignity of
Bishop upon you, and do it in the fullest
confidence that heaven has and will con-
tinue to give you strength, and direct your
course, and in your zeal relieve your every
Christion exertion for the well government
Of the church, and call upon all to pray
for you.
Here the reverend bishop delivered a
most beautiful prayer, and with the apos-
tolic blessing of Father, Son and Holy
Ghost, concluded his sermon It was listen
ed to throughout by the congregation with
marked attention, and was most eloquent
and impressive.
CONCLUDING CEREMONIES.
After the sermon, Bishop Hopkins re-
,elved the new candidate for the bishopric
He was presented by the Rev. Dr. Hedges
md the Rev. Robert F. Clute with the in
words, Reverend Father in
tod, we present unto you this godly and
we'll learned man, to be ordained and con-
'ecrated bishop" The thirty sixth Psalm
vas sung-"My heart showeth me the
NickedncSS of the unpOdIv Tho, +bo