The national Republican., 1867-11-07

EPISCOPAL CosvooArIoN.-Lsst night com
mencement exercises were held In 81. John 4
church, Of the Episcopal convocatlon, composed
Of clergy from the District and Howard, Mont.
somsry. Ann Arundel, Prince Georges, Charles
81. Mary's and Calvert counties Of Maryland.
The object Of the eonvooation Il for the purpos,
Of dstsrminins whether . new diocese can b,
formed out Of the District churches the District
lacking but one Of the number required, the
diooeto being now composed Of the Distrio,
churches and those Of the counties In Maryland
above mentioned. O.
The church was moderately filled with mem.
bers Of the persuasion, BY whom there was much
interest manifsstsd.
The altar was tastefuily decorated with flowers,
and the pulpit was occupied By Rev. J. v. Lewis,
rector Of the church, Rev Dr.. Nelson, and
other olergymen Of the diocese.
The exercises woro opened With the usual
formula Of the Church service, at the eonclu.
sion Of which the Rev. DR.. Nelson, of An.
napolis, Md, delivered 9 sermon. He selected
as his text the LIST chap 81. John, l1th worse
~ am the Good Shepherd" This Is the case
where he 10 called God, Lord, our Creator. II
brings to the Christian. whom he hears It, q
sure confidence. What are the disposition, the
properties Of sheep and what are the labors
poor, weak, silly things; yet they have 0 dis.
tinctive nature, aud know their shepherd. The
Lord Jesus Christ Is the shepherd Of souls.
We know very we'll We are called upon to feed
Gods shssp-to feed them with the food o.
life. Our Lord means that He Is the good shep-
herd as distinguished from all the Apostles
One distinctive and great feature Is his cour.
age. The faithful student Of Scripture will not
fall to find that courage was In our blessed
Christ's heart. How bold He was whom be
distributed, His terrible anathemas against tho
trnnsgrc'sors and violators Of the law-the
Pharisess. What divine courage throughout
His whole life and In His death--the last, the
most sublime Of anything on esrth. There Is
q great tendency In present times 10 place an
undue value upon our life on earth. Painful
as Is the thought Of death, yet there is some.
thing sublime and beautiful In that spirit that
offers itself as q sacrifice on the altar Of love.
How can preacher minister to tho wants Of
bis congregation without knowing their wants1
lie cannot attain II 10 his study; he must 60
from house to house and discover them. While
he Is learning the character Of others he will 70.
veal his own. lie must mingle bis tears with
theirs, and be with them In offering up thanks.
giving to Christ.
No pastor who attaches any responsibility to
himself but can help asking what Is to bo done
with all this heathendomI What Is to be done
with tho humble one.' lie must help bring
them into the Good Shepherds fold.
The most conspicuous among the loves Of the
Good Shepherd Is his love for little children.
How stern his rebuke to those who would keep
them from him; Suffer little children to come
unto me, for Of such is the kingdom Of heaven. -
The true pastor will acoustom himself to the
love and wants OF tho little children under bis
charge 1t is then that heavenly wisdom glis.
tens like the dew. The good Shepherd says, I
come not to call the righteous but sinners to
repentance.
When Christ was teaching the people 10 the
temple, the Pharisoes, those wbited scpulohrei
Of the Lords time, brought Il woman unto him
The Lord said Woman. where are the,o vii,
accusers? Do you know them? ?" The woman
full Of shame and repentance, said "No, my
Lord" "ao, then, and sin no more" The
Pharisees he convicted In their own eonsciences.
He said l"Let he that hath not sinned throw III,
fret stone" When the good Shepherd goe,
forth, the sheep follow him, for they know BIZ
voice. This Is a beautiful spiritual comparison
of pastoral love. May this flock and this pastor
never bo strangers to each other.
DR.. Lewis, the rector Of the church, made
few remarks at the conclusion Of Dr. Nelsoni
sermon, in which he stated that endeAvors were
being made for tho erection of 4 chapel for th,
benefit Of freedmen In the District Dr. Nelsor
was also endoavoring to raise funds for the erec
tion Of a building Of worship 10 Annapolis tol
the use Of colOred people.
A collection was taken up for both Of thes
| charitable objects, niter which a hymn was SUM
| and the audience dismissed. There will be
formal organization this morning at 81 o'clock
communion at 10, q. M the business meetin
following aiisr. continuing until4. p IN
BASE BALL.-The Commonwealth base bal
club, OF Philadelphia, will arrive In Washing
ton this morning at 81 o'clock, and will b.
the guests Of the Union club, while here !
committee from the Union will meet them at th
depot with carriages and convey them to tn,
Kirkwood house, and at 2 p. m, will play q
game with tho Union base ball club on White
Lot. We hope to see the Union boys have out
their strongest team. 1t will, no doubt, be Q
close game, as their game with the Common.
wealth In Philadelphia was closely contested
Seats have been erected to accommodate two
thousand people.
Yesterday 4 match game of base ball wal
played between the IIoboken and Steam Fir,
Brigade clubs, of this city. It was hotly con
tested and resulted in favor Of the Steam Fire
Brigade club by a score Of A to 81, as follows
HoBoKES OR. STEAM PIaE BRIGADE o n
Belt, s.........." 0 Dennis, f......... !
| hurley, l b. ....... Moore, r f.........3
| Smith, p........... Pollard, b........
O'EsAl, c f,,,,,,,, 4 Oney, f,..,.....,