The Portland daily press., 1869-12-03

pastor over the Congress Square UnVersalist
church took place last evening before a con
gregation that completely filed the sacred ed
ice, and was composed, not only of the regular
members of the Parish, but also of many others
belonging to OF her denominations.
The services commenced with a Voluntory
which was beautifully rendered by the choir of
the church, after which the Rev. B. H. Bailey.
pastor of the First Parish (Unitarian) Society.
invoked the divine presence at the future min
istrations of the new pastor in q most fervid
manner and also read an appropriate selection
from the Scriptures. The hymn commencing
"Fathei! at thine altar bending
Set our hearts nom world-thoughts free,"
was next sung by the choir, and at its conclu-
sion, the Rev. DR.. Miner, President of Tufts
college,, delivered very profound discourse
from the First Epstle of Peter, Sd chapter and
10th verse. "Sanctify the Lord God in YOUR
hearts,. Tha idea conveyed by the discourse
was that sanctiication is the browning steps in
the redemption Of the individual soul; in other
words, the act of Gods grace by which the soul
becomes alienated from sin, and purified, and
exalted to supreme love to God. That when
the child is born into the world it is intelectu-
ally and morally at the zero point Its soul
they are yet in embryo. We may have a single
instinct at birth that may ultimately result in
something great, that may be the gem of a
mighty intellect, but at birth there is not a
single responsibility resting Upon us. So with
the soul that knows not of Christ. 1t is an ur-
developed soul; but as it receives the holy
teachings and the light breaks upon it, then
its responsibilities begin. No soul has the op-
tion whether it will remain at zero or not
The necessities that press us on, and rub souls
against each other, demand their development.
aud SO cause the soul to increase in knowledge,
30 that it is impossible to say at what age the
extent OF its knowledge is fixed Virtue and
wisdom are the followers of light, and this
truth is exemplifed in the history of nations.
Growing light assists the innate virtue to give
obedience to the law Of God. When a mere
child does wrong you do not chastise him, if
you are wise, but you throw light into his
growing soul and until you can put right and
wrong Understandings into his heart you can
not be said to have put life and death fairly be-
fore him.
So God comes nigh to the soul and makes it
responsible for the duty it knows, not for the
duty it does not know. God doesn't mix things.
If man acts according to his conscience,
even If be may be wrong, God doesn't condemn
him. The consequences of his rong doing
may bring to him that light which shall teach
him to avoid future wickedness. After awak-
ening to our responsibility, however, we are
responsible for every act and every thought
Gods law is omnipotent. We sometimes think
that mountains are stable things, but they can
not be compared for stability to principles We
may tunnel a mountain, but we cannot tunnel
principle. Why should God have placed his
monitor in mans breast, if it was not that it
should remain q fixed compass to direct his
life when his soul had become alive to truth.
As long as there are moral beings in the world
who must meet with moral beings, they must
be responsible to morality
The minister here went into a deep meta
physical discussion over Buffers Analogy,
which, as long-hand reporter, we failed to
follow. Speaking of the theory of future dam
nation, he told neat little story of an ATHEIST
who died strong in his belief. DIR. Miner asked
Methodist clergyman if he did not believe the
man must receive some share of a future life.
He asseEted. Then will he not become con.
WINGED that there is a future state The Meth
odist assented. Then will he not see God and
how loving and good he is? The Methodist
could not dispute it. Then, said the Doctor,
from an ATHEIST he will become Christian.
In conclusion, he congratulated the pastor
and people on the events of that evening. He
congratulated the pastor that he had conse-
Grated himself to this good work and the peo-
pie that they had such pastor to lead them to
o growing salvation.
At the conclusion OF DR.. Miners disco urse,
was sung the following
ORIGINAL HYMN BY MRS. E. M. BARsrow.
Shepherd Of Israel
High above all,
Hear when thy people
Supplant call.
Head Of all churches
Dwelling in light.
By thy great wisdom,
Guide us Alright.
Let thy blest spirit
Dove-ike descend
On this our pastor,
Teacher and friend
Out from the cloud-rifts
Approval now breathe.
And this our service
Great Father receive.
Thus to his Network,
Amounted anew,
Leading thy people
In worship most true;
To Join in Thy praise,
10 seek Thee In prayer,
Ever trusting for strength,
Thy promise and cafe.
The JUNCTION OF Grace
Oh Father impart,
Tha. pastor and flock,
United in heart,
The great Teacher follow
From all error free
And ever acceptance,
Receiving from Thee.
A very fervent installing prayer was offered
by Rev. A. j. Weaver. after which there was
a choral response. The right hand of fellowship
was then offered by Rev. j. G. Snow of West
brook, in a few timely and appropriate remarks