The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-11
A Very Interesting Ordination.
Father 0rdains two of his own Sons and one Son in
the Gospel as Ruling Elders and Deacon.

the Gospel as Ruling Elders and Deacon.
"a correspondent of the Southern Presbyterian
gives an account of recent ordination in the I'd
Presbyterian church, Charleston, S, G. The pas
tor, Rev. DR.. Thomas Smythe who has been
settled over that church thirty-seven years, or
dained one of his sons, James Adger Smythe, as
ruling elder, and Augustine Thomas Smythe, as
deacon, and also installed Mr.. Alfred Stillman, as
ruling elder In his address DR.. Smythe said:
"And now | address myself to you, my beloved
sons, with grateful emotions too deep for express
sion, to which,-to which,-to which, were | to
yield, would be unable properly to close this sol
emn service And yet | cannot altogether over
look the peculiar circumstances in which you and
and this congregation are placed. Seldom, per-
haps never, has pastor who from early youth has
lived and abored for over thirty seven years in his
first and only church, been privileged, by the cor
dial unanimous urgency of his people, to conse-
crate to the office of ruling elder and deacon two
of his own sons whose course of living from child
hood up to the present hour has been open to their
observation and scrutiny.
I'm the first place, thank God who first gave
you to me; who led you by his good Spirit up
from childhood in the paths Of filial affection and
obedience; who guided your steps amidst the friv-
olities and temptations OF youth in the path OF
virtue; who led you early to consecrate yourselves
to Christ and to this church; and who has now
made you willing, though with great reluctance
brethren, and serve them according to your ability
and opportunity as a.ruling elder and deacon in
this church.
SIN the second place, Congratulate this church.
From my knowledge of the character of my sons,
| cannot but approve the course which this church
has taken in this choice,-which it has with such
cordial unanimity made. | hope they will be long
spared to go in and out among you, to be helpers
of your faith and joy, and laborers together with
God in his own vineyard. In charging my sons to
be faithful in meeting every obligation, as con-
sciences enlightened by the word of God shall di
rect, feel it more necessary to caution them not
to allow their tender relation to myself to bias
their minds against any course of action because
approved by me, than to encourage them to act
according to their own independent judgment.
"And now, brethren of this church, to whom
have given the labors of youth, manhood, and in
creasng years, cannot but rejoice on this occasion
Let us thank God and take courage and go for
ward with renewed zeal. The relation which has
so long bound us, must ere long terminate. The
time of my departure cannot be very distant. Coo
has weakened my strength In the way. The sol
about the roots of my tree of life has been gradual
" looseneu, SO as 10 leave Ghose TooIS uenuueu AM
bare and exposed to every windy storm and tenn
pest. But TO me 10 is pleasant and anlmatlnG
thought, that when my tree of life shall have
fallen, and its poor remains shall have been gath
cred to its burial place in our quiet churchyard
these shoots from the same living tree, shall,
hope, through the good providence of God, grow
up and spread their branches, and give abundantly
of their fruit in due season for the refreshment anC
revival of those who shall in growing numbers
continue to worship the God of their fathers il
this chosen sanctuary, where he has recorded hi
name and given promise to bless them and to Dc
them good"