The New York herald., 1870-11-17
INSTALLATION CEREMONY.
installation Of Rev. Merrill Richardson o.
Psstor Of tho New England Oongrega-
Hona Ohuroh-Eloquent Sermon by
Adirondack Murray-0riginal
Poem by the Government
Minister Of the Ma
tonal Capital

F0rty-aeVeutl street
was assembled gathering which, for intelligence,
refinement and deep and sacred earnestness Of zeal
and devotion IN carrying out the special and pleasing
purpose which called them together very seldom is
to be seen In this city. The occasion was the
Installation as pastor OF the church OF Rev. Merrill
Richardson, minister as Is well known, OF only
recent connection with this society, having been
called here In May last from Worcester Mass where
he has ofllcated as pastor for the past fourteen
years. though not accepting the call TIL September
and preaching his first sermon on the first Sunday
OF last month, but who, In the short time he has
been here. clearly showing himself, In bold porsua.
sion ana brilliant oratory, aud In the possession OF
gracious endowments OF person and manner 80
essential to gaining popularity and usefulness to be
deserving to be ranked among our leading metro.
politan diylnes.
s THE AFTERNOON COUNCIL.
Preliminary to the evening services, and a fact
worthy Of predatory mention, was meeting OF q
council OF clergymen composed OF some OF the most
eminent ministers OF the country, at which the can
dldate FOR installation was examined as to his fitness
TO edter upon the new and responsible duties which
ne mas been called upon to assume Rev. Dr. Todd
OF Plttsneld. the distinguished veteran Of the New
England congregational pulpit presided, and 1t is
unnecessary to say that the examination rigid and
exacting as it was, was most successfully and salts.
factorily passed. a large number was present but
notningt to
THE CROWD LAST EVENING,
which filed the church to Its utmost possible cana
city, all the asles being flled with stools and even
the envrons Of the pulpit and the room occupied by
the choir being infringed upon TO an uncomfortable
extent. Hundreds were turned away, being unable
to obtain admission. Meantime the interior OF the
church-a model OF architectural beauty, simple,
neat, elegant and beautiful-never looked
better, with tho brilliant gathering inside,
the brilliant lighting OF gas, and last and not
least, the splendid floral decorations fronting the
pulpit and dlnusing their delicious aroma of sweet
the most eminent clergYmen OF this city and else
where Among other eminent persons prominently
conspicuous were General y. .. Howard ana Prolea-
sor Sprague.
Il. PREDATORY EXERCISES.
The evening exercises, which were conducted by
was most nneiy played, and IL alter iI this was was
noon referred to above After this the choir consist
ing OF MISS Mosher, soprano; Miss Macomber, ato
sas r s e. Sea eaeG Is r,a and M Henry Guild 1aS
was most admirably sung. Invocation ana reading
OF Scriptures followed, by Rev. Lyman Abbott q
hymn by the congregation. After an Introductory
prayer, which followed, BY Rev. Dr. William James
buanGt0n' Gi,1 s BFggslyin NgSli sr}5R Sg1RR srnxoy
by Rev. W: H. L. Murray, OF Boston, OF
AdlrondacK lame, OF wonderfully robust ply
slqoe, tail, massive, ruddy-cheeked and mus.
tached-a Samson OF the olden time and modern
Professor Wilson-thc speaker locked like one who
could climb mountains and find Inspiration in their
dizzy heights lie showed nimself strong in his SER
mon II was 2 splendid enort-!strong, masculine
and forcible His text was Ephesians H., 19-"And
10 Know the lave OF Christ, which surpasseth know
edge" After picturing the times in which Christ was
born, he traced the effects OF His coming on earth
Game to speak 81 the religious faiths 81 the present
@ay a. Win many Jesus si was only man, the New
pei he was no teacher q Christianity VINO
Sartlng power in such religion. !" i had not not
propclIing power to keep it going for twenty
ay ue haa Wss No %ar oi hea
necessity Griefs arc real, pleasures are real bas-
y real S IN to a II as was
burned out-.burned clean out: Ills, neigh.
their heads and hearts together They raised
money for him. committee took 1t to him. Not
him money ana he wept. lie knew not his neigh
bcrs until adversely overlook him. SO 1T was with
onr knowledge Of Christ. II is trouble ovcrwhelm-
5 ' ~ s's aeylga SHa thy Thy daS S53s sfSaG l ssg aRs
M M IN nass as seaa pg e O.
Gods iofeyeiiesi. ven Ii Reached beyond tba stars,
Where life and atmosphere are It exists, He llyea
IN IN Gods forgiveness was the saidlng star and
hope Of his life. His opinion Of Christ had
changed-%was % continually changing The mlngng
him. Christ was his king, not his brother. His
mind was now clear. He felt now that nc would
not so down TO his grave, but up TO II. Christ was
now his brother. This was the leading faith now
preached froM the pulpits Of New Lngland. After
we e NEW They Raa gwen to e one
had not given him; they had merely loaned
them crainmed with growing spendor and beauty.
New England was continually sending forth such
men; they mad planted church here with the de-
sign that 1t should represent The refinement, the cu
ture and the intelligence OF New England He IN
land; he invoked New England coming through two
hundred years; she came over Their chapel and IN
voked on them tonight Gods benedctlon. yhe SER
mon, which consumed nearly an hour IN delivery
was listened TO with the most earnest ana undivided
attention.
ORIGINAL HYMN.
feature CT the evening exercises was an original
hymn, by Rev. Dr.. ]. Ea,nes Rankin, the poet min
lster OF Washington, D. q. composed especially for
verse;
400 preach my word" the Master gaid
.."Tie ovcrtures of love unfold,
My grace upon your speech I'll shed,
And with my own your arm uphold"
The hymn was sung by the congregation.
FURTHER EXERCISES.
The length of the very interesting programme
made II late when the exercises Terminated
Prayer" by Rey Dr. Ray Palmer Of this city; 9
"Charge TO The Pastor" by Rev. Dr. Todd, delivered
WIN al Ine power ana encctlVeneSS OF
his palmest days IN the ministry; laying on
the "Right Hand OF Fellowship by Rev DR.. j. p.
BY Rev. j. y. Rankin; singing hmm, concluding
prayer by Rev. Wilbur Of Jersey s, City, and
the minister to try and not pc Q star-not to seek
feA his adSssj 9gs y ESSYSEa Yns
fashion. His counsel was to avoid trying to lie 4
great man; 5r he would 9sl escape greaeNesS
and speculations anl politics. Ho must
simply preach the gospel. Almost equally
happy was Rev. Mr.. Rankin in his remarks. Alto
gether the exercises were most deeply and uIf1si-
ally interesting and the occasion Will De one long
remembered, and no doubt most pleasantly So by the
congregation over which Rev, Merrill Rlclsrdsou
has thus been duly installed paktor.