The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-19

Ine exercises or tue INSTALLATION TOOK place
IN the church at o'clock in the evening
There was a large concoarse of people in at
tendance, the pews on the floor and in the
galleries being filled. The desk, communion
table and platform were handsomely decorat-
ed with flowers. The services were as follows
Reading of the proceedings of the Council
bv the Scribe, Rev. Mr.. Harris, of Auburn
Invocation and reading of Scripture by Rev.
Mr.. Fullanton, Of Cumberland Mills.
PRAYER bv Rev. g. q Parker of Gorham.
Singing -Hsm 1909. u
Father Of mercies, lend thine ear.
Sermon by Prof. Barbour OF Bangor Semi
nary,
Ordaining prayer and laying on of hands by
Rev Stephen Thurston of Searsport.
Chant-1Ol5th hymn
With heavenly power, Lord defend.
Charge to the Faster, by Rev. DR.. Carruth-
ers of Portland.
Right Hand Of Fellowship, by Rev. Newman
Smythe of Bangor.
Singing by the Congregation-hymn 1928
How beauteous are their feet
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Ober Of West End
Chapel.
Benedction by the Pastor.
The charge to the church and people was as.
signed to Rev. Mr.. Fem OF High ST. Church,
ouI uc ucCllucu ~ Ou dCCUuub'Ol LIo DrleI Clme
allowed him to prepare it.
The services were all of very interesting
nature. The charge to the pastor by Rev. DR..
Carruthers was eloquent and forclble, and the
Doctor was peculiarly impressive in its delv-
cry. The Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev.
Newman Smythe of Bangor, was beautiful and
fraternal. He was fellow student with Rev.
Mr.. Hincks, and every remark he uttered
seemed to come from the deepest recesses of
his heart. The sermon by Prof. Barbour was
one of his strong and powerful productions,
and eloquently delivered. The subject was
prayer. He commenced as follows:
Although not of those who hold that there is
any particular type of church order insisted on
in the New Testament, we are always delight
ed to find our church practices sustained by
the New Testament.
This days business has been full of the SIM
pie methods of the primative churches. We
have had the call OF one Christian church to
the 'elders and chosen men" Of certain neigh.
boring churches; the election of the pastor by
the brotherhood; the presentation of him for
u ie laying on OF hands of the presbyters' ; the
friendly result Of council declaring v bat
seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us''
and in short time we are to say with tho
council at Jerusalem to the church that called
it: If you stand by our advice, "Ye shall do
we'll. Fare you well.'
And SO our churches hold on this way, never
counselling, never commanding one another.
Dee ming it wise to let the discourse be in
keeping with the scriptu al simplicity of the
occasion, and repairing to the precedents of
the apostolic churches for q theme, have
found one to my purpose in the Acts of the
Apostles, 9th chapter, 4th verse:
But ace acW giUe ourselues continually to
prayer and to the ministry of the acord.
The connection is as follows: "And in those
days when the number of the disciples was
multiplied, there arose murmurng of the
Grecians against the Hebrews because their
widows were neglected in the daily mil is
trat'On. Then the twelve called the multitude
of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not
reason that we should leave the word of God
and serve tables Wherefore, brethren, look
We out among you seven men of honest report
iull of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. whom we
may appoint over this business. But we will
rive ourselves continually to prayer and to the
ministry OF the word"
Searching this scripture for instruction suit
able to this occasion, we discover various time
ly and important truths any or all of which
might safford aus fitting theme. For ex-
ample:
l. That the Christian ministry adapts it.
self to changes in the divine providence An
increase of disciples, and a consequent pres
sure of Get tain duties, called for relief and the
apostles Judging that the best conservative Of
their MINISTERIAL power would be a wholesome
change. relief was had by change of ministra-
ton.
Hence we find that an apostolic ministry is one
that proposes for itself suitable adjustments of
its work to providential demands.
2. Again, we here fud that the direction in
which an apostolic ministry changes in to-
wards a freedom from secular things,-even
the secular of the church. Observe, that
| the apostles shook themselves free from very
benevolent work and one that gave them great
influence among the people for the sake Of in
''vidne' attention to the spiritual side of the
| in calling.
A SIGNIFICANT scripture this, for those who
are DEBATING which way the modern ministry
should go,-into the seculariiies of life, to
show that their profession has a good deal that
is secular in it, or out of as many things secu-
lar as possible, that they may preserve their
time and power for things spiritual.
3. Again, this scripture discloses (enforces,
should say the fact that an apostolic minis
trv 10 "na consecrated to prayer as well as to
preaching
& Aao.ber thing revealed here is that an
apostolic ministry adheres to scriptural themes
in preaching. The ministry Of the Word
| not philosophy, although they had Grecians to
preach to, fond of philosophy; not the tradi-
tions, although they had Hebrew hearers WHO
would have relished en- appeal to the learning
God-spoken by the prophets in times past, in
| the last days spoken by the Son.
8. And yet again, this scripture instructs us
that an apostolic ministry very willingly keeps
at this spiritual, scriptural, prayerful work; it
gives itself to it continually, expressing no de-
sire to vary it, no hope of outgrOwing it, no
tb 'noht OF waarving in it.
These, and perhaps other truths, hav-
ing umeiy interest, ale in the scripture
chosen; but it is impossible to do justice to
them all, in the hour devoted to preaching. 1,
therefore, single one out, and invite your at
teution to some thoughts upon it suit. BILE to
the induction into Office of this young follow
er of the apostles. My purpose is to speak
upon Prayer its place and its power in the
minister's work.
"But we viii give ourselves continually to
PRAYER and to the ministry of the Word"
Very plainly it has place; and that not a
subordinate one. By the wording of the text
| it has the preference of preaching. At any
rate, we give it simply scriptural place when
we saw it is equally with preaching the minis
ter's work.
Particularly this devotion to prayer is mani
tested in the place it held in the apostolic min
istry. According to the scriptures they abound
ed in prayer, and that, not only on stated and
public occasions They offered private and
pastoral prayers foI particular churches aud
Individuals. Paul prayed for the EphesIans,
Colosslans. and Philippians, for things they
needed. He must have given himself to pas
toral as we'll as public prayer.
A further remark is that the nature of the
ministerial office gives prayer prominent
place in the ministers work. The Christian
ministry is not a priesthood but a service, an
| ambassadorship, beraldry. The minister
| then is ordained to run between the living St-
vior and The dying world; speaking Christ's
word TO men and carving human wants to
| Christ. Wherever the minister goes to preach
| therefore he also goes to pray.
This leads us to the consideration of the DOW
| er of prayer in the minister's work.
First, On the minister himself A primary
| force in every profession is character. With
ont character, matured by prayer no one car
sustain himself in the Christian ministry
Preaching makes strong drafts on the preach
er's spiritual powers and be NUT be replen;sh
ed from Heaven. Without prayer too the min
lister Is apt to become d'ctatOrial, i'm pate It,
imperious, in the most Christian duties Wer'
he as full of prayer as the Scrptural place de
| him. PRAYER makes the strong more gentle
and the gentle more strong, the rough wore
| smooth and the feeble word mighty.
Secondly,-Consider what prayer does TO
the word administered. 1t gets fair-play 10
10. Lit preachers do not praV they will ne 'ec
the truths that lie near to God. As Apostolic
example shows, the men who regulated eatlns
ana drinklog, buying and selling, speakips
ana singing by the glory of God rose also tt
control OF the world, in the great mystery O
Goodness. in the worship of the Redeemed anc
the splendors of the final Judgment.
Further, prayer secures good setting for tn,
Truth when presented. 1t provides the hes,
accessories and gives the best hope of succ, =,
by securing delivery in the atmosphere O
HeaVen. for in that alone can heavenly trutl
have any vitality Again, prayer secutes unan
unity of sentiment on the truth. There ar,
several doctrines of election preached, but onl,
one is prayed. And SO of salvation by graci
| or works. Whoever prays any other doctrine