Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-11-22
correspondence.
For tho Newsletter

the people Of johnson. We have enjoyed
the exercises Of an ordination, aud listen,
ed to lecture on the Poet Burns. A
few remarks on both Of these matters,
would like TO present TO the readers o
our county paper.
First, the Ordination. 1t took plac,
on Wednesday. Or the full programme
I cannot give a statement. Mr.. e. ii.
French was examined by Council, con
/ yened for that purpose, aud was ordained
by them to the gospel ministry and in,
stalled over the Congregational Church
The sermon was by Rev. } II. Fits Of
Topsfeld, Mass, aud was based on | Cor
I1:l7, For Christ seat me not 10 J0p
TIE, Bu to preach The gospel" Its OBJ
ject was to show the superiority Of a
preaching ministry, as the grand agency
Of Christianity, over Ritualitism. Even
under the Old Dispensation, where RIt.
ualism seemed to be the public religion,
preaching had an important place; and
the very essence Of the New DispensatiOn
consisted in preaching, as distinguished
from liturgicul devotion, Appropriate
alusion to texts of Scripture proved this.
The early history of the church, even in
view of the strug. les of enorisis to convert
the preacher into priest and the commun.
ion into u sacrifice, showed preaching still
to be the cherished method Of all good
men, in carrying salvation to the world.
The gulf of the Dark Ages was passed
over, where the priest and the sacrifice
constituted the main agency Of religion,
and Luther, Calvin, and the later Re.
formers, including the Puritans Of both
Old aud New England, pass in review be.
fore US, as the blessed illustration Of a
ministry whose main function was preach.
ing Christ cruc;Ged ..tothem that believed
the power Of God. This brought the
speaker to allude to the fitness Of preach.
ing to the salvation OF men. The moral
sense Is so awakened, by the truth wisely
applied to the judgment, conscience aud
heart, that the soul, moved to penItence,
bring the Divine Presence to dwell with
it. This being the highest object Of the
christian ministry. there was opened up
before us large view Of the power oil
the gospel to sauclify, and save the world,
though committed to earthen vessels.
If anything might be INDUCED in by
way Of literary criticism, | might say 4
good deal but now, only that the preach.
er was not unfamiliar with elegant letters
The Charge to the Pastor was by Rev
Mr.. Whcelock. and was suited to the &C.
casion. He first called the young pastor,
attention to the need, and to the means oil
promoting health, mtmating that thi,
must be the measure Of usefulness tina,
all he could hope to be, and do, as a preach
er, as pastor, as a student, and even as
u christian, were vitality related to q
healthy state of body. He then pointed
outand enforced more specifically, what he
must now be, and become, as minister OF
Christ in general, and pastor Of this PEG.
pie in particular. Those in that large
audience who had the good fortune tc
hear this Charge, felt that the thought
addressed by the Apostle Paul to the
Joung preacher Timothy, Il Tim. A. l6)
was well illustrated and enforced.
The RaJM Hand Of Fellowship was
extended to Mr.. French by his brother,
Rev. S. F. French, of TeN ksbury, Mass
This address was, in style, ornate, and III
nathos, tender, lie proceeded artlessly
to say-how when they were children,
they enjoyed the instruction, admoni,
ton and care of godly parents, how they
began the life of study together, at the
public schools but now the things Of
childhood were to be passed over, for they
were men called to labor in an employ
ment the most important known to earth
What this brother, therefore, was to be,
and what he was to do, were incidentally
alluded to and then the welcome of the
churches was rendered to him, by an af-
tectionato grasp Of the hand. This scene
closed with much emotion that could not
fail to find response in the bosoms OF
that intelligent audience.
The Charye to the people was by Rev.
Mr.. Woodward, of Milton, and was, as
we might expect from his well trained
mind, and long experience, comprehen.
sive of the duties that the church and con.
gregation owed TO thispastor. They were
to pray for him. This was solemnIy and
tenderly impressed. If he should prove
to have faults land who has notl there
was to be studied, an intentional lenity ;
not Indeed in overlooking what might be
wrong, but forbearing in the defects which
are SO incident to humanity. They were
to love him better than any other pastor,
and were to provide generously for all
his physical wants.
REV. MR.. ESTES LECTURE.
He first sketched in well modelled
memoir the life of the Poet Burns. inter-
spersing it, at proper points, with quota
tons from, or allustions to his poetry
and then for about an hour, he
chained that audience by luasterly anal
ysis Of the character of the man, and the
products of his genius.
Burns was a man OF great indepen-
dence. This was shown by reference to