Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-02
SERVICES Of Ordination.

StfNlCcs Oh
About six weeks ago the society connected
with the Pleasant street Baptist church of this
city, having been without a settled pastor for
nearly year and half, extended call to Rev.
Isaac Il. Wheclock to become their pastor. He
accepted the call and the services of ordina-
ton, by which he was formally placed in charge
over the people in accordance with the usages of
the denomination, occurred last evening. Mr..
Wheelock is a young man fresh from the theO-
logical seminary at Newton, from which institu-
ton he was graduated at the commencement
last June. He was also member of the class
of SO at Brown university.
Agreeably TO letters missive issued from the
Pleasant street church, aud ecclesiastical couu-
Gil, consisting of delegates from churches of the
denomination in Clinton, Marlboro, Grafton,
Milbury, East Boston, Springfield and this
city, assembled in the afternoon to examine the
candidate in regard to his Christian experience,
dOctrina views, and general fitness for the posi-
ton Rev. c. NJ. Bowers, D. d. of Clinton, was
moderator, and Rev. S. J. Bronson of Millbury,
clerk. The examination passed off creditably
to the candidate and satisfactorily to the mem
ordination services in the evening.
A large audience assembled in the church at
half-past seven to witness and take part in the
public services of ordination. The pulpit was
very prettily decorated with profusion of nat
ural flowers, which diffuScd pleasing fra
GRANGE through the audience room. The SER
vices, which were conducted by Rev. DIR. Bow
ers, opened with an organ voluntary, followed
by theianthem, 90, how lovely is Zion, and the
chaunt, 81 have set watchmen upon Thy walls, ."
finely performed by a chorus choir. Rev. j. T.,
Burhoe of Marlboro read a selection of scrip
ture from the second chapter of the second
epistle to Timothy, and Rev. c. d. L. Meacham
of Coldbrook offered the Introductory prayer,
which was followed by the hymn:
1--WE bid thee welcome in the name
OF Jesus, our exalted Head"
Rev D. B. Cheney, D. D., of East Boston,
preached the sermon, which was a clear and
forcibe presentation of the leading truths of
the New Testament, and was listened to with
close and earnest attention by the audience.
The text was taken from the 4th verse of the
oath chapter of the gospel according to Luke;
Beginning at Jerusalem" The speaker began
by saying that the general application of this
text at this day is that Christians must begin
their work at once, and wherever called. This
is the natural application, but upon close exam
ination other lessons could be drawn from it,
no less important and instructive. First, that
that the gospel must he a system of mercy, or it
would not have been first proclaimed at Jernsa-
lem, where the Savior and his followers had
suffered such indignites at the hands of the
people. Second, the gospel must have system
of truth or it would not have been believed at
Jerusalem, for if the facts of the gospel were
not true and well attested, they could have been
easily controverted. Third the gospel must be
a system of power or it would not have pre-
vailed in Jerusalem. The tendency of the re-
ligion Of Jesus in all ages has been to humble
the pride of the intellect. This obstacle existed
in Jerusalem, but there were other reasons which
operated againstIt; the religion had already been
preiudged, and Christ rejected; it required the
Jews TO give up their old religion and traditions !;
the representatives chosen to present the new
gospel from the poorer walks of life, were STUN
bling blocks to the proud and naughty people !;
and they feared to break away from the religion
of their fathers to follow Jesus, as il required of
them great sacrifices, perhaps even of life. But
in spite of all the obstacles the gospel did pre-
vail, and that nightly. The preacher argued
from this fact that the mercy of the gospel
should melt all hearts, the truth should be re-
ceived and believed, and the power should
bring everything into subsection before it, and
cause the believer to lead a rure life upon earth
which would fit him for the enjoyment of
heaven.
He closed by saying that this is the gospel
which the new pastor would preach, and as
a former pastor OF the candidate he cordially
recommended him to the people, and urged them
, to sustain him heartily.
AT the close of the address the ordaining
prayer was offered by Rev. Hemon Lincoln, D.
D. of the Newton theological seminary, while
the clergymcn present placed their hands upon
the head of the candidate who was kneeling be-
fore the pulpit.
The hand of fellowship was extended by Rev.
II. X. Pervear of this city. Mr.. Pervear adj
dressed the candidate briefly in behalf of the
council, and welcomed him cordially to his new
field oflabor. He alluded to the fact that at the
present time he is the only Baptist minister
who is settled in this city. The act of giving
the hand of fellowship is symbolical, and is an
old practice originating among the early Chris.
tians. 1t is typical of good feeling and of a
welcome to the Christian ministry with its en-.
joyment, cares, labors and trials. In this de-
nomination their are no bishops or presiding
elders, but there are brethren, and he advised
the candidate to turn to them for encourage
ment and support
Rev. DIR. Bowers delivered the charge to the
candidate, and the venerable clergyman, draw
iug from the rich experience of fifty years in
the Christian ministry, spoke eloquent words of
caution and instruction to the young man be-
fore him, just entering upon his life work He
charge@ him to be honest, generous, cheerful,
honorable, faithful and holy, and to avoid
every habit calculated to give offence and not
to strive for applause or seek calls from other
and richer churches. The address was CAPT.
tai one, and, though very earnest, at times con-
tanned sly touches of humor, which were well
appreciated.
The address to the church was delivered by
happy manner to the one'sided way in which
pastors were called, saying that the merits and
dement's of the candidate were thoroughly dis
cussed without his being allowed to say word
for himself. He alluded to the words of the
apostle Paul in his epiStle to the Romans:
Greet Priscilla and AQuila my helpers in
Christ Jesus, and asked them what they would
do to help their new pastor. He charged them
to attend regularly the meetings for worship,
to work in the same field that he does by cor
daily welcoming people to the church, and
endeavoring to draw sinners to repentance, to
pray for him, and above all, to render him help
by living up to their religion.
The hymn, "And now the solemn deed is
DONE" was then sung by the congregation, fol-
lowed by the antbem, "Savor, breathe an even
ing blessing" The benedcton was pronounced
by the pastor.
COUNTY NEWS.