, 1874-06-24

him out as a suitable object Of the pecu-
liar training that precedes confirmation.
Tobias M6rcb, the Greenlander whose ordi-
nation at the metropolitan Church in Copen-
hagen on the 18th Of May produced SO much
sensation, was bern in 1910, in Upernavik,
absolutely at the outermost limit Of he range
of human life. In 1872 he came to Denmark,
where the King, and the Primate, the eminent
Or. Martensen, united in showing him p|articu-
lar kindness and attention and after two years
careful instruction, he has now been publicly
sent out to carry the Gospel to his couatrymen.
The 18th of May Will be a notable day in
the annals Of the Lutheran Church, for this is
the first time that & native Grcenlander has
been ordained.
The ceremony was held in Oar Lady's
Church, and long before the time, the whole OF
that great building was ~thronged with specta-
tors. The Metropolitan Church has no archi-
|tectural beauty outside, and inside it has more
the aspect Of a GfHco-Roman temple than Of an
ecclesiastical structure. But it has an extra
ordinary Individuality of its o#n. Over its
altar rises the colossal figure Of Christ, in the
act of blessing the elements, which is one of
Th0rWaldsen's n0bl st works. The Twelve
Apostles of the same master, colossal figures
of a beauty rather philosophical than Christian,
line the nave. Round the apse runs the eXqui-
site friez3 Of Christ bearing his cross to Calya-
ry. From every corner of the church the spirit
Of IhorWaldsen seems to breathe that CLASH
cal spirit of his seems to retreat from its old
Greek studies to pray here awhile, but there IS
still a ring of Pindar and Euripedes in its tones.
Like the Greek Christian poetry Of the Church's
first centuries, a strong echo of the pagan form
sounds in all the harmonies. Our Lady's
Church, unsuited as it is for the usual forms Of
Lutheran worship, seems specially contrlYed
for the ceremony of ordination. After a sermon
of some length from q young pastor, the eyes
of the vast assembly turned to the door OF the
South Chapel, from which tho Bishop, in his
robes of silver satin, emerged, and rapidly as
oended the altar, followed by all the candi-
dates for ordination, who arranged themselves,
k~neeling, around The a~ltar-rail. The central
figure among the latter was the Greenlander.
1t was easy to recognise him; his low stature,
high cheek-bones, and narrow eyes proclaimed
the Esquimaux, perhaps MongOIian type. 1t
was a remarkable contrast to look at the SEN
sitive, intellectual face of DIR. Martensen, and
then at the fiat features Of the young candidate
before him. The greatest philosophical gent
US that the Lutheran Church possesses in all
Europe stood face to face with one who was
but lately a savage Of the dullest Of the worlds
races. DR.. M4rtenson then delivered an ad-
dress that the clock assured enc was long, but
the eloQuence, ~fervour, and grace Of which pre-
vented the attention from becoming weary.
lie dwelt on the unique character of the event
that brought them together. Remembering
how many other candidates were present, he
would fain have made his remarks more gener-
al, but it was evident that the excitement of
the scene oyorcame him, and he had eyes and
words only for the Greenlandcr. With an ex-
qaisite fervour and pathOs he pointed out the
desolate condition of the scattered tribes, only
10000 persons in all, who seek q miserable
livelihood in the frozen seas and on the sterile
plains of Greenland. When the candidates had
entered in procession, another procession Of the
clergy of the diocese had followed them, and
taken their places in the choir, in a square
around the winged angel that Thorwaldsen
designed to bear the font. When the address
was over the candidates descended from the
altar, and forming in procession again, walked
round the choir, each to receive the greeting of
each priest. They returned to their kneeling
posture the Bishop then prepared to perform
the act of ordination, while the clergy gathered
and thronged on the altar-steps, to support
their brethren with their presence. When the
prelate reached the Greenlander, a special ex-
citement seemed to move in the congregation.
Amid the deepest silence, and with a voice
trembling with emotion, DIR. Martensen or
L m - Es.zI 20 ~ n ~rfoCR IF thn