The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-23

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION SERvICES.-At st.
Luke's Cathedral yesterday morning, two can
didates were indicted into the orders of Priest
and Deacon. The altar was beautiful ly deco
rated with flowers. Tha exercises began with
the moving of the procession from the sacristy,
the choir chanting hymn as it entered.
At the close of the singing the Rev. Walter
Mitchell delivered a discourse on the office of
the Priesthood. The following is an abstract:
St. John x, 4. "And when he putteth forth
his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the
sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
The subject OF this sermon Is the Office of
the priesthood. 1t is usually treated as the
ministration of the priest to the people, This
larged upon preliminary inquiry is necessary.
| Before we speak of the Office of the ministry,
we must speak of their commission.
There are and can be but two beliefs concern
| ing this, as there are but two concerning reig-
| ion. There is the religion which claims to be
knowledge of God through revelation, as there
| is that which claims to be an opinion about
| God through reason. So there is the ministry
| claiming to be sent of God, contrasted with
| that originated by man. Ordination must be
| one of two things, mans acceptance by those
| to whom he chooses to minister, or else DOW
er conferred by those who have right to give
it. All true christian history points to and
proves the latter. This defines and declares
to them the revelation of which the priest is
guardian.
The minstration for che people is equally
his office. As the priest is also ofically,i in the
true scripture S nse, the prophet, he is to be
the preacher not merely to declare to them the
word OF God, but to minister it SO that they
snail TRULY and really receive. He is to them
the one who is to, so to speak, translate their
imperfect aspirations into articaate Ian
guage so as to utter to them, that they may
rRaliZn If their striving oft tba
ledge of God
Next the priest stands between the people
and God as the presenter of their worship.
For both effectnal preaching and acceptable
leading of worship there is required of him
faithfulness in the pastoral office The value
OF both the other Two depend very greatly up
on this the third.
If the pastor be loved AMI honored, the
preacher will be listened to, aud the minister
Ing priest be dcvontiy followed. -------.---
All tt is is summed up in tae words OF the
text, HE goet before them, and the sheep
follow him for they know his voice. AS the
priest is faithful to be what in GODS right he
should be,so will be in great measure the faith
full following of the people.
After the sermon Chaplain Hayes aud Rev.
Mr.. Alger of Saco, met the candidates to be
received into the Priesthood and Deaconship.
Mr. Mclaughlin was presented to the Bishop
by Mr. Alger, and Deacon Pyne by Chaplain
Hayes. After the appropriate Offices were read
the Bishop placed his hands upon the head of
Mr. Mclaughlin. and admitted him to the order
| of deacons, and the Rev. Mr.. Pyne crossed the
black stole over his shoulders. After this GER
emony Mr.. Pyne was received into the priest
hood. The Bishop led in the ''Veni Creator
Spiritus" and was assisted by several priests in
the interpostion of hands. The services closed
with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist