New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-28
NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD.


r,aon by ne Rer Dr. jr tie Ordination " Dedcons al
7r,aVy ChuTct (Irotstam EptsoopqD.
The services at Trinity Church in this city
Yesterday morning consisted OF morning prayer at 93O
and service for the OIdaning Of Deacons followed by
communion service The young men who were ordained
were Henry j. Jardine Floyd w. Thompson ana Amos
T. Ashton graduates of the General Theological SEMI
nary Tho sermon at tho request OF the Bishop, was
preached by the Rector the Rev. Dr. Dix Inc services
were conducted by Bishop Potter assisted by tho Rev
DIS Buell. and Ogilby, and the Rev. MessrS Rush and
Huchns The laying OF hands was by Bishop fOter'
The text was taken from II. Corinthians ", 20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though
God did beseech you by US; We pray you In Chrsts
stead. be ye recOnciled to God"
In what better way can the nature Of the Christian
priesthood be st form an 10y S"n,asumg tnU pUP" o
authority OF Holy scripture ana the DOCK OF common
prayer. 70 this occasion the time allotted 10 inc
preacher VIII be devoted A." hdt Inc. 10 Sllla'ii'i
muistcrl l. he hut man Ike any Other professional
man or is there III his Office something which marks
him distinct from other mtn' ana u so %mt
is tie diilccncel Now tbs * question whlch
particularly tnan the thoughtful younS
men Who present themselves today 10 receive the
The 4 examination Is passed; the day for ordination
has come. The young ncpplyte tndlng himself In tLr
house Of God may well ask himself Coughtiniy what X
,'''9 ',~. c5nncc in mel WI IL rive me Wiling
which could not otherwise be Obatnedf am Ia take
l1oot NM ~, "i,r AMI bcv, me- re social consider,,-
tion Is there aught else coming on met Is there augLt
-, t,i. service that / cannot understand but whicn
t're and r,all Il there "A mystery in this transaction
which men never penetrate The power OF God IL
descend upon him, en1bing MN 10 work spiritual
works influence the word otner than by his mere nat
ur ability recent Requirements Whatever tAey may
What isl dcaconi What a pricsti Is he merely
cent ont do what naturally lie can by talking on 10
lIOn and morality, and using his influences s best he
can to bring men back 10 the right path Is there no
thirs more ysfcrious than IN the commencement Of
school OF law Of medicine. when youngmcn are sent out
10 plead and practice the healing ati On has this
81 n
II one which man on earth can take OF himself which
40 one or aggregate OF men, However pous and
rOdly can give It's ordained OF God Thus Will
a young man question IL his heart II solemn
hour like the present. There are two Ideas re-
carIing the Ministry. Some regard It as one OF the
many professions. though doubtless the highest
and best OF all There others VINO regard 1t as part
OF thc world Some think Of II only as an nOuOr-
able Calling and by others it is regarded as holy
0hco, ana Us pressing an hueiiOe stamp upon nm VINO
receives IL Is not shOn Of It's power by anything IN
the priest himself II is something no man can give,
and when conferred can neNor DC taken away Nhl Is
tine popular idea of the ministry a young man uhds
that ne has publications. good voice. gut Instruct
lns, aptn,sS Oh tcachiHS; ne can m"Vo anu ihPlvss
other men. ana has sirOng aud sympathetic nature
BY and 10y experience makes him thoughtful ana lie
thinks Oi Goa ana OI MS sOul' Ol SUI anu HS hHu
turned toward the h!niltiy lie cutlNates himself Tor
the work and at last ashs to he ordained Now TINS Is
statement 0i the popular theory OF the ministry, ~ Is
what think ia their mind when they cry out against
the ministry Ihey TANK tL't minister ~oiAs M,nVVnI
by Ills natural ahity, cultivated ana eIaiSed, anu nat
any and every man hls the night and power OF preaching
We take OF TIC ministry hOm TIE Holy scrip
tues and from the Book Oi Common ilayer we gamer
from the Holy Scriptures uIs that IL Is priesthood
lie lllCstLOOu Vas not dDOlsncu, IL was Ong
There remain the altar the SIT OF al hose niSs whlca
b, long To the Institution OF tie Lord. Second, 1t
includes consists Of divine gilt IL does not come III
customary, but in special and unusual way. BY the
putting II the git Ui Cod Thirdly. the mon who put
On that kit are OF Christ An eLDaSsalOr
Is who Representa- the sovereign who holds In
strange lands tho sOYercisus place. His word Is the
word sovereign. They in the full sense OF the
word Christs ambassadors. Fourth they are stewards
of the mysteries OF cod The steward Is one who has
charge Of his masters goods and treasures. They are
stewards having chare Ol Gods sacred ny 5teres. hcd
iug Gods UcJ und the reach Of nin it. Lcy
arc laDOIcrs together " III God.
Next let US Oisn the Book OF Common Prayer ana see
tho view there given OF the ministry First We mud The
priest Tne priesthood then, recognized and as
real and true for church does not deal III shals
Second, their office Is holy uhcOn ana To be re'cr-
enced. Tmrd they called walchincn and stewards
work they punished Lut lot us come back 10
the question proposed AT the outset: What Is Chris
tan ministry Upon the testimony or the church or
Cvd ain hTs that the Oiice Of the Christian nin
is divine ana unique and, second. IL ulcs IrOln
In this, that whereas, III any profession, art or
trade work with teir natural powers for the
bringing abOt vi result, III This profession men deal
with things OF another world, eudOMed with
Supernatural nature, and have Larger sphere
than that OF their natural ability These men
aIe the agents Oi God aud constitute the Chris
tan priesthood. The priest, therefore. stands on
"a plane fax above tie lawyer, the physician,
tne soldier. Many works they may and must do, but
far above them tie works OF the priest or Cod Thus,
them beloved Orethren should 80 esteem men In this
OCe. Take away the Christian priesthood ana tue whole
church system falls. Let the ministry be regarded only
rs order OF banded together good and work
ns by natural abilities aud gradually your conception of
church government, divine worship, VIII shrink TO
the Dimensions OF the things of the world To deny the
sacredncss OF the Christian ministry. to reduce II ~
mere profession, Is " take away the whole church
system.