Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-28
THE PASTORAL RELATION.
of Rev. w. II. Dearborn 3
Pastor of the Universulist Church.

The Rev. ". II. Dearborn Of Boston, few
Winthrop Street Univclsaist church ard society,
of tn city, TO become their pastor Tie pastoral
relations began the first Sunday in September, and
Mr. Dearborn has since labored with great accept
ance to the people Of his charge, who are deemed
fortunate in securing the services of young man
of decided talent broad culture and exemplary
christian character.
The public exercises attending the installation
of Nj. Dearborn were hold last evening, at the
church. and were attended by large and inter-
c:tcd congregation.
The pulpit and platform of the church were
beautifully decorated. even at this inopportune
season of the year, with flowers. A fine tea-
lure of the services, the singing performed by
the choir, Mr.. Charles Johnson, Mrs Fannie Mil
likcn and Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Mlliken.
The services were introduced by a voluntary on
the organ, played by Miss Helen Gushing. An
appropriate prayer Of invocation was offered by
the venerable Rev. VIM. A. Drew of this city, who
was the first pastor of the church. A hymn was
then sung by the choir, and the scripture lesson,
selection from the 10Th chapter of Matthew, was
read by Rev. J. Hatton Weeks
After another hymn by the Choir, tine sermon Of
installation was preached by Prof c, II. Leonard
of TUFTS College.
The subject ef the discourse was 1.-The testimo-
nv of Jesus to HIMSELF" Text, Luke Sth chap,
35th verse; "This is my beloved son; hear him,
We come to invest u christian minister with new
pastorate, and the speaker said he could not do
better than call attention to the great truth winch
| alone makes the church and the ministry posi-
| bic.
| The text implies two facts-frst that there is
| one who shares eternity with the Father; second,
| that this beloved son is the worlds teacher.
Jesus is a revelation from above, and no mere
product Of humanity that he is the one, the be-
loved the eternal son, the rcvealer OF the very es-
SERGE of the Divine, God with us, he did not as
| sume TO be true; indeed he did not assume that
| anything supernatural has vislbly entered INTO
the world TO shape and tone It's life, and utterly 10
redeem it. This is the matter in question. Jesus
| lived and is the central figure and power of the
! go.. els. lie then passed on to review the pro-
| grcss of Christianity and the various beliefs con-
corning Christ. 1t was given IN very clear ana
| lucid manner, showing the various stages and
| progressions of thoughts concerning Christ, and
| the terrible mistakes that have been made con-
| corning him.
| TIC preacher turned from the opinions of men
AMI theories, to the testimony OF Jesus concern
| ing himself. We are simply to hear him; He,
The man, Christ Jesus, shall testify to himself and
his religion. Such life as he lived cannot be ex-
planned by an appeal to natural causes; such
causes are insufficient to account for the life
upon the human side. We should first study the
outward condition of life, as the outward and in
ward are closely related. Events, circumstances,
shape life. But the ordinary laws in this regard
do MOI; apply to Christ at all. What he ultimately
became was very remote from his outward .condl-
ton His early life and training were considered
But however small his training, when Christ
came to preach in the synagogue they were as
tonished, and the inquiry came, whence has this
man this wisdom and these mighty works FORKS. :" So
account for his character and life-they were
originated and sustained in spite Of circumstances
with which no earthly force could have commended:
Secondly, consider the work of Jesus. Here of
course we are debarred from speaking OF the
highest ends of his mission to earth. 1t is enough
to know that Jesus declared himself TO be the
Messiah; from first to last this conviction
was on his mind. lie himself opposed the com
monty received views entertained by the Jews
concerning the Messiah; his views were distinctly
his own and purely original. The Jewish Mes
siah was to be monarch surrounded by earthly
glory; Christ never aspired to that position; the
splendor and pomp Of royalty, the love Of famt