Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-03
Ordination.

The ordination of Rev. John H. Hincks,
of Bridgeport, Conn, as pastor of Bethany
church, in this place, occurred on Thursday
OF last week. The council was composed of
the churches in Barre, Woodbury., North
field, Roxbury, Waitsfeld, Waterbury,
Marsh6eld, Berlin, Worcester, West Berlin,
Royalton, Williamstown, West Randolph
and the First Congregational church in
Bridgeport, Conn. also, Rev. Messrs. f. Y.
Hincks of Portland, Me-, r. b. Thurston
of Saybrook, Conn, aud NJ. H. Buckham, d.
d., of Burlington. The church in Plain
field was the only one invited which was
not represented in the council.
The council assembled in Bethany church
at ten O'Clock A. Nj, and were organized in
council by the appointment of Rev. c. b.
Drake, d. d., moderator, and Rev. William
s. Hagen scribe. The minutes of the
church and society of Bethany, in calling
Mr.. John II. Hincks to be their pastor and
teacher, being called for by the council,
were presented and read by their respective
secretaries, aud approved by the council also,
Mr.. Hincks acceptance. At this stage of the
proceedings, feature which we have not
before seen in the Congregational councils
of this state, but which 10 always part OF
Presbyterian ordination and installation,
was adopted. At the motion of Rev. S. w.
Dixie, seconded and supported by President
Buckham, and ruled in order by the moder-
ator, Bethany church was called upon to
give its views and purposes in calling Mr.,
Hincks to its pastorate. The church re-
sponded clearly and happily through its
committee, Hon. Z. p. Walton.
Mr.. Hincks at the call of the council pre-
scented his letters of church membership and
licensure. He also gave brief account Of
his Christian experience and views in wish
ing to enter upon the ministry, and written
statement of his theological views and doc
trinal belief. He was further questioned
and examined in relation to his views and
purposes pertaining to the duties of the min
lister and pastor. Mr. Hincks' statements on
all these points were clear and very salts
~
Whereupon the council voted to proceed to
the ordination and assigned parts as follows
for the afternoon at two oclock-which
parts were performed according to assign
meDt Voluntary on the Organ Invocation,
by Rev. j. F. Stone; singing the "Te
Deum," by the choir; responsive reading
of eighty-fourth Psalm, aud Prayer, by Rev.
L. Tenney; reading of Scripture, II. Tim.
othy, second chapter, by Rev S. H. Robin
son singing the four hundred and eighty
third hymn, A glory gilds the sacred
page" by the choir; sermon, by Rev. +. Y.
Hincks, John xii % and O.; ordaining
PRAYER, by Rev. C. B. Drake, ID. D.. anthem
by the choir, How beautiful upon the
mountains" charge to the pastor, by Rev
r. B. Thurston; fellowship of the churches,
by Rev. w. S. lIazen address to the people
by President NJ, H. Buckham, d. D.; an.
them by the choir, 81 will be glad and rejoice
in thee" prayer, by Rev. II. IIerrick bene
diction, by the pastor, Rev. John II. Hincks
Thus was Rev. John II. lIincks duly con
stituted pastor and teacher of Bethany
church. The council was large and full
The examination of the candidate was ably
conducted and as ably sustained. The au
dience at the ordination services was large
and deeply interested in the OCCASION and IN
the parts so successfully performed. The
organist and choir added greatly to the in
terest of the occasion. The floral decora
tons were in exceptionally good taste, anc
all things seemed to conspire to give i'm
pressiveness to an occasion which of tse
was fraught with the deepest interest to tht
parties Immediately concerned.