The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-20
INsrALLArIoy OF a NEw PASTOR

OF the Reformed Episcopal Church =
Bisnop LAtane's Sermon The New
Minister.
Rev. William Henry Barnes was yester-
day installed as pastor Of the Reformed
Episcopal Church Of this city. The con-
Sregation has been without minister for
o long time, but recently elected Mr..
Barnes to the vacant position, Gpd fixed
Yesterday as the time and Wiesel Hall rs
the place for the installation exercises.
These were interesting, though exceeding
ly simple.
BISHOP J. J. LGTANE
conducted the services, with the assistance
Of Mr.. Barnes. After the Introductory leg
son and the singing Of the hymn,
AZ love thy Kingdom Lard"
the formal induction into the pas
torste took place. It consisted simply
OF the presentation TO the minister
by the bishop OF the Bible, Book OF Prayer
and Discipline oil the Reformed Episcopal
Church, with the charge to make these his
guides and directors, and the sources OF his
authority in the duties OF his position.
The Bishop then preached q short but
iorcible sermon, founded on the words OF
the latter clause Of the thirty.third
verse OF the tenth chapter OF the
Book Of Acts: "Now, therefore, are we
all here present, before God, to hear all
things that are commanded thee OF God"
The discourse was practical and appro::
pirate, The speaker first outlined the cir
cumstanCes narrated in the context. Cor'
nelius, 9 Roman centurion, had been
commanded by an angel, in q vision, 70
send for Peter, that he might hear the
word preached Alright. Cornelius acted In
accordance with this direction, and his
messenger found Peter just awakened
from a trance in which he had been warn.
ed by God not to call unclean that which
the Almighty had cleansed. This MADE
plain to the Apostle his duty to preach
unto the gentle Cornelius, and 1t was al,
ter narrating to Peter the supernatural
command he had received that the centu'
rion uttered the words OF the text. The
episode was one OF absorbing interest, as
the first occasion where the gospel bad
been preached to gentiles, In connection
with this it was noticed that Cornelius
said. ave are all here" He not only was
thsre himself, but he had induced all the
members OF his household and his kins'
folk and acquaintances TO share with him
the privilege OF hearing the truth. Corne.
lius also recognized that he stood "Detore
God )" and the object Of the gathering was
ito hear all things that are commanded
thee Of God"
From this was drawn a series OF morals.
Firat avery man should feel personally
interested in having full congregation.
The first duty as q means OF securing this
was faithfulness in attending divine GER
vices himself. Then he should use his ill.,
tiuence over the inmates OF his house.
Harsh compulsion was cautioned against,
vel the desirability OF creating ia those Of
tender years the church.going habit was
pointed out. Again, the sense OF the pres.
ence OF God evinced by the Roman COM
mander should be ever present with wor-
shippers assembled ia the house OF God.
They should feel that 1t was indeed the
House OF God, and that 1t ought to be for
them and might be for others the very
gate OF Heaven. But particularly did the
Bishep dwell upon the last fact mentioned
in connection with the occasion to which
the text referred: the purpose for which
Cornelius and his friends had gathered.
They had not been attracted by curiosity
to hear man OF Simon Peters fame. They
did not come together to take and COM
pare notes OF the manners or utterances
Of the preacher, nor were they there as
nice critics OF bis style or hisspeech. They
were there before Peter in the presence Of
God to hear all the truths sent 10 them
from God BY the hands Of Peter. This was
the spirit, the only spirit, In which Chris
tians should be met to,lay-not 10 hear q
famous orator declaim; not to sec aman
OF commanding presence deliver his speech
with graceful gestures, but to hear with
eagerness the words OF truth borne by a
messenger of God,
| Mr.. BARNES
AA,,, q. i.o,,, pnlIirnnrn uhnrn ha hna had