Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-05
A New Pastor.
Rev. NIT. SamsOn's IntroducgOry Dis- course at the Calvary Baptist Church.

RcVs 1fs SamSOn'S Introductory IBIS.
 course at the Calvary Baptist l
 Church.
 A large congregation was present at the Cal l vary Baptist church yesterday morning to welcome the new pastor, Rev. MT. Samson. The pulpit and reading desk were handsomely decorated with flowers, while large floral cross was placed in front of the communion table. The scholars of the Sunday school
 with their teachers were seated in the galleries
 and sang the hymns of opening service with
 excellent effect, under the leadership of MT.
 F. R. Bliss as precentor, and the quartette
 choir.
 After the usual opening exercises Rev. MT.
 Samson announced as the basis of his remarks
 the words found in Galatians, 9th chapter,
 14th verse: ''But God fosbid that should
 glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
 Christ" The preacher spoke in substance as
 follows: The Apostle Paul was neither 6
 bigot, fanatic or an enthusiast. When he
 stood before Agrippa defending himself with
 consummate skill and was told that he was
 beside himself, he said: q am not mad,
 most noble Festus, for speak forth words of
 truth and soberness.' The doctrine of the
 Galatians was peculiar in some respects they
 were in danger of falling from the teachings of
 Paul. Other teachers had followed him and
 other doctrines were subverting the doctrines
 of the Galatian church, when Paul hastens
 to check these growing evils. He vindicates
 his title to the apostolic office, develops the
 salient truths of the gospel, and then says,
 'iGod forbid that should glory save in the
 cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" The Apostle
 Paul was farthest removed from Journalist. He taught the doctrines of salvation through I sR-I IDzIz IT kI. L, ming of his epistle that Christ gave himself for our sins, and there is no more indubitable truth in history than this. The principle of this fact WAS for the deliverance of man from the power of sin. It was Gods great design. All laws must have penalty, and since men are l under Gods law. Christ redeems us from the power of the law. There isimparted un- to us the spirit through faith to save us from sin. It was this in which Paul gloried. In the church at Corinth there were two classes ! that were particularly obnoxious to Paul, and these were the Jews and Greeks. They were | famed in art and literature, but for the Church of Christ they had nothing but con- tempt; so with the church at Galatia. It was with these classes that Paul combated and | when he did interpose he became stumbling block unto them. To Paul there was no re- ligion but that of Christ that WAS at all satis- 1 flying. He became satisfied with the efficacy of the plan of salvation. He that could heal | the sick, restore sight to the blind and raise | the dead, must be more than man to him, and he could not doubt that He was the Sa- viour of the world. The dead Christ was | necessary to effect reconciliation between God and man, and when He went out and l bowed his head and gave up the ghost and | died, the reconciliation WAS completed. The l cross had given Paul power over himself. If | we study his life we find it a life in many of 1 it's characteristics without a parallel; the cross had given him power to control his af | fictions among others. In very con- nection with our text he says: Bear ye one anotner's burdens and so fulfill the
 law of Christ" Let us cling to the doctrines
 of the cross as the only hope of the worlds l salvation. We may Waver over doctrinal points, but the Malakoff Of our religion is | Christ crucided. This to us is the power of l God unto salvation. Lastly, 1t is our duty to l give ourselves to the work of saving the world. May the spirit of Paul be our spirit, l both of pastor and people, as I this morning | inaugurate my ministry among you.
 The discourse, which was delivered entirely without notes, and of which we have given ! only brief abstract was 8 fine effort and evidently made an excellent impression upon | the audience. The new pastor is young man, speaks without apparent effort, and has l 8 clear musical voice that attracts the listener | from the first. His gestures are appropriate, made just in the right place. and not in the least overdone. His coming to New Haven VIII Oo u fdiuGp1e acqulsltlon to Ine ranks or the clergy.
 The Sunday school of this church held their quarterly session yesterday, reporting 593 | .as the present membership, with an average l attendance of 3S9 the last quarter. Forty | five names of scholars were read who had | been present every Sabbath, 21 for six
 months, for nine months, 8 for twelve | months and 24 for fifteen months. Collec- lions, $105.13, making an average of $8.O9 l for each Sunday. Class banners were given | to Miss Ada T. Somers' class for best contri-
 buttons; Edward J. filings class for best
 order; Miss M. E. Miners class, best | attention to singing, and to Miss Barber's I infants class for best attention to lessons.
 Messrs. Weir, Curtis and Mcdonald wers very I happy in their presentation of the banners, ] while Dr. Hill spoke of his being the old
 man who lifted the first spade of dirt for the foundation of that church edifce, and how he 1 remembered the small Sunday school which first met in the church, and that it was now four times larger, said to be now the largest Sunday school in the city. Rev. MT. Sam son and wife were present, showing that they mean to care for the lambs of the flock like good shepherds. The pastors few words were an omen of good.