Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-07
INSTALLATION.

Interesting Services at the Central Presby
terian Churche Last Evening-Instal
lation of Rev. Maclaren-Epitome of tn
Sermon OF Rev M. d. Edwards.
The Central Presbyterian church on Ceda
street, opposite the capitol, was the fcene of es
pecial and unusually interesting ceremonie
last evening. The occasion was the installaticl
as pastor, of the Rev. r. F. Maclaren and tn
church was crowded with worshipers, the CON
gregations of the Dayton avenue and the Firs
Presbyterian church being in attendance in ad
dition to the regular congregation. The Rev
DR.. Beatty presided, assisted by the Revs. N
ID. Edwards, Rev. DIR. Rhieldaffer, Rev., DIR
Conn and the pastor. The pulpit and altar pre-
sented an unusually handsome appearance, be
ing lavishly adorned with exotics ard floral of
ferings.
The exercises were opened with song anC
prayer, following which a sermon was preache,
by the Rev. M. ID. Edwards, who based his re
marks on Paurs Epistle to the Ephesisns
Iv-xvI. 100
From whom the whole body fitly Joined to
gether and compacted by that which ever,
joint supplieth, according to the effectua
working In the measure of every part, maketl
increase IF the body unto the edifying of itsel
in love-" .t'7e
The reverend speaker first defined the essenc.
of spiritual growth in the church, and COM
pared the true work of the church to consist il
ceaseless effort to form spiritual likeness Il
God.
Some thought that no matter what its spirit
ual growth, If only the pews were filed it was
considered a successful enterprise Neverthe
less, the financial standing or size of church
was not the test of usefulness. It was the up.
ward and not the expansive tendency of the
church that represented its true development.
dead church could only grow by accretion; a
living church is only growing when there is an
increase in spiritual life.
Obtaining addition is truly essential to the
prosperity of the church. but
not the best of its power. The great work of
the church is to gain souls for heaven. Many
churches had swelling numbers and large rev
enues, but considered from their spiritual use-
fulness they were dead to the world. 1t was
not mere counting of noses-how many he
could get into the church-but the extent to
which souls We're trained for heaven. Paul's
description ofthe church at Ephesas was cited as
the type of spiritual and useful congregation.
Spiritual strength, indwelling of Christ,
filled with the divine presence, were conditions
that made and consecreated the true work of
the church. If body of believers grow in any
true sense they must grow in the direction of
holiness. Many serious evils resulted from the
development of the erroneous idea that the
church work consisted in gathering recruits in
stead of making saints. There was spiritual
blight affected churches, the developments is all
above while decay is allowed to set in at the
roots, the source of spiritual sustenance.
BY The speaker here alluded to the vulgar clap
trap bats thrown out by the sensationally in
clined to induce people to attend church. The
speaker said it was proper to present the truth
in attractive FORMS. The church had its prop
er attractions in rhetoric, music and art. This
craving for sensationalism in religion was be-
coming fatal to the true purposes of religion.
The truth is not half SO effectual when sur
rounded by the alluring bait of deleterious art.
There are church methods which attract GER
tain class, but they subordinated spiritual
aims to love of display. Under the modern
display of sensational the church too frequent
ly became like club intended to attract the
patronage of the rich. When the church walks
uprightlv in the sight of God the world would
follow. The way to get people into the pews
was to get Christ into Christian hearts. Let
Christians come into close contact with God
and there would be magnetic potency to at
tract sinners. A holy life was the irrefragable
the logic of holy character was
unans werable. e1t<
The true way to build up church was the
development of spiritual life. What was need
ed was not more members but renewed faith,
and believers. Novelty might attract the
crowd but display would not build the spirit
ual edifice. Personal developement of spiritual
life, struggling after the development of
a Christian character, was the true way to in
crease the church.
my faith looks up to Thee" was sung, after
which the constitutional questions were pro-
pounded to the pastor and congregation by the
Rev. DR.. Beatty.
The motives which had actuated the call
were alluded to. and reference was made to the
pastors former services at Red Wing following
which tho constitutional questions were made
and answered, when the relations of r. f. Mac
laren as pastor of the church were declared
The charge to!the pastor was then made Sy Rev.
Dr.. Rhieldaffer in an earnest and, impressive
manner. He commended the new pastor to his
charge, reminding him to take heed to himself
and to the teachings of God. He was exherted
to preach the word-nOt to the ears alone, not
to attract the attention of the world, but the
pure simple gospel of God, which abounded
in power for every good work. He was adiured
to pay attention TO the doctrines-tbelieving in
Christ as the savior of man-it was necessary
that the people should be we'll acquainted
with the plan Of salvation. 1t wss the PASTORS
duty to consider himself the fatkerof the flock
The pastor shonld visit and know each and
every member of the church. He was charged
to feed not only the sheep but the lambs of
the tiOck-all the young people of the church
whether baptized or not Every young man
and woman needed the pastors special care
much more so after they were members tLan
before. Careful and continual study of the
word, with frequent prayer, was paramount
condition to the success of the model pastor.
Too much attention was given to the sermon
and too little time given to prayer. Finally, a
pastor should not conine himself alone to his
own church. He should look beyond True
benevolence extended beyond the limits of the
church.
The learned speaker closed with words of en-
and the hope that the pastorage
would become power in the community.
DR.. Conn followed with the charge to the
people. He said that the obligations were not
all one side-it was mutual covenant. The
speaker thought the congregation were not in
need of special admonition. But there were
mutual relations to be observed. The first
duty of the people was to provide proper
for the pastor and family-a kind
and liberal support-to exercise charity, edu-
cate his children and lay up something for the
time of need. If poverty was good for the
layman it was good for the preacher. The days
of sheepskins we're over, and the era of purple
and fine linen was at hand. OFF with the
muzzle and let the OK eat as he treads the corn.
withthe promptitude of note at bank.
The pastor was not alone to be literally sup
ported. He was entitled to the love and re-
spect of the congregation. The pastor is the
ambassador of God, and it was a sign of con-
tempt for a people to deny that respect due
the cause he represented. If he was untrue to
his cause he was no longer fit to be over the
church, but If he was jealous and faithful
pastor he should receive the warnr support of
cnr,1a hoa fba
tion and impulse. Unless the people opened
their hearts and accorded him warm welcome
they were Withholding the full measure of his
due. A clergyman's office is the most difficult
to fill in the world. He is subjected to all the
trials and temptations of life. ~
He should feel that the members were run
ming with him the race of holy life, and that
your prayers are ascending with his to the
divine throne. How feeble, how ineffective
vast be the work of that pastor whose efforts
were not seconded by the people of the church.
God had given him charge and a mission, and