The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-23
Grh,ladeiphia Times, aistil

"A Twenty first and Walnut streets, Nes'ei'
.ssv morning, when DIR. Joh1 ;. macintosh,
s.se ~ ney,as,, 7relapd, entered and ascenoed
sne xsasb,oped fbancel, and IN aieN minutes
Nrran his first service OF praise ana edinea'
sion. for the people who called him as tbe'r
Master. He wore The Geuevan gown ana
weeI.stmchcd bands which are yet retained
I'm so many OF the Covenanters' churchea,
ara M nc stood with hrs rudy lace anu
flowing beard Ia the Caen.stone puipn, VIII
the wide-win ged cherubtm In cnisei'en mar
HE Of tbe purest white beneath him ana the
Sof,ened light OF a quintelle OF gorgeous
rir,lows falling on him, he formed con-
sp;cuous and churchly 6eure. The copgre.
psiion filed the church. Even the arc Of
ornamental se,is, with the canopy overhead
and milres, signifying the episcopal pre-
raastiyes of pastors in the Presbyteria
Church, were occupied. some OF them 10y
visiting ,clergymen, and rows o! camp-stools
flied al the vacant places IN The transept
aisies. No, only were there few worshipers
absent OF the flock the new divine has leit
another continent 10 serve, but there were
present many from other Presbyterian
churches and some strangers VINO
were attracted by his renoWD. viewed
sstbetically, II bad the interest OF that
pleasing Sabba,b-mornibg sight--a band-
some congregation in handsome church
before handsome preacher. In mellow
voice the pastor gave out the opening hymn,
aud as the congregation ceased with the last
and eloouert line, q" Firm as rock thy truth
must stand when rolling years shall cease"
he began 10 pray. AS is their custom The
members did not kneel, but rose I'm tesii,
mopy OF the Re,urrCciion) and continued
49,. n. IA, ,,,x- lon
much i'm the speakers tone awakening com
pariscn with the Eplscopaian form OF
PRAYER, comparison heightened by the
slightly mooiliod Episcopalian architecture
of the edifce, but the feeling and the senti-
ment wss that which is associated with the
old Scotch Xix. TIE succeeding lessons
from The scripture were that portion OF the
5ith chapter Of Isaiah beginning Sing
thou, oh barren" and the 23d verse OF
Johns 1st chapter, introducing the express
sion, Man can receive nothing except it
be given him from Heaven" Ii was notice.
able that the distinguished clergyman used
the rendeiings Of passages for some time
adopted by advanced students OF the Bible,
and accepted in The revised edition, and IN
the repetition OF the Lords Prayer, after
saving LEAD us not into temptation" he
added. "and deliver Us from the evil one,'
probably the first time il has been so ex-
pressed from The pulpit In this country.
The sermon. although thought out in the
haste OF few days succeeding q trying
ocean voyage, bespoke ability in the pastor
a. logician, tbeologiau, and original
thinker, but was too difficult TO strike at
once the popular favor OF any but those fl
miliar with The basis and symbolism OF the
doctrine advanced. Clearly no one but an
able man would have selected such text rs
in keeping with pastoral Inauguration and
given 1t the proper treatment. 1t was that
massage in John ill.,, %: "He that hath
the bride'is the bridegroom; but the friend
of the bridegroom which standeth and
heareth him rejoicetb greatly because OF the
bridegroom's voice. This, my Joy, there
fore II fulfilled"
Taking the bride as the type Of the
Church on earth and Christ as the bride
groom, TO whom it is bound and must ulti.
mately be united, DR.. Macintosh drew a
realistic, Ieverent picture OF the minister as
standing in the relation OF the bridegroom
friend, wooine for Him, urging on His suit.
and at last fulfilling his ultimate mission in
the union OF the two. He then defined the
relationship in which they severally stand
Christ, absent and eXpoctant; the Church,
reluctant and Withholding; and the minis
ter, as he should be, persuasive, sincere, and
ever persevering in anotber's cause, seeking
Gods glory, and not his OWN.
Some idea Of his style may be formed from
the succeeding sentences. Picturing John
the Baptist, lie said
"Here is the beautiful example OF great
self.sucrifce. We see. aud seeing we canpot
but admire. q broad and thoughtful nature,
a gentle, brave, God-fearing manlness bow.
ing TO the Divine will submissively, accept
ing gladly the Divine order. and esteeming
il the highest honor 10 do the ittlest
duty God ordans. Anticipating one Of
Paups sublimest thoughts, John says
in substance, 'Our plans and powers aIe
Gods gifts Alb. il that man was ever
dear TO the heart OF God il ever the Fathers
smile poured down its rayisbing sunshine
into his soul. II was at those moments when
he made Christ everything and himself
nothng-when he found his honor In
Cbrist's honor and his Joy in the Joy Of his
Lord aud God"
Continuing, DR.. Macintosh elaborated
the beauty and strength of the character OF
John the Baptist and his humility, holding
him up as typical proclaimer OF the gos-
pei. The duty Of a minister as outlined in
the text was thus expressed
"The JOY OF the true minister is ever
found 10 the glory Of bis Master aud in the
manifest union and communion of the Hea-
veniy Bridegroom and his spiritual triGe.
How solemnizing this view OF the minister
as the Brdegroon's friend! How much
depends In winning the quick and fond
consent Of the sought one; on the friendls
statement Of the Bridegroom's love, beauty,
worth, aud honor. We, the messengers,
may dive away when we would draw.
The ministry must uever stand between the
soul and the Sayiogf, between the Church
and Christ.
"Where could Scbn have got the idea Of
The Bridegroom and the BridegroOm's
friendy Perchance ii was the night before,
when, in bis solitude. there crowded upon
his memory XII those mysterious passages OF
Ilsaiah and other seers, including that
strange expression, Thy Msker Is thy hus-
ba1d,' and Just at that momeat he caught
the joyful strains Of the distant music of a
passing bridal party, and filled with high
and Holy.Spirk limitations, be thought OF
tbeiiIeayeny Bridegroom, lheMessiab, who
was TO dawn upon him and his own rtla-
:tioD,. and In that thought he found his joy.
CHOW sweet u rs when thirsty souls are
being slaked H'ewtbriIing Is the thought,
+" NY work Is done; my COY is full
'"Wthout the Guion OF the Saviour and
the soul, without tie welding OF the Church
with Christ, these 10 no spiritual Joy.
When they are no more ssunder. but are
one In spirit, then Is Joy. Such IL fore
taste OF that higher 10Y when the supreme
unio& OF tue soul wkh God will make all
heavea sing.
"The ioadsst hope Of Sainister and,C hurch
~ TO walk together In Gods heiy love.s
in Che seryicss afeaturs was the prayer OF
Rev. A. H. Kellogg, who petitioned the .Di-
vine remembrance In behalf OF the Land and
Church toe entering pastor had left beAind
him.