The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-19
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
Installation of Rev. DIR. KeIierman.

The installation services of Rev. R. S. KEEL
herman as pastor of the Church of the Messiah
took place Thursday evening. Notwiths stand
ing the heavy rain there was large attend
ance. The pulpit was finely decorated with
flowers and plants.
The exercises began with an anthem by the
choir. The Rev. DR.. Capen, President of
Tufts College, offered the invocation, and the
Rev. Henry Blanchard of this city read a brief
selection from the 4th chapter of the Epistle
to the Ephesans. A hymn was then sung
which was written by Mrs. G. NJ. Sawyer,
wife of the venerable Rev. DIR. Sawyer, Dean
OF the Faculty of Tufts Divinity School.
Rev. DR.. Capen then preached forcibls
sermon from the 18th verse of the 4th chapter
of the I'd Corinthians.
The preacher took for his text III Cor. 10, 49,
"We also believe and therefore speak" The occas-
ion he said was one of great significance, in as
much as it not only inducted into Office approx
ed minister, but transferred successful laborer
from one important field to another of equal impor-
lance. There might be persons in the congr egation
means that religion is to Be administered here.
But religious administration points to re-
tSgGsfora CONVICTION snssa We beleye and
sidered the elements of religious conviction. First
thought The questions of religion the de epest
questions that can agtate the soul. The noblest
thinkers of all the ages have been they who have,
dealt with the problems presented by the being of
God and the nature and destiny of the SOUL There
can be allegation therefore that is worthy of the
name, that is not .sed thought. Second, relig-
ion is ethical, presents perfect standard of moral
| excellence and discloses the principles in which
all moral truth is grounded. But above all religion
has in it the element of comfort. 1t declares That
man is a spiritual being, that his most import ant
relations are spiritual and that Christ has made
demonstration of mans immortality. Your minis
ter is here teacher concerning all these phases
Of religion. The speaker then turned to consider
alton of the fact that administration is the witness
of faith and in this he found the warrant for a
special or UNCONVENTIONAL administration. We be-
lieve in universalism and therefore proclaim it.
The other churches cannot speak for us in what is
peculiar to ourselves. There has been great revo-
luton in New England theology, but no church but
the doctrine that goodness is the Central princpe
of this universe that evil has ground in the ma
ture of God the nature of things that there is
eternal conflict between good and evil which must
issue in the triumph of good Therefore we insti-
tute Universalist ministry and build up Universal
list institutions.
The Rev. DR.. Weston offered the installing pray
err After response by the CHI DIR, the "Charge to
the PASTOR was given by Rev. Henry Blanc hard.
He earnestly charged the new pastor to remember
always that he was a representative of God-the
ambassador of Gods highest representative, Jesus
Christ the Lord-a minister of the Church Univer-
sal. To fulfil his duty he must be preacher-he
must make his pulpit his throne he must subordinate
all other work, however important ana useful to
the great work of preaching-he must conserve the
power of body-he must be q constant student-he
must study history-he must not fear science. He
must always magnify his office.
A brief and fraternal Right Hand of Fellowship
was offered by the Rev. f. M. Houghton of Deer
ing. He referred to the acquaintance and friend
ship between himself and the pastor at Tufts Divin
ty School-welcomed him to the city, to Maine, to
work, to all the churches of the denomination in
the vicinity and state.
The address to the parish was made by the late
pastor, Rev. c. A. Hayden now OF Auburn. He
counselled the people to be coworkers with the
pastor. They must take care of the business side
of the church, must treat the pastor in a manly,
straightforward way must be in their places in the
pews must utter criticism, if they have any, to the
minister and not merely to another. They must
welcome him to their homes.
After the doxology, the benedction was pro-
nounced by the pastor.
Mr.. Kelierman comes to our city highly commend
ed by his teachers of Tufts Divinity School and by
his former parish at Fitchburg, Mass.