Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-02

1 Wy MInfste . Should Attend COnvOcG . ttOns. Councils and Religious Assemblies l Generally.
 l At Marquand chapel yesterday afternoon
 Rev Dr. Burton col t n red his lectures be l fore the theological students, speaking to an
 audience that completely filled the chapel on
 the importance of attending conversations,
 conventions, clerical assemblies, etc. The lecturer said he eschewed such assem-
 blies in the early period of his ministry be cause he was a fool and because he was shy.
 The fear of man can be considerably out grown, if your miserable physique does not give way under you when you make de-
 mand upon it. Often a soul constitutionalIy
 timorous in the presence of one man becomes
 strong before an assembly.
 The notice that has been ventilated of late in the public prints that ministers do not ex- press their opinions IS false. Ministers are earthen vessels, but are Of the better sort They are honest, truth seekers clean in their lives, gentlemanIy, well informed, fitted for the leaderships to which they are called in these days. Looked at historically it will be found that the world is as much indebted to them as any body.
 If Congregationalism as distinguished from independence is to exist 1t must be by convocation largely. and if these convoca- tions are to be kept up, why not by you? The question whether CongreRationalism ought to be kept up or not I do not feel called upon to discuss here. A man must maintain him. self an integer Yet individualism is bad ab stractly. There must be synods, convoca- tions. Young men who surmise that they are fit to be ministers must be looke after, Ehur xuhT oh IVk found minister must be advised. By these means individualism is crystallized. Go to the coun cils, and the regular meetings and the con- ventions Councils get joked nowadays as being pOmpous utilities Yet councils are capable of doing great deal of good. Ge to them.
 If you just converge yourself upon your parish work it narrows you, it may save vour courage. Locaization also tends to strengthen self-conceit. A Protestant Fpis- copal minister once said he was afraid 8 strange minister might come along and upset by 8 single sermon all the results of long months of teaching which he had been pre- pairing for confirmation. minister who goes abroad brings in bits of information about the rest of the world. One may get an enlargement by communication with Christendom at large. An enlarged idea of Christendom may be gained by even the small assemblies of ministers of all denom- 1QaGlOQS. It QO6S h la ROOu 10 b00 HOW Israel looks in different costumes, and he gets certain catholicity by exchanging pull pits.
 Be sure to frequent all meetings for nu. merous little reasons. It is something to put our eyes upon the celebrities It is a fine thing for young men to have heroes. They represent those truths and virtues which form the enthus issm of life It may be much advantage to you to know and be known by these men. Young men has @ their troubles, in which they need help Troubles in their parishes, pertur rbations of thought, forma- lions of beliefs inharmonious with their churches belief There are many omissions In the creed Ministers hold views that they do not express. Young men often labor un- der the delusion that they must expose their entire interiors upon every occasion and es pecially before councils Come up to the meetings. There's nothing that enables one to his own views about as they are like tossing them out upon assem- plies and seeing them battledore them. Olarify your opinions in the meetings of the brethren who are experts. When you want formal advice, or 8 new parish, the brethren ~ill help you This guild of ours is one of the best. There Is also a kindness engendered in the minds of the ministers by assemblies How personal contact lessens the prejudices formed by bearing some things against men
 | lady once refused to go to my church be- cause she said I was a Sabbath breaker, be- cause I took q walk on Sunday afternoon She did not consider my numerous virtues.
 The whole end of theology Is love All doctrinalizing IS in order to character and the soul of character is love. Rebuke the brethren, do not overlook their errors but at the same time be resigned.
 Dr Burton will lecture next week Thurs day and Friday.