Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-17
INSTALLATION OF DIR. HAYES.
Proceedings of the Council and InstaIla-
,tion Sermon.

the following Congregational churches of
Vermont, convened at the chapel of the |
Winooski avenue Congregational church,
Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of
installing the Rev. Edward Halves, ID. D., |
formerly of New Haven, Conn, pastor of
the Winooski avenue church: The Third
Congregational church of Burlington, was
represented by it's delegate, G. H. Perkins
Adams, by Rev. J. G. McColl and II. G. |
Bensley Rutland, by Rev. j. G.. John
son, ID. d., and j. w. Norton Yer
gennes, by Rev. A. A. Robinson and J. S. |
Hickok Mddlebury, by Rev. S. l.. b. |
sspeare c MSno9fei by by R key E. a.
Wild and Henry McNiel Rich
mond, by Rev. Austin Hazen and U.
s. Whitcomb Williston, by Rev. J. A. |
Bates and William Miller; the United |
church of New Haven Conn, by its dele
gate, r. f. Rice. The council organized
by the election of Rev. J. &. johnson of
Rutland moderator, and Rev. John II. |
Hincks of Montpelier, scribe. After prayer
by the moderator, the records of the |
church and society, extending call to
Rev DR.. Halves, were read. The delegate |
from the United church of New Haven, |
Conn, then read copy of the minutes of
the ecclesiastical council which dissolved
the pastoral relation of Rev. Dr. Halves
with the church in New Haven. The fol
lowing embodies the spirit of the record
The council desires to put on record its
deep sense of loss in the removal of DR..
Halves from his relation as pastor of the
United Society, and to bear testimony to his
great ability as preacher his fidelity as a
pastor, his sincere spirituality as a Christian,
and his rare combination of those graces of
character which have endeared him, not only
to his own people, but to the churches and
people OF New Haven. The council desires to
put on record its sense of DR.. Hawes's disin-
terestedness and manlncss in the course he
has pursued in relation to the proposed union
of the two churches, and to express it's graft
tude for course which has honoreG the
Christian ministry. The council commends
him to the churches of our Lord as a brother
beloved. George p. Fisher, moderator
Thomas X. Bacon, scribe, r. f. Rice, clerk
Rev. DR.. Halves then read statement
of his doctrinal belief, which was accept
ed without further question by the coun-
Gil. In accordance with the usage of
Congregational councils this statement of
doctrlnal belief was followed by state
ment of personal Christian experience 1t
was then voted that the council sit by
itself
1t was voted by the council to proceed to
the installation services, and a committee
was appointed to make arrangements for
the evening exercises. The council then
adjourned.
Installation Services.
Inc installation services took place at
the church in the evening, and were at
tended 10y an audience which completely
filled the house. The platform and pull
pit were profusely and beautifully decora
ted with flowers. After the opening organ
voluntary the minutes of the council were
read by the scribe, Rev. John H. Hincks.
An invocation and responsive reading
lowed. The anthem by the choir was finely
rendered. After the reading of
the Scripture lesson by Rev. A.
A. Robinson, and a hymn by the
congregation, the installation sermon
was preached by Rev. John f. Todd, ID,
d., of New Haven, Conn. The following
is brief abstract of DR.. Todd's eloquent
and finished discourse !:
Installation Sermon.
So, as much as in me is, / am ready to
preach the gospel to you that are at Rome
also For | am not ashamed of the Gospel
of Christ; for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth to
the jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom.
/, Is and 16.
The speaker opened with an eloquent
description of the magnifcence and power
of ancient Rome in the height of its power.
What an emotion, he said is called up by
the mere mention of that name, echoed
down through the centuries. And if that
| splendor and power of Rome with the
/
exert such an influence even at the pres
ent day, what must they have been when
| Paul approached it And yet in what ca
pacity was Paul to enter that city of his
early dreams? AS preacher of the Cos
pei of Christ What think you-dd no
shade of shame cross the mind of the
apostle at such thought as this Con
slider that the gospel was a narrative of
facts which men found difficult, and were
unwilling to believe that the doctrines of
the gospel were repugnant to human rea-
son and offensive to human pride: that
the manner of life which the gospel re-
quired of it's converts was calculated to
draw forth rdicule. The world has al
ways been inclined to laugh at strict NOR
alists Again the religion of Christ con
trasted unfavOrably with others in the
poorness and simplicity of its externals.
But more than all else the character of its
converts was calculated to bring the Cos
pei into dsfavor with the people of Rome.
The converts to Christianity We're from
the lower classes of society. The net was
drawn through the very depths of society.
Now Paul was just the man to feel these
things keenly. He was man of culture
and refinement, and had been man of so
cial position He must have been more than
| human if he never for one moment felt
ashamed of his position and his associates
But what were the reasons by which Paul
could put down his temporary rising of
the gospel of Christ First, because he
knew that it was gospel of power. Any
thing that has power is safe from con
tempt. Power will always command res
pect Now Paul was well aware that
whatever the gospel of Christ might be or
might not be, it was certainly power. II
is power because it is of the spirit of God
because it appeals to the sympathies OF
men because it is the exponent of the
wonderful love of God for man and be
cause it takes such strong hold Of the hui
man conscience. Paul, then, felt that he
need not be ashamed of the gospel, for il
was capable of accomplishing marvellous
results.
In the second place, Paul was MOI
ashamed of the gospel as saving power
He knew it to be- the power of God unto
salvation. 1t changes the entire characte
of men. 1t enters as saving influence
into human society. 1t is Il saving powe
to ALTO every one. The gospel il
preached to men of all classes and condi
lions. Finally, it is II saving power to al
upon the one simple condition of believing
There is apparently at the present day
: disposition to be ashamed of the gospel o
Christ II shows itself in the choosing q