The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-14
Installation.

|
Wilson as pastor of the First Con.
gregational church occurred Tuesday
last. The services were preceded on
Sunday a. "a. by sermon from the
pastor elect based on Matt. 23:8,
"One is your Master even Christ and
all we are brethren" In this was
found the basis of Congregational
polity which was shown as exalting
the rights of the individual in the
local church, and the rights of the
local church in its relation to the
body of the churches, under the
spirit of brotherhood expressed in
the fellowship of the churches. The
preacher traced the working of the
polity in conferences and councils,
and explained its simplicity, and the
demands for a spirit off deep thought,
of broad charity, and profound piety
as the condition upon which aCongre.
gaticnal church could exist. The rela.
tons of pastor and people were dwelt
upon and the rights of each set forth.
Monday evening Rev. VIM. Andsr-
son preached before the Alexandrian
Club-a ministerial club-fIom the
text Luke 1921, 1.-THE kingdom of
God is within you" The preacher
traced the tendency in man to exalt
the externals, and to find. in visible
things the resting place for the spirit,
ual nature, and showed the purpose
of the divine to be to turn man with
in himself and establish IN the spirit
an empire over the external and visi-
BILE. In the spread of this reign of
God in the individual soul was to
come the power which working in
society was to right all wrongs and
intensity all rights. The theme was
treated IN very logical yet an in
tensely practical manner
The council itself convened in the
afternoon Of Tuesday After it had
organized by the choice Of Rev.
Moses Smith, of Detroit, as Modera-
tor and Rev. A. II. Waterman, of
Ovid, as Scribe, devotional exercises
were conducted by the Moderator,
the action of the parties to the call,
and the relation of the candidate to
the church and churches were exam
ined and deemed satisfactory and in
order.
The candidate read statement of
his position on the theological ques-
tons now most prominently before the
the inspiration of the Bible,
the atonement and the condition of |
the impenitent in the eternal world.
Relative to the latter he said that
Jesus put the condition of the peni-
tent and impenitent in sharp and aw-
full antlthesis, and there left it. Some
few questions followed the statement,
but its explicitness seemed sufficient
and the examination ceased after a
brief period.
The exercises in the evening were
Of very interesting nature, devout,
instructive. Rev. VIM.
II. Davis, Of Detroit, preached a
discourse from Jno. IA,
''rhe life was the light of men,"
emphasizing and applying the though.
that the alone revelation of Deity
was through life, and the life in which
alone God was revealed to man in
fullness was Jesus Christ. The install
ling prayer was the impressive con-
verse of soul with God, as of one
who had become familiar with God |
and who could breath thought and
purpose to the infinite unmoved, un-
by the visible presence of
others.
In a most kindly and impressive
manner Kew. w. H. Ryder, of Ann
Arbor, addressed the pastor in behalf
OF the churches and extended to him
the right hand of real christian fell
lowship. A little incident occurred
here of peculiar nature. The church
now lighted with gas-suddenly
became dark. Inadvertently a mem
Der of the congregation put foot on
the key by which the gas is turned on
and off, but with noticeable calm
LESS the speaker proceeded all I'M
1t was fit symbol of that
fellowship which the churches of
Christ extend to any burdened broth
er who moves on in the darkness of
his life. Unseen, but not unheard,
the fraternity of love utters cheer till
the light again breaks through.
The address to the pastor was a
rm.hearted, clear headed piece of
advice by Rev. Robt. Stapleton, of
Maple Rapids. And the address to
the people by Rev. Moses Smith,
Moderator, in which he spoke of the
two fundamental conditions of the
success of the people in their treat
ment of the pastor under The words
pay and pray. This address, we un-
derstand, will be published in the
Beacon. 1t is worthy of larger cir
culation and very careful reading.
The singing under the care of Mr..
+ II Could was fine The house