The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-09-11
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION.
Kew. John G. Perkins Now Associate
Pastor OF the First Parish.
Impressive Ceremonies Attended, py
Pensioners and Friends.
The Parish's Nessag to Or. Nil and
His Reply.

Perkins to the CHRISTIAN ministry and his
installation as associate pastor of the First
Parish church took place yesterday. The
church was prettily decorated, the pulpit be-
ing trimmed with mountain ash berries and
leaves, the communion table being buried
out OF sight beneath huge clusters Of golden
rod and asters. while punches of featbery
asparagus and hackmetack stood at the pull
pit stairs. cluster of mountain ash over
hung the clock.
The council Of examination, consisting of
Rev. DIR. A. P. Peabody of Cambridge, Rev.
Edward Hale Of Orange, Nd, Rev. j. l.. Sew
ard of Waterville, Rev. S. c. Beach of Ban
COR, Rev. j. l.. Marsh of Saco, and Rev. j. It.
g. Nichols Of Cambridge, Mass met and ex-
amined the candidate in the parish house.
AT o'clock the services in the church be-
gan with an anthem by the choir. Follow
ing this came the report of the council by
Rev. j. L. Seward of Waterville. 1t ap
peared from the report that Rev. A. P. Pea
body was chosen moderator and offered
prayer, and the call from the church to Mr..
Perkins and his letter of acceptance were
read. MIR. Perkins then came forward and
gave a statement of his Christian experience
and his aims and desires. On motion of
Rev. Charles g. Ames of Kings chapel,
Boston, 1t was unanimously voted that Mr..
Perkins be ordained in the ministry, and
that Rev. Edward Hale be invited to extend
the right hand Of fellowship. p s. IL,
Mr.. Seward then invoked the divine bless
Ing. and was followed by Rev. J. L. Marsh
Of Saco, who read the scripture lesson.
Rev. James de Normandle Of Boston of.
fered the prayer of ordination. At the
close of the prayer DR.. de Normandie and
Rev. DR.. A. p. Peabody performed the act
of ordination by placing their hands on Mr..
Perkins's head. A voluntary on the organ
followed, after which Rev. &C. G. Ames of
Boston delivered the charge to Mr.. Perkins.
Mr.. Ames said that In giving the charge to
Mr.. Perkins he felt peculiar pleasure in
that his name is borne on the roll Of Mr..
Ames's own church. In his duties he must
first be true to himself and true to his trust.
Best OF all he must be man. He must not
magnify his office by outward signs but by
manly Christian conduct.
man among men cannot fail to reap a
harvest. All else must fail but that cannot
fail. He was charged to take heed that he
forget himself. He should settle it once for
all that his motive is.the true one and then
go on to do the business of God. He must
keep in touch with God and with man In or
der to do his best. He must be ready to ac-
cept the truth from all who are qualified to
give it and then let nothing hinder him from
teaching It, He must take heed to the doc
trine he taught. teaching the simplest truths
and in true spirit To be good, wise
teacher he must be a perpetual learner. II
the divine fashion sways him, it can through
him sway his hearers. He was charged not
to let the social demands of any parish he
might be settled with interfere with his real
duties. In doing his best In his duties he
would have the cordial support and aid of
every person who knew him.
The hymn written for the occasion by DR..
Hill was read by Rev. Edward Hale and
sung by the congregation.
Mr.. Hale then extended the right hand of
fellowship in brief address, In which he
pointed out the pleasures to come to minis
tiers from c0mpanionship with others, and
the comforts that come at times when travel
ling weary roads by the consciousness that
there are others travelling the same. Mr..
Hale impressed the idea that this fellowship
was not intended in any sense to be of the
so-called UNCONVENTIONAL bounds. The min
listers of God are all laborlng in the same
field whatever may be their several names,
and their fellowship is that of the Church
Universal Fellowship in the ministry is fell
lowship in the great band that stretches
back through time to Jesus Christ and this
should always in itself sustain man to do
his best.
An anthem by the choir followed, after
which Rev. lDr. Peabody pronounced the
benedction and the service of ordination
was finished.
Lunch was served in the parish house to
many Unitarians. visitors from other
churches and members Of the parish.
While the company was in the parish
house Mr. George G. Burgess raped for Or
der for moment and read the following
message. which was sent to DR.. Hill at Wal
than:
PARISH HOUSE, p. IN.
Believing that you are with us in spirit and re-
GREETING your inability to be with us In body, we
and esteem OF your loving parishioneis and
friends. THE PARISH COMMITTEE.
At 7.30 the church was again filled with
one of the largest audiences 1t ever held, and
the services of installation were commenced.
The services were opened with an anthem
by the choir, after which Rev. Samuel b.
Flagg Of Dixfield offered prayer. Rev. Seth
c. Beach of Bangor read the scripture les
SOD. Prayer was offered by Rev. Roderick
Stebbins of Milton. Mass.
The sermon followed by Rev. DIR. A. p.
Peabody. His text was Matt. vi, 80: "Seek
We first the Kingdom of God and His right
eousness;" or as the text really means,
Seeking first His righteousness, leaving out
the kingdom"
DR.. Peabody, after making pleasant ref
erence to Mr.. Perkins, said that at no time
more than at the commencement of minis
try was 1t important to impress this funda,
mental idea of Christianity, righteousness
first. other things afterward. There Is, said
the speaker, a certain aptness in the word