The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-26
DR.. NEELY'S ANNIVERSARY.
Stately Ceremonials at the Cathedral
Yesterday.
REV. DIR. UPJOHN breaches ON
THE EPISCOPAL SUCCESSION.


the Historic Church to Good Men OF
Other Observation-Disclosures pre-
sented to DR.. Nicely from Diocese, Par.
ish, etc-The Dinner and the Reception
The observance of Bishop Neely's
twenty-fifth anniversary took place al
the Cathedral on State Street yesterday.
It was marked by the elaborate ceremo-
mails, by the display of clerical vestments
and the other insignia used in Cathedral
worship. The special services began at
9 a. m, when prayer was said, the servi-
ces being choral with full choir. The
service Of prayer was conducted by Bish-
OPP Nicely, Canon Stills, and Bishop King
don.
At II a. m. the doors of the vestry
opened, and the head Of the procession
emerged, the cross and labarum of ST..
Luke's in the van, followed by the boys
of the choir arrayed in their familiar
cassocks of black and surplices of white
Following them came a procession of
the clergy, composed of Canons Ogden
of Woodfords, Washburn of Auburn
Lefingwell of Bar Harbor and Sills Of
Portland, Revs. DR.. Upjohn of Philadel-
phia, Mr.. Cotton Of Biddeford, Walker
Gwinne of Augusta, H. W. r. Stafford
| of Bath, Chas. E. o. Nichols of Bruins
wick and 7. L. Allen of Wiscasset, all
in the full robes of their office. Final
| ly, in the rearmost rank, was Bishop
Nicely, attended by Coadjutor Bishop
Kingdom of Fredericton, N. B. Bishop
Nicely wore the black robe and full white
| lawn sleeves distinctive of a Bishop of
the American Church. Bishop Kingdom,
however, comes from the Canadian
church, whose ceremonials are probably
much nearer those of the Established
Church of England; and he wore a strik-
ing robe of scarlet instead of the black
robe of the American Church. Bishop
Kingdom wears also the knee-breeches
which are characteristic of the bishops
of the English Church.
After the professional hymn was
finished, the presentation of addresses
began, as follows: From the clergy of
the Diocese, by Canon Lefingwell; from
the laity of the standing committee Of
the diocese, by General John Marshall
Brown; from the parish, by Judge
Nathan Cleaves. In addition Canon Stills
presented subscription books whereon
was subscribed $2,542 towards the build
ing of a parish house. In this connection
it may be stated that the 5000 necessary
to complete the Episcopate fund of $780,
900 has been raised.
The Bishops Reply.
Bishop Nicely replied briefly to the
addresses. He said that he found him
self utterly incompetent to express his
appreciation of the kindness which had
prompted the addresses. twenty-five
years had indeed passed since he had
come to the service of the diocese
Through that time God had spared his
life and given him health for the work,
and he could only express his gratitude
for Gods mercy in this respect. Of the
results of those twenty-five years of work
he could not speak, since they were with
Him who knew all things. But Bishop
Nicely felt that he could speak of the
loyalty of this diocese to him throughout
all of the twenty-five years. He had
never regretted the step which he took
in leaving his old field of labor in New
York and coming here. He had been
sustained here both by the affectionate
cooperation of the diocese, and by the
kind wishes and important donations
that have come from friends abroad. In
conclusion Bishop Nicely spoke with
qualification of the completion of the
Episcopate fund.
DIR. Upjohn's Sermon.
The'sermon of the occasion was deliv-
cred by Rev. Dr.. Samuel Upjohn of Phil
adelphia, an honorary canon of the ca
thedral, and for IA years a presbyter of
the diocese. DR.. Upjohn's text began
with the significant words from the
Scriptures: GAS my Father hath sent
me, even so send you," etc. After re-
ferring to the history of this diocese,
which had held its convention in Octo-
Der 4, 1847, to call it's first bishop, the
learned and gracious Burgess, DR.. Up
john proceeded to the topic of his dis
course, the nature and position Of the
Episcopate. The words Of Christ, spok-
en- to his assembled disciples on the first
Easter night GAS my Father sent Me,
even SO send you," were at the founda-
ton of the Episcopate. There was an
essential likeness between the Father
sending Him, and His sending His disci-
pies. By that sending was established
the continued sending, which was not to
be changed in its essential nature. In
other words, DR.. Upjohn's position is
that the divine commission given by
Christ to His disciples, has been trans
mitted since then down through the line
of bishops by tactual succession, and
will continue to be transmitted by that
line, and by no other. He said that we
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