Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-07-07
ORDAINED AND INSTALLED.
THE IMPRESSIVE SERVICES

| Unitarian Church Last Evening.
In the presence of large and interested
congregation Mr.. T.. Bradford Leavitt, re-
Gently of bingham, Mass, the young minis
ter of the Unitarian church, was last even
ing ordained to the work of the ministry
and installed as pastor of the society. The
services throughout were peculiarly impress
sive, helpful and uplifting. Mr.. Lucien
Howe presided at the organ, and a mixed
| quartet furnished vocal music. The ser
vices opened with an organ voluntary, Mr..
| Howe's selection being the offertoire in G
! by Wely. This was followed by an anthem
! by the quartet, "Protect us through the
coming night" by Baumbach. The open
! ing prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. j. +.
Moors of Greenfield, the veteran soldier of
the cross and bishop of souls in the Con
necticut valley. This was followed by
solo by Mr.. Miller, Fear not we, o Israel"
by Dudley Buck. Rev. Arthur A. Brooks
of Greenfield read the Scriptures, and the
| quartet then sang Bucks anthem, "He
shall come down like rain"
The sermon was preached by Rev.
George Bachelor of Lowell, Mass, from
the text Rev. XIV, s: "And / saw an
other angel fly in the midst of him, having
the everlasting gospel TO preach unto them
the sermon was the everlasting gospel. The
substance of this gospel, the preacher said,
is the everlasting goodness of God. Life
is the school in which we learn to live, and
the everlasting gospel is our lesson. No
age has been without it, in no land has it
been unheard. There are diversities of
! gifts but the same spirit. Every nation
and every religion has some fragment of
! this gospel, but they all conspire together
like the pieces of an orchestra to give the
| perfect symphony. The manifestation of
this everlasting gospel comes most clearly
through humanity, and we see its most
unique manifestation through the life and
! spirit of Jesus. This is the heart of all
the creeds in christendom.
The sermon was followed by the singing
of an original hymn, written for the occa-
sion by Rev. H. Price Collier, former
bingham pastor and personal friend of
Mr.. Leavitt.
The prayer of ordination, which was Of
fered by the Rev. John w. Day of Hing
ham, pastor of Mr.. Leavitt's home church,
was impressive, both in the substance of
the words said and in its manifest feeling
and sincerity. The prayer was a deeply
! spiritual Interpretation of the true spirit
of the service Of ordination.
The charge to the minister by Rev.
| Grindall Reynolds of Boston, secretary of
the American Unitarian association, was
strong in its directness and in its broad
| spirit and thoroughly practical interpreta-
sion of the work of the ministry. 1t was
evident that Mr.. Reynolds spoke out of his
own large and rich experience. "What
kind of sermons shall you preach?" he
said. Every kind that meets and touches
/ nj ty han t,,fe
hope 10 be able to meet the responsibility
laid upon him?" First and foremost of all
by cherishing the broadest and deepest
sympathies. The three essentials which
the speaker urged as necessary for the full
est development of the ministerial life and
character were that he should be a good
preacher, good pastor and a good citizen.
In giving the right hand of fellowship
Rev. Geo. ID. Latimer of Salem, Mass,
who is pleasantly remembered as having
for two summers supplied the pulpit of the
the Brattleboro church, welcomed Mr..
Leavitt to the privileges of the profession
of the ministry, among which he counted
that of entering the home life of the pa
rishioners, of seeing people on their best
side, and of ministerng to them in all the
needs of their daily life. ~ welcome you."
he said, "to the greater privilege. the con-
secrated leadership in moral and religious
interests. The demands upon the minis
ter of today are great, and the privilege of
leadership is greater than ever before In
the ranks of your profession you will find
cordial welcome, and in the inspiring
work upon which you have entered YOU
have the sympathy of all Christian minis
tiers. We differ in methods, we seek truth
at different angles, but We are all working
hiUh nj
kingdom of God"
Rev. F. l.. Phalen's charge to the peo-
pie was impressively spoken and was filed
with earnest and loving appreciation of the
people of his former charge, with tender
illusions to the past and to faces no more
seen in mortal form, with stirring admo-
milton to those who remain to carry for
ward the true work of a church of God. |
II remember" he said chow kind Won
were TO me and mine, and in how many |
ways must not mention you ministered |
to body, mind and estate. | cannot he |
lieve any minister ever had better parish |
or more loyal and thoughtful parishiOn- |
ers." The feeling of friendly fellowship !
with the other churches of the place was |
cordially recognized. In taking up his |
words of admOnition Mr.. Phalen said.
first, remember and always act on the fact |
that this relation with your new minister
is religious and moral partnership. You
must make this church stand for God and
his truth, for justice and holiness and ey-
eryday Christianity, or it will be power
less to influence and mold the lives of men.
Be in your places in the church on Sunday
and not leave your minister to WOO his in
SEPARATION from empty pews. Help your
minister in the Sunday school and see that
your children are punctual and constant in
attendance. Loyalty, courage, patience,
persistent work in sunshine and in the
shadow, faith in God and in each other.
these are the elements which assure sue
cess and paint your future in the warm.
rich colors of hope. May God bless YOU,
and may this new relationship continue
long and be fruitful in every good word
and work.
Rev. A. Brooks offered the brief closing
prayer and the service closed with the ben
ediction pronounced by the pastor.
AL