Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-30
ANOTHER MILESTONE SET
In the History of the UNIVERSAL
list Church.
Rev. Harley D. Maxwell's ordina-
ton and Installation.

The Impressive Services which We'll
coined Him TO the Christian Ministry
Last Night---A Glance at the Church's
Honorable History.
A milepost has been passed this week in
the history of the Universalst church of
Brattleboro, and another red-letter day
added to its calendar. On Thursday even
ing Rev. Harley D. Maxwell was ordained
to the Christian ministry and as pastor of
the Brattleboro church with services strong,
| impressive and uplifting.
The council of examination which met
! Wednesday afternoon, was composed of
Rev. j. F. Simmons and Mr.. II. V. French
of Woodstock, Rev. James Eastwood of
| Brattleboro, Rev. f. f. Marggraf of Bel
! lows Falls, Rev. H. A. Abbott and Mr.. j.
! II. Kidder of Wilmington. and Mr.. j. W.
Pierce of Springfield. The customary for
malities were observed, ending with the
unanimous recommendation of Mr.. Max
well for ordination.
When the hour of the public services ar
rived last evening, the church was crowded
with an audience which was Enthusiastically
impressed with the significance of the occa-
SION Following was the program
order of Services
Organ voluntary.
Dear Father in Heaven. Male quartet
Invocation and reading of Scriptures.
Rev. Z. Bradford Leavitt
Mrs Hubbard and Miss Cook
Sermon. Rev Dr. II Leonard
Prayer of ordination, Rey leslie Moore
LYNN of ordination Choir and congregation
Charge to the pastor Rev +. L. Marggraf
There is a city bright" Mrs. Hubbard
Address to parish, Rev T. w. Illman
Address of welcome, Rev G. o. Day
Closing hymn,
Father. comes the night apace."
Benediction. By the pastor
The Sermon.
1t was an impressive moment when, at
the conclusion of the vocal duet, Rev. DR..
c. II. Leonard, the white-haired dean of
Tufts divinity school, assembled to the pull
pit to preach the sermon ordaining to the
ministry one of his own pupils. His man
ner showed the pose which comes from q
long life filled with high thinking and
earnest work. His sermon was of that
broad inclusive type which places the en-
phasis on the essential truths of life and
religion, and commands the assent of all
who work together for the uplifting of hui
mankind.
After few words of reference to the
gift of a young life to God, and to Christs
work in the ministry, and to its first
preacher said: 1t seems natural today to
turn to some central teaching of our
religion, and to some saying of holy |
Scripture which states its message.
The text was the fourth verse of the |
eighteenth chapter of Ezekiel: GAN souls |
are mine" The sermon dealt with some |
of the implications of the fact.
l. Whatever may be the perpleXities con-
corning origins, beginnings, the most dar-
ing induction hesitates to cut man off !
from God as the living source. The point |
made at this stage of the discourse was
that all souls exist from God, and in God.
and thai this is the great fact on which to
stand, the premise of safe conclusions
,. The next inference from the truth
If the text is that all souls are subject to
discipline, which is ethical, spiritual.
The fact that souls belong to God is the
ground of the best culture in souls.
Common facilities as well as common
basis of moral training, was inferred.
Nature, society, experiences within, fur
nisn common help to men. All souls are
i1clUded in the processes which Christian
ity provides. Here is common word of
truth, an order of spiritual facts for all
souls. Christ, the final resort in a great
progressive method for the REDEMPTION of
iHap, is for all souls. The point made
iere was that the truth of the divine, the
spiritual ownership, means ample provision
for the souls education.
3. The third step in inference, or
largest probability, was that a common
lire III God warrants not only Immortality.
but common destiny The discourse
Disseminated between destiny and destin-
a'iOl. The former is ethical, spiritual
means not place but new
moral basis. The preacher was not inter
esied so much in the shelter of a new
world, the splendor of a new abode: what
most invited his thought and desire was
new creation, a new inward life, a soul
made Christlike. This, it seemed to him.
s the true idea of destiny; souls made
'ight and good, brought into right relation
With God. This is the logic of moral
providence.
The sermon closed by referring to the
version which gifted souls are trying to
rdnslate, and, in view of it, to the meaning
If that ministry with whose sanctions this
'eryice of ordination invests this Young
servant of Christ. The preacher said. To ,
what do We welcome this fresh life but TO
he service of the God of all souls. whose
sc are for endowment of riches and nobler
BEING. And what better recognition here
oGay than that of this thoughtful, loving
III pledged anew to God in whom all ,
hlngs are. And what better can YOU of ,
his Christian society do, what better can
We all do, ministers and people, than rise
. some active, earnest acceptance of this
wider disclosure, through new consecra-
ion.
Right Hand of Fellowship.
In giving to Mr.. Maxwell the right hand
II fellowship, Rev. j. F. Simmons said:
With sincere pleasure and honest con
,ratulation | extend to you the right hand
# fellowship of the Universaist conven. ,
ion of Vermont and Canada, of all t.
tates, of 'otland and Japan. wel,. me
on to all the joys and trials and co come
atoms of the Christian ministr hpen-
'est prayer is that you may so y MY
uild up the kingdom of God in ork as TO
nd receive at the last the a ! u Ihe world,
God and faithful servant ~ wen uone'
The Charge to the p..,o.
Rey' E. E. Marggraf of Ro,Ioma nan. T.,
lis charge to the pastor, DeIlows rams IN
marks under three headtN comprised his re-
himself, duties to his B IS Oh uu. S 10 MIN
he community. TIL parish and duties to
ermon will grow ur, e Importance of the
ntO yOur r,Crl, AoJOn you as YOU advance