The morning call., 1894-09-10
Ceremonies Held at the First
Unitarian Church.
SEVERAL DiVINEs PARTICIPATE.
The Church Crowded During the Inn
preSSiVe Services of Ordination
and Installation.

Rev. Greenleaf Eliot Jr. was ordained
at the First Unitarian Church on Geary
and Franklin streets and installed as aSso-
cia,e minister of the church to assist DR..
Stebbins.
The ordination was made an occasion Of
more than ordinary significance. Unita-
rian ministers from neighbOring cOngTega-
tons were present and participated in the
ceremonies, and large numbers of their
people at ended. The seating capacity
was. in consequence of this increased at
tendance, taxed to the fullest extent.
Elaborate floral decorations literally COW
cred the pulpit and chaneel, and coutinu-
ing in festoons of evergreens bedecked the
choir railing. There were large clusters
of roses and various other flowers, with
palms and ferns distributed between, with
a pretty effect
The church truste es occupied seats on
Pacn slde of th pulpit, while Rev. George
Il. DOdsOn, Rev. Leslie SprdRue, Rev.
Charles w. Wendte, DR.. Siebbins, DR..
Thomas Lamb Eliot, Rev. Roderick Steb-
bins and the young applicant for Ordina-
ton were seated on the pulpit platform.
Mr.. Eliot Jr. was given a p sitiOn in the
center of the platform, be being the central
figure, distinct from ali others.
Services began at IL A. NJ. with an organ
voluntary by H. j. Stewart, which was
followed with the anthem, ''Seud Out Thy
Light" from Psalms xiii and Xxx, as ar
ranged by G0unod. Rev. George r. Dob
son gave scripture reading and Rev.
Leslie w. Spaague read responsive
PRAYER, "Gl ri9us things of thee are
spoken, Jerusalem, city Of our God" The
choir sang the gloria, after which Mr..
| Wendte delivered sermon, for which be
took the text "A faithful minister; fel-
low servant in the Lord"
By way OF introduction the preacher re-
marked that this meeting was for the pur-
rose OF ordaining Christian minister and
formally installing him as assistant
minister of the First Unitarian Church.
His discourse was on the ministry.
especially the character and calling of the
present ministry. Fifty years ago the
minister moved in the highest society Of
the land and the highest scientific,
philosophical and theological education
was deemed essential for his calling. He
was the central figure OF the whole COM
munity-was the most influential and most
respected of men. The Puritan minister,
with all his shortcomings, was perhaps the
most impressive figure in American life.
Not so any longer. He shares honors
with the lawyer, the physician, the
journalist and man OF literature lie IS to-
dav the most criticized man in the country.
If he is a weakllng he can no longer take
refuge in the assumed sacred character of
his office. The world takes him for what
he is When young man enters the
ministry people say, what pity he did
not select some other profession that would
give MIN au opportunity TO develop hlm-
self
Formerly the minister lived ar abnor-
NAL life, breathing an atmosphere Of sup
pressed emotion and eXcluslVensSS. To-
day he is freer and happier pan, exercis-
ing healthier and more lasting influence
on the public miDd-the liberal, cultured
minister of the nineteenth century. And
yet he is simply friendly servant 10 the
Lord; one of the spiritual forces that tend
to the uplifting of men. He survives to
reconcile human duty with human destiny,
TO promote the sacred causes of charity
and sympathy. There are 100000 minis
ters. perhaps, in the United States. Take
them away and who would be left to fiji
their lace"
With regard to the young man about to
become minister he said that Mr.. EliOt'S
father has been a leading educator and
divine for nearly half a century in the
Southwest, AID reverting to his theme
added that much of the pastoral functions
was traditional rather than useful. The
minister should mingle with all classes and
manner of men that he might not fall into
illogical and contracted grooves.
DR.. StebbiDs pronounced the prayer of
consecrauOn, asking blessings on the
newly ordained minister. With the lay
hear the divine words: This is my be-
loved son in whom am we'll pleased
Rev. Thomas Lamb Eliot, DID,, de-
liyered the charge TO the young divine.
He gave him advice about duty and the
life before him. concluding with touch
ing paternal blessing.
The right hand Of fellowship was offered
by Rev. Roderick Stebbins on behalf of
the church.
An address was delivered by DIR. Steb-
bins, iu which he reminded the eongIega-
tion that it was the thirtieth anniversary
of his own installation as minister of the
church. He asked for as cordial recep-
ton to Rev. Mr.. Eliot as they gave himself
a generation ago.
The ceremonies closed with benedicton
by Rev. w. G. Eliot Jr.