Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-30


cinle Often these are like the GROWING
white caps on the lake, seen for an instant
only TO sink quickly out OF sight. on are
called to great joys and great responsioill-
ties. So long as the people discover IN you
a warm. good heart and an earnest, upllII-
inc purpose they will follow your lead %
YOU. as your greatest glory, and the spirit
of your ministry, l wish nothing DetIer
than the motto on the coat of arms OF Ine
Prince of Wales, "Ich diem serve
VIZ. IIIman,s Address TO the Parish.
Looking into the faces of so many whom
| know to be the very soul OF taithlulness
and devotion, it seems quite IKE an linpeI-
Thence to attempt to make an auuress
which shall partake of the nature Oh
charge or be admonitOry in It's character
1t is time, rather, for praise and cohgra,,
tulaton. 1t is also an hour OF insight ana
conservation: of thought of the true inter
ests of the church; of its duty TO attenu
we'll TO its material welfare; to keep itself,
as a corporate individual healthy and Wig
orous. The church which does this, keeps
itself in good repair and pays its bills
promptly, feels a sef-respect and self-con-
| fidence which is an important factor in its
usefulness.
1t is true that Sunday rest and the
san ctuary services are no substitute Tor
nobility of soul, but for the sake of the
spirit of worship and of the moral and
spiritual uplift, be in your places each sun
day, so that God and your minister Will
both find you there. BE people with
Sunday in your lives. In your case your
duties seem to be closely allied with the
fact that your minister is young man;
that he stands for the latest generation OF
truth Your action says that you want TO
be led according to this latest revelation
which he brings to you. Make it possible
for him thus to lead you.
The days of worship built the worlds
cathedrals and elaborated its rituals. The
days of salvation-seeking gave birth to its
sectarian creeds and deepened the sense of
personal accountability. Now the days of
humanitarianism have come, and the task
is to cleanse and reconstruct the social or
der, sweeten and refine the world, substi
tute helpfulness for competition, tender
ness for hardness The church stands for
worship and aspiration as much as it ever
did, but the emphasis of our day and gen.
Grafton is upon the second commandment.
Local reforms, local charities, local enter
prises to preserve the virtue and purity of
your community life, will command your
loyal and royal efforts under your new lead
er. Pardon my homily and accept my best
wishes for your Christian prosperity with
Rev. Mr.. Maxwell
Mr. Days Address of Welcome.
In giving welcome to the new minister
on behalf of the other churches of Brat |
tleboro Rev. c. o. Day, pastor of the Con- |
gregational church, said he knew that at |
that hour the words the audience most |
wanted to hear were Hail and Farewell |
but he wished at least to express his pleas |
ure in the sermon of the Rev. Dr. Leon |
ard, which made him feel how true it is
that as we descend from the mountains to
the valleys the stream of difference broad
ems, but as we mount to the hills il be-
comes so narrow that we can strike hands |
across it. The sermon was so carefully
and wisely put as not only to define the
the speakers position, but to make clear to
ones own mind that of the hearers.
That which calls Christians together today
is the great truth that God, life, and truth
are infinitely greater than any one line or
any one school of thought. And not only
are we drawn together in our common
search for the truth, but the pressure upon
us all of the common unwillingness to be-
lleve the truth and to rise to the possibili-
ties OF man, the prevalent sins of covetous-
ness, and ambition, and worldliness of ev-
cry form, unite us in the common effort to
make men love God and one another We
feel TINS pressure in BrattleDoro, and it is
because we feel 1t and are working togeth-
er from these common rallying points, that
l. minister OF the Congregational church,
can give nearly welcome to this new work
ar in the field. 1t is because we feel that
nc ,;.t,, :. |
The social power of this church so perya.
sive, its reach into the villages near ne
with their homes, schools. and isolated
lives, is so extended, that we long for the
greatest possible access of moral and relic
BUS force, and it is because we believe that
we have it here in this new worker. and
nat this is what this inspiring service
means, that the churches and the whole
can extend to this church and
Us new minister their most cordial well
'ome and GOdspeed.
Congratulations.
Mr.. Days words admirably expressed
ne spirit which marked all the exercises.
Ht'eI the crossing hymn had been sung and
ne oehedlctlon had been pronounced by
nc nc nc" pastor, very large proportion of
i congregation fingered to press up about
" NOhS ldllidte Mr, MAXWELL / 4
ma each other, and to express also the
pleasure which was Enthusiastically felt in
eelng Rev. 7. W. Illman once more in the
,hurch where he had ministered so worth
~. IN the congratulations of the occa-
non all Brattleboro people Join. and from
ne new pastorate they hope and conf
'ehtly expect positive power for GOOD in
Ill the community's work.
Hymn Of Ordination.
WRITTEN BY G. A. HINES
We ask, o Thou Diynest One,
Inese CUTS for this beloved son
niat al ms days may freiyhted ba
WIN wisdom, strength, humility.
Endow him with subjective, for,.
10 teach Thee as the Mighty Sour,
~ herelu can all be un lerst0od
Anou' Infinite the Highest Good. r
- i've MN calm and open mind - |
WhrrS ~, ~ 49, -
And constant will, that choosing Tigb+
'""" iaoe' answering, TO the light:
Toueh his young heart with heavenly fire
nhat he may other lives inspire "'N'
10 clearer faith, and larger aims
Ana all that charity procaims
May all the sweetness ana the graca
trnIoush when, alone, is seen Thy face ,
FROM ms pure life and precepts fall
As ne snail serve each sacred call
The Early History of Ir,,..,