Evening star., 1895-10-24

Adolos Allen. moderator of this presbytery,
presided, and was assisted by Rev. Wallace
Radcliffe, Rev B. F. Bittinger, Rev. David
Gregg of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian
Church, Brooklyn, Rev. w. c. Alexander,
Rev. DR.. Thomas Chalmers Easton and Rev.
Byron Sunderland.
Installation Sermon.
The Rev. Dr. Teunis s. Hamlin of the
Church of the Covenant conducted the devo-
tional exercises, which were supplemented
by the rendition of appropriate music from
the choir, consisting of Gabriel F. Johnston,
baritone and director; Mrs w. L. Wilson,
soprano; H. o. Simons, tenor; Miss Emma
Brock. contralto; Frank E. Ward, organist,
assisted by Mrs. W. E. Parson. soprano;
Mr.. A. j. Marsh, tenor; Mrs. Hawkins Tay
lor contralto; MIR. w. w. Rich, basso.
The moderator introduced to the congrega-
ton the Rev. DR.. David Gregg, who, as Mr..
Talmage's nearest ecclesiastical ne;ghbor in
Brooklyn, was to deliver the installation ser
mon. He took his text from l Timothy,
i've: "a Good Minister of Jesus Christ"
His theme divided itself into two parts:
"The future minister; shall he be? and what
shall he be?''
After vindicating his right to handle this
theme outside of theological discussion,
and explaining the necessity for ministers
and the causes that bring him into exis-
tence. DR.. Gregg said:
what shall the future minister be? In
the first place he will be a man called of
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appear to him in this. viz: His inability to
choose any other pursuit. The ministerial
life with him will not be question Of ease,
or of money. or of social Advancement, or
of personal popularity. He will preach for
the reason that jeremiah continued in the
prophetic Office. Time and again jeremiah
resolved upon quitting the office. He said
to himself. 4 will not speak any more in
Gods name. But what came from this
resolution? Let jeremiah himself respond:
When l spake thus, Gods word was in
mine heart as burning fire, and l was
weary with my forbearng'
THE future minister will be man who
appreciates the faithful ministry of the
past. and yet he will be man of the CEN
tury in which he lives. The minister who
underestimates the past of the pulpit is
laying the foundation for his own underes-
timatton. He inculcates and exemDlities
| a wrong spirit-a spirit which will spread
and tell against the ministry of the future.
The fact is that We are where we are to-
day because the men of the past fought
our battles for us. For example, they
fought for us the battle connected with the
doctrine of the deity of Christ. They over
came all the difficulties in the way of
firm and grounded belief in it, They es-
tablished 1t as a glorious fact, and Sc
cured for itssuch a wide acceptance that
when We We're born we were born in an
atmosphere saturated with belief in
Chrst's deity.
while the future minister will honor the
ministry of the past, he will not forget the
age III which he lives. He will not be a
theological fossil. He will not be afraid of
progress He will not treat the command
of God. Speak to the children of Israel
that they go forward as dead letter. 1t
Is rot dead letter. He will not be a par
rot. He will use all lawful criticism as
method Of reaching knowledge. He will not
surrender his right to think for himself
and speak for himself. HIS creed will not
be a dead creed but the power of living
faith. He will recognize the spirit of the
age. ana let it help him in formulating the
old truth of God; for the truth is as old as
Gcd is. He will keep his ear and brain and
heart and life open to the latest and fresh
est revelation.
He will use the things of his age. Its
poetry. its science. its history, its litera-
ture, its art, it's progress, its nineteenth
century discoveries and its twentieth CEN
tury hopes and ambitions. He will use
| these as the Hebrews used the gold and
| jewels of the Egyptians In the building of
| their beautiful tabernacles. He will use
them in adorn'ng the truth, and in adding
| luster and power and freshness and inter-
I est to the gospel