The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-26

we are DTOuu VI tul5 lS6lluS Nhlou VIC
all share alike in recognizing in you
rare5 maniiness and a larger sacrifice for
others good, and not content with empty
praises we desire to embody our genuine
admiration in some abiding form as the
instructive tribute of our hearts.
We therefore beg you to accept tbls
pastoral staff as q token OF our admira-
ton for yourself and reverence for your
office.
AS Canon Ogden finished speaking
Rev. Mr.. Forth took from Rev. Joseph
B. Shepherd the beautiful staff and ad-
vanced to the Bishops chair and placed
it in his hand. Bishop Nicely WAS visibly
affected as he arose to receive the gift
and make reply. He stood for moment
looking at the handsome gift and then in
a low but distinct voice, which betrayed
the depth of feeling within, he spoke
briefly as follows:
My Dear Brethren:
| am again moved as have been many
times before, by the depth of your love
and affection for me as your friend ana
chief pastor, and your kindness and con-
| sideration in coming up here from your
| distant homes to observe With me this
anniversary day of my conservation as
bishop in the Church of God. This day
| is always day of humiliation for me, as
well as happiness. I nm reminded that
| it is ST. Paul's day. 1 think OF the
wonderful labors. the humility, the love
and the yearning desire of the sanity
| man of God and ask with feeling al
most of shame | ask myself, In what
smallest way have been anything like
| this great teacher and pastor that you
should pa always coming with your love
and reverence. am utterly unworthy
of il all, but it is none the less appre-
ciated. have had always your loyal sup.
| became your bishop. No bishop ever had
more loyal. and it seems to me no bishop
ever could have had even equal support,
patience and love bestowed upon him
| than has always been tho portion OF the
| bishop of Maine all through these thirty
| years of ADMINISTRATION. He has had to
| labor true in a hard field in many ways,
| but the JOY and satisfaction that has
come with the fruit Of our poor labors
Sin His name" has richly rewarded us.
came to Maine three decades ago q
stranger "and We tGox mo in. have
never received anything but kindness
from all Maine, from clergy, from
| churohmen and from the citizens general
| ~. Wherever my wants have carried me
| in this grand old state ! have found the
cordial welcome and interest of its noble
people mine. I have always had their
confidence and one of the sweetest senti-
| ments that comes to me today Is that
after thirty long years OF constant asso-
citation still retain, l believe. that
precious confidence. [ have at least
sought to be, under Gud, an honest man.
I have tried to have something of the
blessed Apostle Paul's regard for the
| welfare of the souls of men.
You would have me regard thi S beauti-
| fu gift az typical Of a shepherd Of
| Saul's, and as reminder of works al
ready done among my tlock. prefer to
regard it MS reminder to humility, as a
stimulus to greater exertions; to a fuller
appreciation of the obligations and of the
| great responsibilities of my office among
| men to spur me to reach for greater at
| tainments in Gods vineyard to make me
more humble, more earnest, more prayer
| full, more faithful to God and to my
| Oh urch.
| far I have succeeded, I must leave to
you all and to God. Had l possessed
greater spiritual gifts, more eloquence.
more earnestnesS, more patience, l might
| have accomplished much more. But
have tried to be just to my clergy; just
| to the laihy, according to my gifts as
| God has Blessed me.
shortcomings rs well as do myself no
/ one can regret what has been neglected
| that perhaps -oiaht with greater earn
o tness and prayer. ILLNESS have teen accom- =
nlished. But the pass has gone ills record
| IS iudelibly written. What has passed
can never be returned. God help me to
be more faithful to tho duties and or
portunLties of my sacred office.
You, my dear friends and faithful CO.
workers, whose kind snd loving hearts
have prompted, and willing hands have
brought this beautiful gift which has
touched me so deeply. 1 can but thank
Won from the bottom of my heart with an
a ffectionnte gratitude that cannot ex-
ross itself in words. Gods richest bles-
sings he upon you and yours as long as
| life shall last and bring US all Mt last to
| that heaven of perfect peace, that blesse
rest that remaineth for the people of Got.
The bishop then with voice trembling
with emotion, pronounced the henedio-
tons and then the glad notes of the lie
Deum Laudamus made the arches of the
big cathedral ring and then the long line
of priests and choristers marched once
more to the yestry and the service com
mem Grating Henry Adams Neely's 80
! Av,x, MaSv