Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-21

The Rev. Charles B. Austin, D. D.,
who has had charge OF the Vance
Memorial church ever since it was
opened, was formally installed aS~Ts
pastor last night The beautiful audi.
torium was well filled, Congregation
including numbeSof ministers from
this city. The pulpit was very taste
fully decorated with flowers and plants.
<he Rev. Mr.. Young, of Prosperity.
Pa, moderator of the Presbytery of
Washington, presided during the eXer-
cises,
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. DR.. David A. Cunningham, pas
tor of the First Presbyterian church
of this city, and it was very forcible
and interesting discourse. He took as
his text am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the power or
God unto salvation to all them that be-
lieve it." He dwelt with particular
stress upon the statement that the Cos
pei is the power of God. 1t is the
power of God in life, in death, and unto
salvation.
The Gospel is the power of God in
life. 1t sustains and comforts all VINO
believe it. 1t is His power in death.
Philosophers and scientists who teach
the monstrous doctrine that there Is
not life after death, have offered moth
ing to remove the fear OF deatn.
Every Christian does not die with the
word victory" upon his lips, but
every Christians last hours are sooth-
ed by his faith, in the Gospel OF Christ.
The Gospel of Christ is the power or
God unto salvation. To them that be-
lieve it, and follow in the footsteps OF
their Divine Teacher, God has prom
ised life everlasting.
When DR.. Cunningham had con-
cluded, the moderator detailed the
action of the Presbytery in approving
the call of the Rev. Chas. B. Austin to
the pastorate of the church. He then
asked the usual questions of the Rev.
Mr.. Austin and of the congregation,
to which satisfactory replies were
given, and then announced it. as his
duty to declare Mr.. Austin pastor OF
the Vance Memorial church.
The charge to the pastor was de-
livered by the Rev. Joseph Speer, pas
tor of the Second Presbyterian church.
Your years of preparation, he said,
have fitted you for the service in which
you are about to be engaged. You have
been ordained an ambassador of Christ.
Your years Of work have made you
familiar with all the trials, and all the
joys to be met with in the ministry.
You are set for the defense of the
Gospel, which embraces the whole
Scriptures. No words which | might
say are so applicable as the words OF
the Apostle Paul to Timothy:
81 charge thee, therefore, before God
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his APP
pearing and his kingdom: preach the
word; be instant in season, out of sea-
son; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine"
Your commission is to preach the
Gospel in the fear of God, and in the
love of those you are to rule in spirit
ual things. You are to be the judge
O. THAT you shall preach. You are not
a ministerial mouthpiece, either for
the many or the few; you are Gods
mouthpiece, and as the Holy Spirit fills
your mouth for utterance so must you
hort. 1t is a work of which you need
not be ashamed. You will soon dem
onstrate that the Scriptures are not
antiquated, but are as applicable to the
present time as when the men Of old
spoke according as they were moved
by the Holy Spirit.
Sin should not be covered over, or
salvation neglected. You will preach
to sinner as well as saint. You will
administer, exhort, encourage. Your
subject matter may be drawn from all
sources, but it must apply to the round
ing out of Christian character We are
ministering in peculiar times-times
that are trying the souls of ambassa-
doris of Christ. We must wait patient
ly for the Lord. Stand sQuarely for
Christ. Let nothing daunt you in your
duty to God and those over whom you
are placed God has promised to guide
you. Il am with you always With
God with you, who can be against you?
All power is Christ's and he has prom
ised that power to you. May the Holy
Spirit fill you with knowledge Of God,
and the desire to minister to your flock
in holy things. May he make pastor
and people to know each other in per-
feet love and fellowship. May the
blessing of God be upon your ministry.
Ti.> Rev. Mr.. Young delivered the
charge to the people and was listened
to very attentively. He likened the
pastor to a husband and the church
his wife He understood he was adj