The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-02
A PASTOR INSTALLED.
The Rev. DR.. Smith Baker Put Over
Wflliston Congregational Church,

Sermon By Rev. DIR. Webb of Boston
Other Exercises.
The services connected with the in
stallation of the Rev. Smith Baker, d.
D., as pastor of the Wi1liston Congrega-
tional church took place last evening in
the presence Of a. very large audience.
The full order of exercises was as follows:
W. G. Kimball
Anthem-Te Deum, Schneider
Brief Statement py Moderator of Council
Report of the Council, by the Scribe.
Reading Scriptures, Rev. Geo. M. Howe
Prayer.
Response, Choir
Sermon.
Rev. E. B. Webb. d. D., of Boston
Flynn sS5, 81 Love Thy Kingdom,
Lord.'s
Installing Prayer.
Rev. b. A. Warfeld, D. D.
Right Hand of Fellowship,
Rev. W. n. Fem, d. D.
Anthem-How Lovely Are the Mes,
sengers, Marston
Address to the People, Rev. d. NJ. Pratt
Concluding Prayer.
Hymn io67-'O Spirit of the Living
Benediction, Pastor
The council which had been held in the
afternoon was presided over by Rev. e.
P. Wilson of Deering and Rev. George 4.
Lovejoy of Pittsheld, N. H., was the
scribe. The seven churches in this city
were represented as we'll as those of Deer
ing, Cumberland Mills and First of
Lowell, Mass, while Rev. Drs. II. B.
Webb of Boston and ]. 6. Merrill of this
city sat with the council. The examina.
tion of the candidate was pronounced
satisfactory and it was voted to proceed
to the installation in the evening in ac-
oordance with the programme, the only
change being the substitution for the
Rev. r. 7. Hack who was to offer prayer
of the Rev. Mr.. Adams of Westbrook.
DR.. Webb's sermon was marked BY the
well known characteristics of this
preacher. He was decided in his opinions
learned in his utterances and as vigorous
IS in his younger days. He took for his
text Romans III, 1916. He referred to
the condition of the world at the time
Paul wrote and enumerated some of his
reason for preaching the gospel. His own
personal experience and marvellous con-
version was one. This complete and per-
manent Transformation he himself ex-.
planned through his experience of the
power of God in his own soul. He knew
he was new man If he knew anything.
Experience gives the preacher something
to utter and the hope and courage and
purpose to utter it. Paul had seen the
power of the gospel, why should he not
preach it. Further the gospel was the
only power adequate to the work of sal
Walton to be done in Rome, and it is the
only one now adequate to the salvation
of sinners. It's power does not lie in
what it has in common with other
religions, but in what it has in contrast
to them. Paul did not preach compara-
tive religions or the Platonic philosophy,
| or the doctrines of the stoics. There is
more power in one line of the gospel, said
| DR.. Webb, than in all these PHILOSOPHERS.
| If Paul were here today he would not
preach on evolution or sociology or the
popular themes of the day. DR.. Webb
criticised the preachers who teach the
modern ideas OF, the reliability OF the
Pentateuch, or that Moses was a myth.
He depicted the crimes and corruEtions of
Rome 1900 years ago referring to the
descriptions given by various authors and
Incidentally pronouncing Quo Vadis "a
beastIy book. /"
1t is still the ministers business to
preach the gospel, and 1t was never more
needed. The temptation to deal with
other subjects is well nigh Irresistible as
is illustrated by the advertisements OF
Sunday services. and it can only be
avoided by deeper, richer, truer expert
ence.
The installing prayer by Rev. Dr.
Warfield of Lowell was very tender and
serious production, and SO was the address
OF Mr. Wright in extending the right
hand of fellowship. He had preached in
Dr.. Bakers church at Crono while that
gentleman was in the service of the
Christian commission during the re-
beIlion. He welcomed the new pastor
back to the State of Maine, where he was
for ten years pastor, secondly to this
city, blessed city to livs in. and third
to his office with it's preroEatives and re-
sponsibilities.
The charge to the pastor by the Rev.
DR.. Fem was in very different vein. 1t
was playful at the outset, but soon
changed into deep earnestness. He ex-
horted him to take reality for his funda-
mental note in his theology and preach
ing. Theology is full of fctions which
have come down in books and traditions.
Some of these he sharply criticized but a
brief report like this must omit them.
God is as free as ever, and as full of grace
and love. That which is called justice is
only love. Then the clergyman must feel
the reality of his prerogative. The power
OF thu minister is the power of God. And
| there must be reality in his manhood and
| individuality. Preach what you know,
love and feel and not what you are ex-
pected to preach. No man can expiate the
sin of. preaching what somebody else be.