Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-30
n. R. MILES INSTALLED
AS Pastor of the Centre COngre.
gatiOnal Church.

Thoughtful Sermon by Rev. DIR. Phillips
---Charge 90 People by Rev. G. o. Day,
| to Pastor by Prof. A. II. Merriam, Right
Hand OF Fellowship by Rev. J. u. Reid.
In response to the letter missive a council
called by the Centre Congregational church
of Brattleboro and the ecclesiastical society
connected Herewith convened at the
| chapel of the church at O'Clock yester-
day afternoon to consider the installation
of Rev. Harry X. Miles as pastor and
teacher. The council organized by choos-
ing Rev. G. W. Phillips, ID. d., of Rut-
land moderator, and Rev. II. II. Shaw of
Marlboro scribe. The churches called and
the responses made were as follows:
West Brattleboro, no response; Marlboro,
II. II. Shaw pastor, Dea. +. +. Adams |
delegate; Wilmington, no respnse; Sax
tons River, G.. +. Chaplin pastor, Dr. e. |
II. Pettingill delegate; rownshend, M. F. |
Hardy pastor, Dea F. l.. Osgood delegate;
Bellows Falls, j. II. Reid pastor, Dea. G. !
w. Osgood delegate; Newfane, Smith |
Norton pastor, John Pierce delegate;
Westminster West, II. A. Goodhue pastor,
Dea. F. T. Ranney delegate; Putney, c.
J. Harris pastor; Rutland, @. w. Phillips
pastor. Dea. II. A. Harmon delegate;
Windsor Avenue, Hartford, Conn, G. II.
Brigham delegate; Park church, Hart
ford, w. W. Ranney pastor, w. Tucker
delegate; individuals, Rev. G. o. Day,
Boston: Prof A. h. Merriam, Hartford;
Prof Williston Walker, Hartford.
After prayer by the moderator the action
of the church in extending call to Rev.
Mr.. Miles was read by Dea. c. F. Thomp-
son as was also the letter from Mr.. Miles
accepting the pastorate on the conditions
; contained in the letter OF the church. Sta.e-
ments of church and ministerial standing
, presented by Mr. Miles were read by the
u moderator and were voted satisfactory by
u the council The council then proceeded
y to the examination of the candidate, and
: it was voted that the moderator conduct
e the examination as he deemed best, sub
# iect to questions by the council. A state
Z ment of his early life, religious experience
and his call to the ministry was given by
a the candidate, also a statement of his re-
/ ligious belief, which was pronounced sat
7 isfactory by the council. Rev. DR.. Geo
Is Leon Walker was present, and by a special
vote of the council he was recognized as
N an honorary member OF that body.
AT The services Of installation were held in
N the church at $50 o'clock before large
m congregation The services opened with
an organ prelude, "Grand Offertoire,' -
, Beethoven, by f. c. Leitsinger, after
y, which the mixed choir rendered Marston' s
10 The Lord is King" and the res alt of the
council was announced by the scribe. The
- invocation and reading of Scripture, Acts
- KILL 26-j2, was by Rev. Mr.. Shaw. The
~ selection, Lift Thine Eyes to the Hills,
-. Holden, by the male quartet was followed
hs by the sermon by Rev. DR.. Phillips, whose
rs text was Acts XIII, 42-44.
i! DR.. Phillips recognized the fact thai
congregations at religious worship are no
lis so large as they should be, and he devoted
NJ his sermon to the consideration of tbs
le- question of how to secure and to hold large
on congregations and at the same time avoit
he popuarizing the service or INDUCING il
any of the clap-trap methods which SOM
ng ministers employ. The preacher shout,
ISIS so preach that the people will recogniz
s., his message as a message from God. Tn
Ias minister who is able to do this is the on
Xix who will wear the longest. There is a.
active demand for preachers who ar
termed "smart." Personal address, az
to and ability to draw are the characteristic
, a which are eagerly sought by many, but tn
lry ardor of the early admiration is not Away
Iall kept up to its first intensity. Signs of
an reaction from the idolatry OF eloquer
it'll speech multiply, and it is good omen.
the A pastor should be strenuous and symp
thetic in his study of the Bible. He VIII
nor an art that cannot fail, and multitude
he hasten to hear him. The pastor mu
,ac stimulate in others Independent study
Ua the word of God. The home students
md the word will be the pastors stronge
and allies.
Rev. DIR. Phillips then referred to Il
average duration of a pastorate and
"a some of the causes for their termination
o,lS and while he would not advocate retuT
'I III to the custom of life pastorates, still tn
u custom was indeed a pleasant memor
hill me az llt ~ y
WV tans but among those who go to chur'
to be entertained, who expect high a
e IN from the choir and streams of eloquen
e IN from the pulpit. Religious study is n
a. III familiar ground to them.
sing The successful minister must and "
amp know his people, Few pastors are vel
nan atile enough TO hold congregations We
the after year without a personal acquaintan
ana with them. The minister and his peoI
should get in touch in social ministl
this No church is up to date without social
cted cilities.
VI. Prolonged power in the pulpit could
Srat- further and better su6served by less prea'
zen. ing. The two-sermon plan is becomi
/ ale, obsolete. The same people do not atte
|
t of them interested. The two-sermon pl
his abbreviates pastorates. Less bulk g
better quality is the demand and the II
of it is in the air. Lastly, without Il
is at pathos which is born of sincerity prea
ing is a failure. The minister must pref
ming the cross as translated in his own eXpO
New ence.
Rev. George F. Chaplin offered the
lgton stallation prayer, in which he gave thai
2 the for the evidence of Gods generous pre-
dence and asked that the hour might m
ected fest anew Gods favor.
out After the singing of hymn Rev. c,
Day gave the charge to the people. Spe
. last ing from the depth of his own experie
with Mr.. Day gave assurance that there is
r greater work than that of preaching
gospel of Christ for the saving of II
kind. From his long connection with
pastorate of the Centre church he k
that its people were tender, ambitit
mt of quick to respond to the appeals of fe
after workers for good, hospitabe to those
ealth. present these appeals loved beauty
from worship, and were profound in their
ship. He charged them to live up to d