The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-24

op Gilbert OGciatinG-Brief Adj
Illustrations Drawn From the
Lives of the Apostles.
IIlumined by the rosy light of the state
ly, candelebra, the highest ritual OF the
Episcopal church was said at St. Pauls
parish yesterday morning, the occasion
being the ordination of a deacon, the con-
frmation of a large class, and the cele-
bration of the sacrament of the holy
communion, at the close Of the regular
service.
The warm summer wind swept through
the church and famed the altar lights
into a struggling flicker, while before the
chanceI rail knelt the penitent members
of the confirmation class. Bishop Gilbert
read the articles of faith aloud and
solemnly administered the offices of the
church. Placing his right hand on the
head of each of the kneeling commune
cants he received the vow of faithfulness,
and with a concluding prayer welcomed
| the new members into full fellowship with
God and the church.
G. M. P. Pridham was ordained as dea-
con in the church by the bishop and Rev.
/ john Wright, pastor. In this Mr.. Prid-
ham enjoys the distinction of being the
second layman to be honored with that
! office by the Episcopal church in this city,
! and at the same time continue his secular
| duties. Mr. Pridham is a bank clerk,
| and he is also a minister of the gospel,
as the requirements of his Office permit
him to perform the duties of priest in
all their fullest scope with the exception
of the administration of the sacrament of
! the Lords supper. AS a rule when a dea-
| con is ordained in the Episcopal church
| he is Immediately given some evangelistic
! work or a charge as an assistant in some
! church. Mr.. Pridham will, on the con-
| trary, continue his duties in st. Paul and
/ devote his leisure moments to ecclesiasti-
cal work.
| The new church officer occupied a posi-
! ton just in front of the pulpit stand, from
where he received his charge from Bishop
NJ. \. Gilbert. Later he accepted before
! the altar the conditions of his admission
/ to the ministry and assented in the af-
| tirmative to a number of questions put
| by the bishop. This was followed by
/ series of responses, by both Mr.. Pridham
and Rev. John Wright. Bishop Gilbert
over Mr.. Pridham's shoulders and de-
clared him duly authorized to perform the
services of his office.
Bishop Gilbert spoke briefly in conclud-
ing the services. He drew an Illustration
from the lives of the apostles, asserting
that the Episcopal church in Ordaining it's
laymen as priests followed the principle
laid down by the apostles when they
chose seven of their numbers for the
service of baptism, of which st. Stephen
was the foremost. The Episcopal church
followed the Scriptures very closely in
preparing it's laymen for the ministry. A
deacon in a Presbyterian church was
never more than the limitations of his
office. So it was in all the other churches
which were revered as cO-wOrkers in
Christ's field. However, the Episcopal
church, the bishop thought, came nearer
the old apostolic form than any of its
neighbOrS Coordination conServes and
emphasizes the spirit of the apostolic or
der the bishop said. In practice, and as
for pracucability, the speaker thought he
custom Of Ordaining laymen was very
pretty one, strengthening the ministry
and giving fresh workers in the church
field. Here Bishop Gilbert compared the
conditions surrounding the calling of the
apostles with the deacons of the Epis-
cOpal church today. Paul, he said, con-
tirued his tent making, and the other
the pursuit Of their vocation, fishing 1t
was therefore significant that the Episco-
pal church should elect deacons under
much the same circumstances-that is
continuing in their secular calling but
giving their spare time to Gods cause
The spirit of industry and labor in Gods
cause was the highest which the human
soul could conceive. To gather in the
wandering sheep from the hillside and
give them shelter in the liberty-loving
and interviewing church was the mis-
sion to which the members of the diacon-
ate were called The mission of the deacon
was to supplement the work of the bishop
and assist him in his many arduous la
bOrs. Bishop Gilbert closed his address
with a blessing upon the services and
prayer for the success of the new deacon
Mr.. Pridham, upon whom the office was
conferred, was born in England, in 1861
He graduated from Cambridge and came
to this country ten years ago, settling in
st. Paul. He at once Joined ST. PauIs
church and has since been a loyal work
er. He received his early church training
in England.