The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-22
A NEW PASTOR INSTALLED.

| and in government"
A NEW PASTOR INSTALLED.
Rev. f. w. Moot breaches at st.
Pnul's English Lutheran Church.
Yesterday marked the beginning of a
| new era in the history of St. Paul's Eng
lish Lutheran Church. corner Of Eleventh
| and H Streets northwest. The newly
elected pastor, Rev. Frederick w. Moot,
began his pastorate and preached his first
sermon at the morning service.
The auditorium of the church was hand
sumely decorated, and the chancel was
banked high with a profusion Of palms,
| cut flowers, and potted plants. In the
centre Of the large organ facing the con-
gregation hung suspended the word wei
come" artistically wrought in dark red
carnations and evergreens. The choir Of
fered special music for the occasion, and
the congregation turned out in large num-
bers to greet the new pastor.
Rev. Mr.. Mott took THE Supreme
Duty Of Christian Ministry" as outlined
in First Corinthians, ill, as the theme
Of his sermon. The text reads:
Christ sent me not to baptize but to
preach the gospel, not in wisdom Of words
lest the Cross of Christ should be made
void" In the course of his sermon Rev.
Mr.. Mott said:
THE Christian ministry is the most
divine vocation in which man can engage.
In no other calling in life are the privis
leges SO great and important or the re-
sponsibilities so Unreasonable and eter-
nal. To him who is called of God to min
lister at his altar are entrusted in meas
alttr hi In
terests of the human race. Not only Is
he to be friend in our homes. a coun-
selor in time of perplexity, comforter
in affection, a Waterman over the purity
and morality of society, but 1t is he who.
through the economy of Gods grace,
stands between Gods salvation and hell's
eternal punishment; he is set apart to
teach that religion which is designed to
reform and exalt man in this life and to
guide him to future life Of endless hap
piness
THAT the ministry and the church might
be conscious of the power and RESPONSE
bilities of this divine calling, God has
emphasized its Importance through his
inspired writer's. Paul taught Timothy to
preach the words He himself. the
greatest preacher of the ages, declared IS
his supreme purpose the preaching Of the
gospel OF Christ. In the text he points
out the supreme duty OF the Christian
ministry namely. to preach the gospel.
I'm the faithful presentation Of the sos
pei the world is brought in touch with
the greatest personalities Of the ages.
The onward march of the centuries has
witnessed the rise and fall of many i'm
portant characters. We could divide the
history of the human race into epochs. at
either end of which we could place some
grand old man or illustrious youth. AS
we briefly call the roll OF the world 8
greatest we note the names OF Noah, Abra-
ham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, David. Isaiah,
Peter, John, Paul, Luther, and hundred
thousand others. But great as these we're.
there stands in history one superior to
them all, the unique man of Nazareth In
presenting him to the world through the
preaching of the gospel We are impressed
with the superiority of his spirit, the pro-
fundity of his doctrine, the divinity OF
his person. The world can only be lifted
to that higher plane Of life by coming IN
touch with the Christ whose Characters
tics of purity, love, and sacrifice are set
forth in the preaching of the gospel. Jud.
son was to the heather the Christ man"
only because Judson had been much with
the Christ, so the world can only become
like him by the teaching Of his works
and association with his person.
.In the performance of this supreme
duty of the Christian ministry" Rev. Mr..
Moot continued, the world beholds It's
greatest loss in the destruction ora hu-
man soul. 1t is difficult for finite mind
to appreciate the value Of mortal soul
even in the contemplation of his own des-
tiny. Man greatly underestimate the i'm
portance of his own immortality. In
many portions of the scripture God has
endeavored to impress upon the world
that there is no ether loss to man COM
parable to the loss OF his SOUL
I'm the faithful performance Of Its
duty" Rev. Mr.. Moot said, 1.-The Christian
ministry will emphasize to the world
Gods infinite love for man. We cannot
preach the gospel without telling of Gods
son as a saviour. We cannot speak OF the
Saviour without thought of the great love
through which He was given to the world
As We behold the Father in the attribute
of his love, we cannot refrain from loving
him.
In preaching the gospel we must teach |
even more than this. The doctrine of
justification by faith and other important |
doctrines do not comprise the whole of |
the gospel. The gospel will touch every |
part of our daily life, and II there are i'm |
perfectons in our life these must neces
sarily be revealed through the preaching |
of the word. The true minister of the |
gospel must declare many things which
may be unpleasa SAINT for some to hear be-
cause their lives will not bear measure
ment with the standard of the gospel of
Christ If there are any in this church."
Rev. Mr. Moot declared, who do not want
10 thus be reminded of their faults, there
Is only one remedy, to make their lives
conform to the gospel. for the gospel in
Ill its fulness shall be declared from this
iesk as long as present relations con-
.inue.
THE text calls attention to another
eature in the Gospel ministry, namely,
hat the presentation of the Gospel is not
o be made in the wisdom of words. lest
he Cross Of Christ should be made void
thoroughly believe in an educated min
stry. and in all those things which are
alcuatod 10 bring the pulpit and the pew
o higher plane: but l am conscious of
he fact that the messages OF the greatest
and most successful ministers
ave not been hidden in depth OF wisdom
nd words which could not be readily I'M
erstood by the world. Paul could COM
land the philosophy and arts Of knowl-
dye as but few preachers could and yet
@ chose to speak in the clearest ana
lainest terms. The Sermon on the Mount
eliyered by the Master can be understood
Y a child. although he could have clothed
in a depth of thought which could not
ave been fathomed by the greatest
cbolar. So whatever might or might
ct be able to do in the use Of wisdom
Z Words" concluded Rev. Mr.. Moot,
l shall always prefer to preach the Cos
el in such simple terms and in such
lear illustrations that all may understand
ne message which God has given to me. |
shall endeayor, not TO place myself be-
,re the Cross. but rather ever he found
the shadow of the Cross. holding it
nd the Christ who hung upon 1t before
ne world. In preaching the Gospel
,ou ha martial in mona and fear only