The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-02-09

dare to believe that many OF you will
at once recognize these words as the text
from which | preached my first sermon
as the rector Of this parish ten years ago.
IL was then my determined purpose to
make these great words the guide Of all
my life and all my work among you, and
even after the lapse of q decade venture
to remind you of my chosen motto
although stand before you this morning
conscious of many imperfections and
aware Of many shortcomings in actual
achievement.
Aud it seems TO me to-day that the
words Of the text are no less appropriate
now than they were at the very begin
ming of this recGorshlp. For their value
and force and application are equally
evident both in relation to the past and
to the opening future. And to-day we
are to occupy our thoughts both with the
retrospect of the past and the prospect
for the time to come.
|. The experience of the great apostle
who first wrote the words of the text
furnishes an exact precedent for the very
use to which the words are applied to-
day.
He had personally worked and labOred
among the COrinthian people with this
one great aim, and still he was TO resume
relations to them for some time to come
What had been his adopted standard
was still to continue to be so in GIL HE
work for the souls committed to bis
charge. And now to-day your rector in
his more humble sphere and in his own
imperfect way, ventures to re-sesert the
same great motto, and dc clRres 1t to be
his still unfalterirg purpose to make the
ruling principle of his life the determine
ton ''to know nothing among you save
Jeaus Christ and Him Crucifi
You will remember St Paul's attitude
toward the different classes of the people
OF Corinth and his position upon the lead
ing creations of the day. He went
among them and worked under certain
peculiar conditions and met the d f1icu!-
ties of his position in the high and noble
spirit and the singleness Of purpose de
ecribed in the text.
EVERY TOWN AND PARISH
has its own peculiar conditions, its
special problems, and its leading ques-
| tions. Certainly this ia true Of life
among Connecticut people, in an sgrlcul-
tursl community, at the close of the
nineteenth century.
Here II we look for the evil tendencies
Of human nature especially in the line OF
| intemperance or impurity we can find
them. Here If we are mindful Of 1t we
can detect an undue conservation in re-
gard to the beat interests Of the c0mmu-
nity. Here we may meet the spirit Of
that covetousDess which the great apoR-
| tie does not hesitate to call idOlatry.
Here we may lad without seeking it,
abundant proof OF that political corrup-
ton and that lack Of the sense Of official
honor and integrity which are noticeable
| l. in, no IIpifaH States of
| America in the year OF grace 1900.
What better motto could there be for
one who has taken upon him the solemn
vows of ordination to the sacred ministry
than to enter upon his high and holy
duties in the midst Of these prevailing
circumstances, with the words Of the
text upon his lips and in his heart and
conscience: 81 determined not to know
anything among you save Jesus Christ
and Him Crucihed."
The ordained minister of Christ is ap'
pointed and commissioned to carry on
His threetold office of Prophet, Priest
and King.
az The work Of Prophet is that Of
teaching and preaching.
The pulpit ia no place for treatises or
philosophy, for essays on science Oh
socialism, for oratiOns on politics or othel
secular subjects.
This pulpit has not been so used.
will never be put to such use. Herr
} nothing has been preached but the ever
} lasting Gospel of Our Lord and Saviour
, Jesus Christ. To this one end all m!
study has tended, and whatever though
: and reading have been put upon othe
interests have been only the better Il
, illustrate the truth OF the Gospel and t.
show its bearings upon the different de
partments Of life.
(2) The work of Priest is especial
the conduct of Divine Service and tn
a administration of the Sacramento.
!. Here during ten years il has been m
high privilege to break the bread Of lif
to YOU in public and in private, to admi
g your children into the covenanted meH
cies of God at the font, to present man
of you at the time of opening manhood
womanhood to receive at the hands
, the Bishop before the holy altar the ri
of holy Confirmation.
Here Ihave 1ined together in the in
dissoluble bonds of Holy Matrimon
:, those who have solemrly taken upo
themselves those irrevocable vows.
Here have conducted the last sacre
rites of comfort and faith and hope ov'
~ the remains OF many of your blessed dea
And in all these ministrations the
= has been the effort to make the one pr
yailing note that Of truest reverence
reverence in manner and speech al
spirit-and the one unYarying usage h'
been that of strict rubrical observan
h. according to the valued Liturgy which
our Catholic heritage.
(3) THE WORK OF PASTOR
- is that corresponding to the kingly, roy
T office of Christ Himself.
This is the Office Of the ruler, only
the Church Of God theruler 10 the paste
Oh the feeder, the shepherd Of the flock. g
>" So have gone in and out among y
as friend. / have tried, in my oy
4. weak, imperfect wav, to be faithful
your friend, to try to have you feel =
sympathy in all the vicissitndes of lii
sharing with you your Joys and your q
. rows. kneeling by the bedside Of your 81
and your dying, praying by the coffin