Connecticut western news., 1900-09-13
Rector Mill's First Anniversary.

Last Sunday closed the first years rectorship of Rev M. H. Mill at Christ church. The rector preached a very interesting sermon and in his remarks stated that it had been very pleasant year to him and a prosperous one for the Church. That there had been an increase in membership of both church and Sunday school and spoke of the beautiful memorial window and of the addition to the endowment fund of s5000 from the late Mrs Church. In closing he said:
 It is only proper before closing to state, that just one year ago we com- menced our reotorship in this parish. The year seemed an exceedingly short one indeed, and this seeming shortness perhaps, moreso than anything else, may be interpreted as descriptive of the years work just ended. Whatever is congenial, pl. asant and inviting, never Impresses us as lengthening she time, but much rather the reverse, as short ening it. The ideal relationship be- tween the rector and his people, is a unique one, since there Is none other just like it. He is their representative between themselves and Almighty God Aud he is the Ambassador for Jesus Christ. His position therefore repre- sents both God and man and it's office purely is in behalf of reconciliation be- tween these two. He stands between these two as an advocate, somewhat as the lawyer stands between hls client and the court in behalf of justice; somew at as the physician stands between bis patient and medicine in behalf of health. The relationship therefore not only is a unique one, but also a solemn and sacred one, Personal ideas and in- olinstions, no matter what these might be, must give place to the sacred office of.the Holy ministry. As a consequences fof this. a minister's life may become and often is, most isolated and most wearing one. It becomes such when his office is either misunderstood or misinterpreted and consequently lack. ing appreciation. Whenever such is the case, his lot not only is an exceed ingly hard one. but in addition, to 8 very high degree fruitless; and as to | time, weeks seem months, and months years Here in the old diocese of Con- uecticut and the still older state of Con- | necticut, where the people have an historical back ground-socially civilly and religiously-of more than two cen. | turies, one naturally would suppose, il anywhere in the American church, that this sacred relationship was understood and interpreted arigbt. Understood that the office of the ministry is a holy | office, that it ranks higher than all others, and that all-both highi and low owe that office their sincere and rev. erent respect; and understood also on the other hand that he who occupies that office, no matter how good and
 learned and piops he may be, after all
 is still human and still subject to the same trials and temptations as other
 men are; and iu this sense, although a
 minister, still and always one among | them and one of them, standing in need
 not only of their prayers, but then
 sympathies and affections as we'll. All
 this and even more during the year just
 passed, has fallen to our happy lot. We
 deem it only right and grateful here to
 say that the people of Canaan have been
 more than kind to us. Not only signi
 lying in word aud deed that our humble
 services are appreciated, but ever since
 we came among you, have demonstra
 ted day by day, that besides being par
 richioners. you also are our neighhors
 and regard us as yours, after that same
 definition as already given by the Cool Samaritan