Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21
M. S. ROWLAND ORDAINED,
An Interesting Service at Central Presby-
terrain Church Monday Evening.

terian Church Monday Evening.
The Rev. Murray S. Rowland was
ordained minister at Central Pres
byterian Church Monday, in the
presence ofpa large congregation. The
platform was tastefully decorated with
flowers, and the services were instruct
i've and impressive. Norris s. Morgan
presided at the organ, and the choir.
composed of Mrs Smalley, Miss Elliott,
Mr.. Carver and Earle McCurdy, led in
the singing. The Rev. W. Frederick
Lewis. moderator Of the Presbytery of
New Castle. presided. After an OPEN
ing anthem by the choir. the Rev.
George H. Trull read the Scripture
lesson, and this was followed by the
Rev. E. W. Long, who offered prayer.
The Rev. John Balcom Shaw. D. D., of
New York City, preached an eloquent
and appropriate sermon. The modera-
tor rehearsed the proceedings of the
Presbyteiy in the matter Of Mr.. How
lands examination, and other trials
for licensure, and ordination, following
which was the pronounding of the con-
stitutional questions, to which Mr.
Rowland made audible answers. The
Rev. A. N. Keigwin, d. d., offered
the prayer Of ordination, during which
there was the laying on Of hands by the
Presbytery. Mr.. Rowland was then
welcomed by the Presbytery into the
ministry, and his name entered on the
ministerial roll.
The Rev. T. A. McCurdy gave the
charge to the newly ordained minister,
as follows:
my Dear Brother-I congratulate
you on your admission into this full
rIx <xf tot,, &c ltot
It will be profitable for you to review
secrated yourself to. this work, and to
mark we'll the good way the Master has
led you, to interpret rightly His good
ness and love to you until this hour |;
then link all this with the significance
Of this evenings service, and write
over it all. Ebenezer, Remember what
you now are: minister, an angel, a
bishop, an ambassador titles given by
our Lord to those whom He calls to
labor who serves and IN doctrine; a
minister, one who serves; m angel, one
who comforts bishop, one who rules !;
an ambassador, one who bears messages
and treats for peace Remember what
you are to do,to follow Christ; to dc as
He has done, to speak by His authority;
to mangify His grace In your own
weakness; to be careful lest the
earthen vessel that you are shaped into
for the Masters use be not broken by
your own hands. Remember what you
are 10 be; only an Instrument, a voice,
herald, messenger: everything in-
strumental, nothing efficaoious; a fin
isbed workman, no botch a preacher OF
the word, not of words; a man of
prayer, of Bible study, and Of discretion.
Take books, holy converse. suggestion.
and make them subject to your will and
thought, and use we'll the gift God has
given you; and with tact, talent and
vigor. first approve yourself unto God,
next unto men inyour mode of handling
and dividing the word Of God. Keep
yourself strong, physically, fresh, intel
lectualiy and mighty, spiritually, Sys-
tematize your time and work up to it
at all hazards; hew to it's line, and
keep at arms length whatever would
divert you from its purpose. As a
pastor, be faithful; never shirk your
pulpit; be kind. conciliatory and
sympathet;c!with the sick, wise in coun-
sci and watchful to this poor, distressed
and doubtful. As presbyter, know
thoroughly the government and polity
of our church in their theories and
practice; know these for yourself as a
leader of those who are to be led by
you. Above all, seek to have Christ in
your heart, that you might reproduce
Christ in your life; rely on Gods
grace, on His Wisdom, on the guild
ance of His Spirit, that by means OF
yourself jlthers might he brought with
you into the same blessed hope. | then,
therefore, before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quicE
and the dead at His appearing and
His kingdom, preach the word; he
instant in season, out of season; re-
prove. rehuke, exhort, with all long
suffering and doctrine. But watch then
in all things, endure affliction, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof
of thy ministry"