Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-05
Institution of New Rector.

stitution of Rev. Granville H. Sher-
wood as parish priest was conducted
by Bishop Nj. Edward Fawcett 1t was
beautiful ceremony, the sermon being
preached by DR.. PeTcival, who took
his text from the fourth verse of the
10th Psalm: Thou art a priest for
ever"
The average priest, DR.. Percival
said, is mystery, not only to those
who but partially comprehend the
Christian faith, but to the most acute
scholar. The more closely they follow
his course the more bewildered and
amazed they are They see him part
of an immense system, bound by vows
never to be recalled, pledged to a
work which in theory can never end
They see him varied to meet all needs.
all times and places. Finally and most
curious, his type seems to be imper-
ishable. Yet at best, the priest is no
more than human being.
Power From God.
What his opponents have refused to
take into account are things over
which he has no absolute control His
power is from God. and so the people
believe. To destroy the priest yen
must really destroy the people, or their
faith in God DR.. Percival comment
ing on the conception of the priest by
some as "toiling through his narrow
round of systematic dogmas, or creep
ing along some low level of school boy
morality or addressing the initiated in
mystic phraseology" held that the
Af-in iC, VII III AI sINNr
the iniquity and private vice of nom
inally christian nations" DIR. Perez
val took up various phases of the work
of the priest. placing altar ministra
tons as most important, and preaching
as next. He pointed out that wherever
preaching has been neglected, periods
of intolerance and superstition are
found. Our real strength lies in pre-
senting the pure gospel, as living men
to living men," said DIR. Percival. A
wide acquaintance with truth was stat
ed to be one of the needs of the
preacher of today He spoke of the
time when priest could go among his
people ignorant of their daily lives.
The barriers today are so broken down
that the priest must hold the people,
not by respect due to the divine office,
but by the power of truth" He point
ed out the necessity of the minister
being a well read man. since he must
move as the world moves. The preach
er of today, DR.. Percival held, must be
man of answering loyalty to the
truth. If he feels what he says, and
speaks with clear conviction, he can
not present truth as if it were fiction.
ManIiness of Modern Priest.
The speaker gave manIiness as one
of the great needs of the modern priest.
He pointed out the incorrectness in
the common belief among irreligious
men, that the ministry is not manly
calling. While here and there there
may be grounds for such a conviction.
it is never a true conception.
DR. PeTcival deplOred the movement
of the churches up to the planes of the
wealthy. and away from the poor, rs
the honest artisan to become soured
and an enemy of Gods church by an
aristocTatic, UNCONVENTIONAL. protest
ant Episcopalian christianity? he
asked. answering that if this is so it
will be almost impossible to reclaim
him by means of the city missions.
DR.. Percival took up the require
ments on the part of the laity, in con-
nection with the requirements of the
successful preacher. He spoke of the
necessity of harmony in the church,
and said that in the haste of bringing
people TO confirmation, the church De
comes often an aggregation. rather
than a congregation. and is gathered
together instead of being built up. The
result of such a churchs influence on
the rector is that he is constantly
reaching for material, but not building,
making many calls but doing little
real pastoral work. DR.. PeTcival con
cIuGed his sermon with a helpful ad-
dress to the new rector. admOnishing
him TO create for yourself no Utopia
TO depress his spirits. and enfeeble his
earnest. clear deliverance of Gods mes
ssge"
Bishop Confirms.
In the evening Bishop Fawcett ad-
ministered the sacred rite of cOnf1rma-
tion 10 a class of young people and two
adults that had been prepared by Rev.
Samuel w. Day. of ST KatheTine's, dur
ing his administration as priest in
charge. and who presented the candi-
dates TO the bishop. In the sanctuary
also and participating in the services
of the evening were Revs. Sherwood
and PercivaL
Bishop Fawcett preached the even
ing sermon Ii was a characteristic,
able and eloquent discourse.
Yesterday being Expectation Sunday