The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-21

ness of approach to troubled spirits,
than when he turns the conditions of
distrustful controversy into the &C.
casion of quieting and convincing In
struetion. The Corinthian church
was in just this condition when st.
Paul addressed to them those re-
markahle epistles. so modern in their
application to present-day problems
and controversies"
After drawing an analogy of the
calling to the ministry to the calling
of the twelve apostles by Jesus
Christ. Bishop Bratton continued;
Let it be clear In your minds, dear
brethren, that your bishops have but
one sacred purpose in this holy or
der of conservation: 1t is to fulfill
the mission of our Lord and Master
in complete assurance that He is with
us all the days and that the Holy
Ghost, come upon His church, is
with us, as He has been with our
fathers in all ths ages, to give grace
and power to our act of faith"
Bishop Bratton characterized the
ministry as a life of ceaseless. loving
work. He said: Before all else the
ministry is commended IN labours' ;
1t is a life of ceaseless, loving work.
My Father worked even until now.
and j work God rested on the sew
enth day, but remember, II is added.
from all His work which he had
made The kingdom is the kingdom
of love, with Its ministries of mercy
and tenderness and care. And as
we life our often care-worn hearts to
heaven we find the holy place a
house of toll"
Pattern Priest
Pleading that ministers should
know their people. Bishop Bratton
continued fervently: And what is
this knowledge by which the minister
of God Is commended? Instinctively
we turn to the pattern Priest. Come
see a man which told me all things
that ever l did, We begin here; for
before all the theoretic or specula-
tive, or even theological knowledge,
the minister of God must know man
as he is, and man as he is becoming
in Jesus Christ.
He must know human nature and
know human character, with its joys
and its sorrows and its sufferings
Sympathy, the ability to rejoice with
others and to weep with them. Is M
easy holiday task. Manifested often
on the surface, 1t is yet only real as
its source springs from the deepest
recesses of life.
Must Know Flock
"Our Masters life was lived with
mankind. His servants life must be
so lived. Human nature Is one thing
character another thing; the first is
common to man, the latter is per-
sonal possession. 1t Is important to
know human nature as II Is and as
1t is becoming In Jesus Christ, and
to know 1t through self and through
the Lord and Giver of Life. 1t Is
important to know human char
acter in its Infinite variety. The
shepherd must know his flock; but
he must also count them one by
one"
Bishop Bratton urged ministers not
to be afraid of the institutions of the
day in which they live. I'VE live in
a day of specialists" he said, but
st. Paul anticipated it by many CEN
turtles. Though he does not employ
the modern term, he exhibited no,
one whit less of the knowledge and
skill which the most exacting age
demands; and for his credentials the
commission of his Lord and the
training of the Holy Spirit"
Affectionate Welcome
Bishop Bratton concluded, address
ing the coadjutor-elect: And now
dear brother beloved in the Lord
with confidence / may anticipate the
affectionate welcome which so surely
awaits you in the house of brotherly
love.
with singular unanimity you have
been chosen by your fellow members
OF the diocesan family as Father Ia
God, to share the burdens of do
cesar whose confidence in you has
already been bestowed with un-
feigned gladness. The loyalty of a
devoted people is already pledged to
the friends long known and believed.
with your conservation to this
holy office the ties of a sacred rela-
tionship are blessed. We have tried
to face together what that office Is
in its integrity. l have not dared
to disclose what I have experienced
with success, but what l am striving
to attain. The Master is loving unto
all who call upon Him in sincerity
and rewards us after His loving kind
ness: that 1t is which gives us
Courage amid failuraa Our auffi