ORDINATION OF A MISSIONARY TO CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 659, 9 November 1909, Page 5

ORDINATION OF A MISSIONARY TO CHINA.

In St. John's Church on Sunday evening MK 11. Davies, M.A., wns oidained to tho ministij ot the Prosbyteuan Church, and set apart ab a missionary to tho Canton villages, where the Church has already a number of medical and other workers. The Presbjtery of Wolhngton had received a commission from the General Assembly to ordain Mr. Davies, and in ordinary circumstances would have done so at a week-night meeting, but in view of tho fact that the liew,missionary had been a member of St. John's Church and of the Young Men's Bible Class, tho Presbytery appointed the ordination to'takeiplaco at an oidmary diet of worship in St. John's, and delegated tho duty to a commission, consisting of tho Revs. Dr. Gibb, W. J. Coamo, and James I'atcrson, ministers and Messrs. Aitken.iAllan, and Ilannay, elders. Thero w.ib a crowded congiegation. The members ot the Young Men's and Young Women's Bible Classes sat together in the body of the chureh—a fitting arrangement, Bince Mr. Davies was not only a former member of the Bible- Class, but is going to China as m a special senso tho representative of tho youth oi the Church, who, through' tho Bible Class Union, have become rcponsiblo for tho payment of his stipend. Up to tho close of tho sermon, the service, which was conducted by Dr. Gibb, as mmistcr of the church and Moderator of tho Prcsbytory, followed the usual course save that tho theme of tho sermon was au appeal for enthusiasm and devotion to the cause of missions and the hymns and lessons all boro upon this subject. The eermon ended, Dr Gibb made a brief statement, as required bv the Order of tho Church, concerning tho steps that had led up to tho occasion. He then put to Mr. Daiies tho questions appointed to bo asked candidates for ordination -to the ministry oi. the Pre3bytorian Church, and these being satisfactorily answered, a moment of silent prayer was asked for, and ended by the Moderator pronouncing on Mr. Davies the familiar blessing: The Lord bless thee and keep thee, tho Lord make His face shine upon thee, the lord lift up His countenance upon theo and givo thee Pflace. Thereafter the congregation, keeping their seats, sang softly tho ordination hymn, Lord Thmo Assembled Servants Bless," and at its cloeo tho Moderator, descending from tho pulpit, stood with his co-presbyters around the communion table, before which Mr. Davies knelt. Dr. Gibb then offered the ordination prayer, and at tho words "Send down, we pray jLhee, the Iloly Ghost upon this Thy sonant I whom we, in Thy namp, and in obedience to Thy most blessed will, do now by the imposition of our hauds ordain and appoint to bo a I presbyter m Thy Church, committing unto him authority to minister Th> Woid and Sacraments, tho ministerial in<ipnbeis of tho Preibytcry laid their hinds on the head of tho kneelhng man. The prayer ended.the Moderator, ad(tieSsius Mr. Davies, said, "in the nanio of tho Lord Jesus Chnst, the only King, the Head of the Church, and by the authority of this Prespytory, I declare you to be ordained to tho ofiico oi the holy ministry, I receive and dedicate you as a messenger of tho Church to carry to tho heafiien the tidings of solvation in Jesus Christ. In token thereof I now give you thf right hand pf iellow&hip." Tho Moderator gave his hand as ho concluded to the newlyordaincd missionary, and was followed in this by the other members of the Presbvtery. A brief address of counsel and cheer was then delivnred by tho Rov W J. Conine. Tha whole feomco was profoundly impiessive, and a very lino illustration of tlio mingled simplicity and dignity of tho ritual of the Presbyterian Church on such occasions.