WESLEYAN ORDINATION SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1045, 21 March 1867, Page 4

WESLEYAN ORDINATION SERVICE.

THE REV. J. MORLEY. Last evening one of those impressive ceremonials, which, amongst every sect or denomination of Christians, possesses in itself a peculiar as well as personal interest, was held in the Wesleyan chapel, High-street. There is a solemnity incident to a public act of self-dedica-tion to the service of religion, and a consequent abnegation of those pursuits vhich personal ambition, or the hope of profit render so attractive. "Where the office of the ministry is surrounded by the highest pretension to exclusive sanctity this impressiveness is perhaps most felt, but it is not in . other cases the less _ efficacious—where the subject of this religious " setting apart" shares with the general congregation of the laity the hope of personal successfulness in propagating the sacred precepts of Christianity and the profound truths of which they are the utterances —in demanding a reverend attention from those whose constant presence with nearer and more worldly calls afford them but little time for the indulgence of sentiment, unless indeed they should exhibit a false signal, as by recent examples we inow some people do. The Eev. J. Morley has teen a long time very favourably known as a pious and zealous Christian teacher connected with the Wesleyan church in this city. He has officiated _ with great spiritual profit to many and_ credit to himself at Waiuku, and other stations under the appointment of the Superintendent of the Wesleyan body in this district. The probationary period having expired, upon ■which this gentleman should in the usual manner be fully admitted to the ministry of the Wesleyan Church, the ceremony of ordination by imposition of hands was performed last night. Among the clergymen present, we noticed the lie v. Superintendent of the district (the Eev. J. Buller), the lie v. Mr. Whewell, the Eev. Mr. Warren, the Eev. Mr. Buttle, the Eev. Mr. Lawry, the Eev. Mr. Wallace, the Eev. Mr. Hobbs. The ceremony opened with the usual hymn and prayer, after which the Eev. Mr. Whewell reed the well-iuown chapter of the New Testament, John XXI., in which our Saviour gives to Peter his commission to feed and minister to His flock. This was followed by an exhortation from the Eev. Mr. Wallace, succeeded by the interrogatories as to whether the young minister took upon himself the burthen as well as the distinction of the sacred office, and his adherence, to the tenets of Mr. Wesley, as also his obedience to the Wesleyan Conference. The answers to these questions were given in a clear, impressive, and emphatic manner. The responses were followed by the whole of the clergy assembling round the young minister and simultaneously laying hands upon Lis head, while the reverend superintendent read out the formal exhortation and a prayer, in which the whole body of the congregation joined. This was followed by the administration of the holy communion, in which a large proportion of the laity, together with the clergy present, participated. The Kev. J. Buller ascended tho pulpit and delivered a most eloquent charge to tho young minister, taking for his text 11. Timothy, chap. 4, verse 6, and the people were dismissed with the benediction. There was a very large congregation present at the ceremony. Mr. Morley has for the last few years been stationed in this city, in the capacity of junior preacher, where he has earned for himself very general esteem and affection. He has been appointed a minister for the Wellington district, to reside at the Hutt, for which place he will' we understand, very shortly take his departure.