Rev. W. J. Lowrie, minister of Stoneykirk parish, who had been appointed by the Presbytery to preside at the ordination of the Rev. A. M. Barr, then entered the pulpit, and having read the narrative of proceedings leading up to the ordination, and put the prescribed questions, which were satisfactorily answered, Mr Barr was formally ordained by the laying on of hands.
Rev. Mr Lowrie then delivered the charge to the newly-ordained minister and to the congregation. In the course of his address to the minister he said:- Take heed to the message you are to deliver from Sunday to Sunday to this people. We hear these days many demands for a higher type of preaching
. This all of us might very heartily join in, if only we could be sure that it is preaching that is so asked for, the proclamation of the great fact of Christ. But many are trying to play up to the requirements of the age by turning their sermons to philosophical, moral, or aesthetic dissertations. Now, this is manifestly not as it should be. Called and set apart to the work of the ministry, it is ours to preach the Gospel. As students of God's revealed word our teaching ought to be scriptural guarding, of course against a limited presentation of the truth that meets our own individual views or fancies. It is not sufficient that a truth be found in Holy Scriptures; there may be other truths closely related to it in God's revelation without which the truth in question cannot properly be understood. This we must seek to know, this we must seek to make known to others. Nearly all errors that have desolated the church of God have risen from this want of comprehensiveness. ... Let Paul's example be yours, endeavouring to communicate your doctrine in a way that is calculated to be understood by those to whom you speak, and in a manner likely to commend it to the hearts and minds of those who wait upon your ministry. But never stoop to methods unbecoming the House of God, and that to all right thinking minds are inconsistent with what ought to be the character and bearing of those who are the representatives and messengers of Jesus Christ. Copy not the ways of some who, while they may succeed in catching the ear of the multitude by the unusual language they employ and the unconventional tricks to which they resort, cannot hope to influence their hearers for the highest good. Such seldom succeed, however largely crowds may wait upon their services in building up a church. The pulpit is not the place for the jester or the actor. It is not from it we ought to listen to the rehearsal of smart and humorous style of preaching that has of late years become so common. All this will make great demands upon you, will require much effort and care and toil. There may be probably other work, the discharge of which might be more agreeable to the wishes of the majoriy of your people, which, by reason of the claims so made upon you, you will have to to in a less thorough way than you you would like to do it. Still, do not let such considerations turn you aside from the path of highest duty. ... There will be much to depress and discourage you. The attacks that are at present being made upon the Bible by Christian scholars of the highest eminence, the indifference that many evince toward the Church, the scanty fruit you may probably be privileged to see from much earnest, patient, prayerful toil, together with the consciousness of your own shortcomings, cannot fail to fill your soul at times with fears, regrets, and misgivings. Still, do not let such things weigh too heavily upon your heart; do not let them take from you all courage and hope. You have faith in God; seek to live and work in the strength He gives, and failing, nobly rise to begin anew with Him, learning the lessons that have so been taught you. Says Browning, in Life and Love
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My life is a fault at last, I fear:
It seems too much like a fate, indeed!
Though I do my best I shall scarce succeed.
But what if I fail of my purpose here?
It is but to keep the nerves at strain,
To dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall,
And, baffled, get up and begin again -
So the chase takes up one's life; that's all"
It is ours to labour in faith, to do our duty as we have opportuniity and strength, leaving results with God. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the Presbytery. ... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
Mr Lowrie's address to the congregation was also both thoughtful and eloquent, and was attentively followed.