CHAPTER II.

His Ministry at Newport.

MR. DEHON was ordained a deacon by Bishop Baas, at Newburyport, Massachusetts, on the 24th December, 1797, and was immediately elected rector of Trinity Church, Newport, Rhode-Island. The following was his letter of acceptance:

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'To the Congregation of Trinity Church at Newport.

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Gentlemen,―The convincing proof of your anxiety for my settlement among you as your rector, exhibited in your renewed application, flatters and affects me. When I answered your former proposals, the predominant objection against a compliance with your wishes was the want of a stipend adequate to the situation. But for this, I should have been influenced by your unanimity, and felt it my duty to comply with your request. This objection being silenced by your second resolve, and the same unanimity of proceeding having continued, I feel it an obligation to accept, with cheerfulness, the rectorship of your Church. Relying for assistance upon that Being, who alone is capable of blessing men with endowments equal to the offices which they are called to sustain, I promise, on my part, to discharge the several duties of that office, which I now accept, so far as I am able, and so long as the providence of God shall see fit to continue me in the same. doubtless, gentlemen, be most agreeable to you, and it will be most convenient for me, that I receive holy orders before I meet you at Newport. As a presentation from you will be expected by the bishop, it is necessary that it should

It will,

be forwarded by the earliest opportunity. I shall endeavour to be with you immediately after orders shall have been obtained, and I devoutly wish that we may then commence a long series of years of mutual satisfaction, comfort, and joy. THEODORE Dehon.

When he entered upon this charge he preached from Philippians ii. 2. "Fulfil ye my joy ;" and no text could have been more appropriate, for through life he looked to the exercise of the ministry as the chief source of his joy. In this discourse he shews "some of the ways in which the fulfilment of the joy of a Christian minister must depend upon the people, who are committed to his care.” "The thing most dear to every faithful minister of Christ, is the success of the gospel. If, therefore, the people feel no concern for the cause; if they discover to the world that their profession of religion is altogether a matter of education, habit, or convenience; if they employ a clergyman solely because it is decent and customary to have one; if, when they have employed him, they betray the instability of their faith by a disrepect for his office, and an unwillingness to maintain it, it is hardly possible that the joy of their minister can in any degree be fulfilled.” "No sight below heaven can be more lovely, even in the eyes himself, than a Christian congregation walking hand in hand like brothers; endeavouring to promote each other's prosperity, and improvement; and in sweet unison advancing the glory of God and of his Christ. This was the principal object of St. Paul's desires, when he addressed to his Philippian converts the passage from which the text was selected. If, says he, there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, fulfil ye my joy; that ye be like-minded, having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing from strife or vain-gloy; but in lowliness of mind each esteeming others better than himself. So great a source of delight must this be to every minister of the

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of Deity

gospel, that he who finds it his, must be happy in his office here, independent of his future prospects. Could he feel assured, that in that day, when all the stewards of the gospel shall be called to account, he should appear at the head of those who lived in this world under his parochial care, and presenting them to his master, be able to say, 'of them whom thou gavest me I have lost none,' his joy would be literally, and in the noblest sense fulfilled."

He sums up his remarks as follows: "The foundation of his joy must undoubtedly be laid in himself. The happiness must rest upon the basis of his own belief in the religion he professes; his own adherence to the precepts he inculcates, and his faithfulness in the discharge of his official duties. But, though these are the corner-stones upon which his joy must be founded, they alone are not adequate to its fulfilment. You have seen that much, very much, depends upon his people's being heartily engaged in the cause which they profess to maintain; upon the success of his ministry among them; upon their living in harmony and love; and upon the hope resulting from his and their progress in holiness, that though death must suspend, it will not annihilate their happy intercourse, but that it shall be perpetuated in the regions of eternal bliss. I have been thus particular upon the subject, not doubting, that particularity would be pardoned by you, upon this occasion; an occasion to me the most affecting of any which has occurred since the commencement of my existence. An infinitely wise and good God has seen fit, at this early period of my life, to call me to the ministry of his Church upon earth. When reflecting upon the holiness of the office, when considering the importance of the interests, the greatness of the obligations, and the arduousness of the duties which it involves, I have been compelled to exclaim, with the author of my text, who is sufficient for these things.' But relying upon him, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings can perfect praise, and having full confidence in the declaration, made by our master,

when he instituted holy orders in his Church, that he would be with us always, even to the end of the world, I this day meet you as your minister in Christ. Already has the happiness of your pastor commenced, in beholding a Church but lately divided against itself, and almost tottering to dissolution, now united in voice, and, he devoutly hopes, in affection. In the language of the apostle permit him to address you, Fulfil ye my joy,'" &c.

This discourse is a fair specimen of the accuracy of composition which appeared in all his writings. He can scarcely ever be said to have written carelessly. It is also a happy illustration of those tender feelings, and that humility which adorned his writings and his life. The reader will perceive an analogy between the sentiments here expressed, and those on the occasion of his being advanced to the Episcopate.*

It is said this Church was, about this time, in a declining state. Differences prevailed in the congregation which much disturbed its peace, and interrupted its prosperity. There was no office which Mr. Dehon undertook with greater pleasure, and executed with better success, than that of mediator. His expostulations, founded in scripture, were unanswerable. His example enforced every lesson. His affectionate manner was irresistible. "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." He perceived a misunderstanding so soon as it was produced, and instantly endeavoured to correct it. He noticed the first wave of anger, and poured upon it the oil of kindness. He never beheld the peace of any society interrupted, without applying to its restoration the energies of his mind, and the fascinations of his heart. He never saw the brother alienated from his brother, without a desire, a prayer, and an attempt, as far as propriety would permit, to effect a reconciliation. Like Moses, in this respect, not less than in his meekness,

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he came forward to allay the heat of passion, and heal the wounds of friendship; and his look, and speech, made the appeal of Moses to the heart, "Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one to another?" The harmony of his congregation, produced by his address, continued uninterrupted. It flourished greatly, and the praises of its minister were in the heart, and on the lips of every There was talent, and knowledge, and oratory, to excite commendation, but the tribute now alluded to was less from the understanding than from the affections, and was rendered more to goodness than to other excellencies. The expressions of those in the humbler walks of society, while their eyes were filled with tears, the delicate attentions of the refined, and the solicitude of all for his welfare, brought to mind those happy times when the minister was revered as a father, and esteemed "very highly in love for his work's sake." The nominal salary was small. But the people ministered abundantly to his comfort. And many of their gifts had unspeakable value, because associated with such feelings as the heart loves to awaken. The knowledge of their existence constitutes one of the best joys of a Christian minister. In his own emphatic language, he here wanted nothing. On the 9th October, 1800, he was ordained a priest, at Newburyport, by the same bishop from whom he had received deacon's orders.

His time, at Newport, was chiefly divided between parochial visits, and his study. The congregation was large, and he felt it his duty to be acquainted with every member of it. To some, his visits were only occasional, while to others they were frequent, and long protracted. He loved to speak with those that feared the Lord. He felt that he could be instructed in some things by the weakest disciple; and the experienced Christian, in the humblest situation, always commanded his respect, and was valued as a good monitor, and a living witness of the efficacy of the gospel. He loved to chasten his