The Portland daily press., 1869-06-14
Con gress Square Univer.alist Church.
REV. EDWIN c. BoLLEs' FAREWELL.

Rev. e. G. Bolles, pastor of the Congress
Square Universalist Church, preached his fare
well sermon to the members of his congrega-
ton yesterday morning In bidding adieu to
this talented clergyman, not only. his parish,
but the city of Portland, meet with eRreat inss
Mr. Rollaz has 1,as>< -s- Suo ieaulns men IN
.ls. community for the past eight years-fore-
most in every work that tended towards the
advancement of letters, science, and the relief
of the suffering. After the great fire Of 1866
he was appointed on the Relief Committee,
and his fellow members on that committee can
testify to the energy ard zeal with which he
applied himself to the amelioration Of the con-
dt;on of the destitute. So also after the incor-
poration of the Portland Institute and Public
Library, he was appointed one of the Direc-
tors, and the present fourishing state Of that
institution is due, in no small measure, to his
extensive acquaintance with all branches of
literature. The Natural History Society, too,
is largely indebted to his labors, and the inter
est he has shown in its behalf, for its revival
and growth after the great confagration.-
There are also many charities and pious works
with which he has been associated since his
ministry commenced among rs, in all of which
the same characteristics were plainly visible
that were SO conspicuous in these large, though
not perhaps more important ones.
Our citizens generally can sympathize with
his congregation in the departure of one who
has been such an adornment to the profession
In Portland, and can assure the parish to which
he has been called, that if such great benefits
have been reached from his labors in this small
field, the proportionats harvest in 50 extended
territory will rebound, not only to the church
at large, but to the city of Brooklyn itself.
The beautiful church which was erected un-
der the eye of the beloved pastor, who had
watched its growth from foundation stone to
the finished edifice in all its beauty, was COM
pletely filled with the large congregation, COM
posed not only of those who usually Worship
ped there, but many from other denomina-
tions. After the usual opening services, Mr..
Bolles delivered his farewell discourse from
the following text: t vvrlf-ssa
Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians,
VIZ, 2Ath-"W therefore, shew ye to them, and
of our boasting on your behalf"
The speaker commenced by saying that it
has been said OF great commanders that they
were personally acquainted with every soldier
in their armies, and from this personal ac-
quaintance grew that powerful enthusiasm by
which history was controlled in q degree that
can hardly be imagined. Such was the case
with Napoleon and Frederick the Great, A
great deal of this spirit is shown in Paul, the
Napoleon of the Christian church. In betting
the Mediterranean with churches, which kept
alive the spirit of the Savior, his power was
shown, and, by his wonderful memory for
names, inevery convert he added block to the
wall of Christianity, yet without subordinating
everything to his desire to make his masters
faith the cornerstone of nations. In this let
ter-which forms the text of this sermon-he
wished them to manifest an interest in the
church and. become power in future time.
He wished them to be close corporation, not
of selfish Christians, but so managed as to be-
come motive power in the ages to come.
Unless, therefore, we attempt to spread our
Christianity we are not matured, we are only
in q state of half Christianity like halcopen-
ed flower IT is not selfish to consider Chris
tianity meant only for ourselves; that we are
pets of God's providence, and that Christianity
is meant only for our own employment We
can be uisers of heaven as wen as misers of
gold. He considered the disposition Of the
age Is to do without creed. Mere personal
piety does not help forward Ghristianity-it is
by united organization. This was exemplified
in the late war, when victories came after the
soldiers were organized. Therefore definite
purpose, o fixed scheme, a united effort is
necessary to advance Christianity. We don't
want to live on sufferance; we want people to
Ieel tney can 40 WITHOUT US. You must crys-
talize liberalism to give it the diamonds 8 value.
To show our love Of Gods truth we are to be
ready and vigilant in maintaining it. We are
to cling to it with grasp that only death can
unloose. 81 .YrTs71J1 1 EuTE -fE.t
Every man should have some form of faith
as important to him as his political or business
standing. We have travelled too far in our
liberality when we say it il no matter what a
man believes. 1t does matter, for by being
strong and active In his belief. It brings him
into Intercourse with others Of the same belief,
and binds them together with work to do;
and such belief it 10 the duty of minister
to inspire. This we should do by private and
public effort, not in bigoted way, but In the
most liberal and comprehensive manner. Then
we are doing our proper work in the kingdom
of Christ. T-rT-I1re eI-or--f-E :
Mr.. Bolles then closed as follows:a
have led these remarks through such q
practical form, and have given to them This
peculiarly plain interpretation, that might
Join the lesson of the text--which is bevopd
all personality and more enduring than these
affairs of our own, which occupy Us to-day
with those personal aud peculiar thoughts
which are In your hearts and mine, as We
meet this morning In the house of God. Yon
remember, and do not forget, that upon this
service 1t is written that 10 ID to be our last to-
1ethar IL In In nur sniuda vvikl, ffakfupAi0hk