The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-20


nual address before the Portland Benevolent
Society was delivered last evening at the First
Parish (Unitaran) Church by the Rev. G. w.
Buck, pastor of the Park street (Unitarian)
Church The pulpit was also occupied by the
Rev. A. X. P. Small, pastor of the Free street
Baptist Church, who conducted the opening
services, which were all appropriate to the oc-
casion. There was not very large congrega-
ton present, and we have noticed that the an
nouncement of charitable sermon has usual
ly the effect in most every church, no matter
what the denomination, to keep away rather
than to draw the multitude.
We shall not attempt to make report of
the sermon, which was very able and very
philosophical, at the same time Astounding in
passages replete with poetical imagery The
subject of the text was "Bear We one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the laws of Christ"
The speaker said by learning to bear our own
burdens we also learn to bear each others. So
ciety springs from mans inevitable solitude,
and when we speak of society we use the word
in its widest meaning, that of companionship
among human beings such, and not in the
sense of best or worst society. Inspired writers
have looked forward to the day when all the
earth shall be full of peace and goodwill toward
men, and even the Brahmins anticipate an era
when all human beings shall be of one caste.
The art fetal systems of communism are at
tempts in this direction, but human unity lies
far below all these temporal subjects, and far
too deep to be reached by these mere surface
efforts In society man is true cosmopolite,
at home everywhere, but in communism only
upon the few acres that belong to his peculiar
community. The idea of society embraces uni
versal brotherhood, and it is the province OF
christianity to unveil and define the poetic
creation of a universal society and show where
in true society consists. The first fact in
christianity is personal responsibility and this
you cannot share with even your dearest
friends When you realize that you have
charge to keep by your own vigilance, and
losses to bear that your nearest and truest
friend cannot bear for you, then springs up
that pity and sympathy for all situated like
you, which is the very gem of society. "a
touch of nature makes the whole world kim"
Every one has to make the pilgrimage of life,
and not only bear their own burdens but help
others, the weaker and the fainter, to carry
theirs with loving tenderness. This is the So
ciety that christianity reveals
To learn what this burden is and to bear it
bravely is to bear the burden of others. This
! feeling of isolation, that when you have bur-
den to bear you must bear it of yourself alone,
enables you to understand the inner feelings
| and struggles of others and makes all men
| brothers. God won't let us remain ignorant of
| the important truth that we are alone in the
world no matter how far we send out our af-
| fections. We feel it when the evening twilight
finds the soul holding converse only with itself
| or with the skies. Who has not felt it in the
| night-watches whe the soul holds commun
| ion only with God and seeks wildly for foot
| hold in eternity; or even in the crowded marts,
| the solitude of great city; or even when we
have what we call ''the blues;' even the child
complains because he finds all his capacities
not filed with the sweet pleasures of home and
feels that the time must come when he must
| walk alone. But the times of isolation are
| sure to teach their lessons. Solitude hardens
| the heart, it does not hallow, and has aptly
| been said to make man either God or devil.
| Solitude, only half fathomed, separates man
| from his fe beings and discloses remorse,
not forgiveness the shadow of the dark valley
and not the glory that lies beyond.
| SOLITUDE truly llupiOo SohiP"A'P wan
God and through him with man; like Paul,
who returned from his three years wandering
in Arabia to take up the burden OF humanity
When we stand in this solitude We are, So to
speak, before the Judgment seat-only God ana
ourselves can look into our own soul
Though we shrink from the inference drawn
yet still we can but see it. Even if we are no
re'pecter of persons, yet when in our life's Pill
grimage, by our isolation having learned the
isolation of others by our struggles their strug-
giles, and how, bruised and weary, they falter
on the way We should be ashamed not to
give. Over the water comes vessel freighted
with the remains of one who, although perhaps
he did not embody all the speaker admired in
man, yet still he 1.-THE speaker) could join with
those who saw ia him the faithful steward, for
the man who dispenses half his wealth is so
rare spectacle that he deserves the admira
ton Of ALL