The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-11

Gay morning at Plymouth Church, Portland
oy the election of Rev. c. G. Parker, ID u, 0
dorham, Moderator. The stated Scribe, Rev
W. H. Haskell, announced delegates from
/ eighteen churches then present. The extreme
austerity of the weather prevented large at
| tendance at the opening session, but the mum
| Der increased during the exercises. After brie
devotional services the first topic was announc
"a.
THE LAWS AND METHODS OF REVEALS.
Rev. DR.. W. Warren being absent Rev. E
P. Thwing was called upon to open the discus
sion. He remarked that revival is an un
wonted manifestation of the Holy Spirit pres
sence in church Three facts about it exist
God is always ready to dwell among people
oy His converting and sanctifying grace Oh.
servation, however, points to periodic subsi.
dence of zeal and effort. God is still gracious
and on certain conditions will return and re.
vive US again. As to methods they should be
Scrirtural, natural and in harmony with the
Spirits indicated will AS the Holy Spirit is
| the cause, truth is an instrument, presented in
| the pulpit and by personal appea! and praye
is another all but omnipotent power. One
| needs to understand, moreover, the laws of the
human mind, the theory of persuasion and so
work In obedience to an emil htened judgment
as we'll as an earnest heart Ull ril ~ o.
Rev. j. j. Abbott suggested prayerful
heart, pacific spirit, union in effort and
preaching of the truth. ~,
Rev. b. Ilsley thought that rules cannot be
given. The wind bloweth where it listeth.-
30 with the spirit of God. Yet more spiritual
preaching is needed to save souls.
Rev. M. H. Williams remarked that although
the winds blew as God chose, we may form
| science of navigation. Central truths exist as
/ were stated in the beginning. He wished also
observations on details, employment of re-
vivalsts, extra meetings, anxious seats and
other measures.
Rev. Mr.. ODER emphasized the idea of the
first speaker as to the natural method of appeal
to human motives and gave an incident of an
unnatural and repulsive appeal made by re-
vivalist. Ee rr
Dr. S. Thurston showed the criminality of
not having right will and exalted the sove-
reignty of God in the bestowmsrt of his grace
He was followed by Rev. Mr.. Ilsley who
deprecated the employment of itnerant re-
vivalists and the spurious conversions that
marked their work.
Capt. Mitchell said that at sea he never felt
more helpless than in calm and showed how
human and divine efforts unite.
Capt. w. Ryan lamented the worldliness
and lax morality of many protested christians
and the social slavery shown in dress, fashion,
amusements, etc.
Rev. Mr.. Abbott suggested the value of sys-
tematic visitation as promotive of revival.
Rev. Mr. Robinson, Methodist, expressed
his satisfaction in what had been said and con-
fdence in the success which would follow its
reception and practice
The moderator closed the discussion by d.
recting attention to the indispensbleness and
unity of prayer and truth in securing the con-
tinued alliance of the spirit of God. Ad-
journed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Rev. DIR. Harris, President of Bowdoin Col
lege, preached from the text, GAL $50, "Faith
which worketh by love-" The leading thought
OF this epistle is the insufaciency of outward
rites and servive and the absolute need of a
living faith. The Christian life in its origin is
faith, in its operation it is love. Each is the
whole life in one aspect. Faith is receptive
life while love is active ,orth-putting life. The
coincidence of faith and love is shown in self
surrender, in obedience, in looking upward in
aspiration and downward and outward in be-
Inefficient activity. Faiths native speech is
praise and prayer. 1t begins in trust and
"worketh BY love-" the receptive life is trans
formed to fruit bearing, active Ife Work
is the exercise of faculties for Interior ends. 1t
is demand made in business, in education and
everywhere self-sacrifice is not peculiar to re.
ligion. Scholarship demands it. Success
everywhere demands it. But the popularity
Of Christian work is the animating inspiration
OF love; love watchful for opportunities, con-
descending, helpful and tender to ALL
The brief and beautiful analysis closed abb
ruptly, but free discussion followed which
supplemented it.
Rev. Mr.. Williams remarked that manly
fiber is weakened by over-development of the
receptive faculty where service is not shown. So
in the family, school and society al large, work
is needed.
Rev. w. Warren said that greatest things
are the simplest. Faith first chow. Is. 4ha
infants life. Love is an aftergrowth. The
noblest object of faith is Christ. Looking to
Him we live. n
Rev. Mr.. Abbott showed the converse of the
truths stated. Love goes up, the strongest ter
inmates in Christ. Faith cones down. Are
We faithful to the trust God has placed in us?
... EVENING SESSION NJ. is 4
was opened by devotional services conducted
by Rev. j. E. Fullerton of Cumberland Mills
Rev. E. Y. Hincks then opened the discussion
OF "Icreligious Literature" The term used is
Of wide application, but in his use of it, that
was irrehgious whose indirect influence is con-
trary to the Christian religion. Abbott's gild-
ing of an atrocious character like that of Napo
leon; Emerson's and Lowelps pantheism; the
Atlantic Monthly, covertly but bitterly hostile
to Christianity; these are irreigious elements
They beget an indifference to religious truth,
which is worse than active disbelief. Vividness
of conviction is a parent of moral earnestness.
1t was after supernatural revelations that the
prophets were prepared to cry to the slumber-
ing world. Whatever blunts this vividness of
moral conviction is ar evil It is not wise to
meet these evils by violent denunciation nor
wholly exclude these works from the reading
of young people. We should, however, teach
| them to discriminate between the narrative
and the errors of doctrine; teach them truth
and substitute christian literature or at least
one OF high moral type like the works of
| Shakespeare, Scott and Dickens. Our culture
| like the pyramids, should be broad base and
| like them pint to the sky.
Mr.. Charles A. Lord, editor of the Christian
| Mirror, gave some observations-frui of
| tuiTGy years cAperlence-On the multiplicity
| and transformers of books and want of con-
science in publishers. There are seven thou
sand three hundred papers in our land, be-
tween two and three hundred of them, NOM
inally religious. In Maine, thirty secular
and three religious papers, The details
of crime in the papers and the sensational ma.
ture of Sunday School books were additional
evils to be deplored. The responsibility of the
church is vast and deserves the most solemn
| attention.
Rev. W. Warren followed. He would in
terdict these mischievous publications and
books entirely, in the family.
Rev. DR.. Carruthers referred to the article
oflRev. Albert Barnes urging ministers to
write more for the press, secular and religious,
and approved the same The time thus Occu-
| pied is well spent and the work no demission
| from his sacred office.
Rev. E. P. Thwing closed the discussion by
an incident illustrative of the connection be-
twee vital religion and the uniform perusal Of
religious family paper.
The meeting adjourned after singing the
Doxology. MI. Gilman presided with marked
taste at the organ and the singing was congre.
gational. The audience was large and the ex
ercises highly interesting.
The topic for this morning is Show to make
the Sabbath Attractive
NOTED ROGUE IN LlMBo.-Some weeks
since several houses in Standish and the vcin
ity were broken into and articles were stolen
A horse and wagon was also stolen in tina
town which was brought here and sold here t,
Mr.. w. T. Murray on Washington street,
Subsequently the owner Unidentified the team
and it was delivered up to him by Murray.
NJ Mrvrr