The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-06
M.s.,ou.nr Mrrrrsa.-The meeting ., the


MISSIONARY MEETING The meeting o; the
Il ptist societies Interested in missions came eff
at thu. Tree street church yesterday. The SEES
sion opened at ten o'clock in the morning, Rev.
DIR. Smaller presiding, and Rev. Mr.. Lane of
Biddeford, Secretary. Bev. W. S. Mckenzie,
Secretary of the A. B. NJ Union, made the
opening address, in which he explained the
object of the meeting and the condition of the
missions. In concluding he remarked that if
each member of the associations in Maine
would give only ten cents, the treasury might
be increased nine or ten thousand dollars, and
it was very import ant that money should be
raised at this time.
A paper was then read by Rev. G. w. Gile
of South Berwick, upon the question, What
pastors may and should do to create and ex-
tend missionary activity in their churches"
The four leading points were as follows: Fist,
ministers should be familiar with all mission
airy operations; second, they should give the
knowledge to their people in sermons and not
in a half-h hours talk after discourses third,
the clergy should give money, and not only
preach but practice. Mr.. Gile observed in
this connection that ministers were as well paid
as any class, and they were men in every sense
of the word, and there is no reason why they
sheuld not contribute to any good work. He
also urged that the example of giving should
be set before young men preparing for the min
istry
Rev. Mr.. Carpenter delivered an address in
which he gave an account of the progress of
missions in Japan. The japanese three humid
red years ago were tramping out every vestige
of Christianity. Japan to-day is in a state of
ferment, but the cause of the Master is making
rapid progress three millions or more have
been appropriated for educational purposes and
a college has been established in Pekin, having
five hundred students, and fifty young men
have been set apart by the government for the
promotion of education and religion. A Pen
cotha society has been formed.
Rev. DR.. Warren of Gorham, addressed the
Convention and Rev. DR.. Thurston of Sears
port offered the concluding prayer
The services of the afternoon opened with
the reading of an able paper on "Women's
by Rev. A. L. Land
ell delivered an excel
work. of women in the
for the evening sorvioeS
re was rather light at
.uuuau.e. Auu,u was, however, no lack Of in
teresting matter in the topics presented. Rev.
DR.. Smaller presented as the first subject for
consideration, Monthly concerts of prayer for
missions" in an exceedingly interesting and
ably written article After explaining the orr
gin of the concert, he went on to show its SUBJ
lime nature; the grandeur of the objects with
which it deals; the almost God-like power
which it places in the hands of the church as
fulfiIlment of the promises of the Bible. He
referred to the results upon the Christian wor
shipper himself, in giving strength to the weak,
confirming doubters, touching afresh the fire in
a mans soul. He graphically described the
effect upon distant believers. The Doctor
thought the time had arrived when for com
plete knowledge of distant mission fields and
their workings, charts more accurate than any
now drawn would be deemed necessary for the
use of churches. He spoke of the importance
of fuller attendance upon the monthly con-
cert the necessity for larger and freer collec-
tons.
The Rev. J. D. Fulton of Boston, was next
introduced Mr.. Fulton before beginning the
delivery of his sermon, explained that he had
travelled since o'clock that morning in order
to reach Portland to speak at that meeting. He
announced his text from John II: 19-his sub
ject, "Sanctifcation and employment"
A Misrepresentation fills the air in regard to
sanctifcaton Men differ in regard to terms.
1t is state of conservation to God. do not
believe it the same as justification; it is not per-
lection; it is not the rest of faith; it is not a
constitutional change; it is not pure intellect.
1t is an act of the will distinct from that of vo-
liton. 1t is the bringing all our powers under
control of the will, and dedicating them to the
service of God. 1t is obedience to God. Christ,
who sanctiied Himself for the good of others
is the only pattern for Christian. Sanctifica-
ton is not a second conversion. Luther gained
declared it was in his case simply real not a
second conversion. An unconverted church
member is possibility, an uncovered Chris
tan an mpossibility A second birth to a
Christian is an impossibility. Some men make
the ''rest of faith" stand for sanctifcation.
This IS not true in fact. The idea which is pre-
scented by class of MethodSts that they are
born into a state of sanctifcation, that they
have received second birth, that they are holy,
pure, perfect, is imperfect, false and detrlmeil-
tai to the true interest of the church. This is
the class of men who are bringing the term
qualification into dsrepute in both the church
and the world. They bring discredit upon a
glorious doctrine by their unohristian course.
If they mean by it freedom from sin, and per
feet life, they believe in delusion. Paul did
not write his biography in the epistle to the
Romans. A man in whom growth is an i'm
possibility is an idiot / do not believe finish
ed state possible for human being. The bee
may be perfect, Or bird may be, but man,
never, unless he is fool. There must be
growth, -sanctificato Specification, then,
is condition of improvement. Justification
precedes, sanctification follows the new birth.
The grace of God in our hearts working is the
cause of our sanctiication. This word has
been kicked around and abused by men who,
protesting to know it, know nothing of it =
Sanctifcation completes the perfection begun.
l don't believe in another BIRTH
The speaker described in vigorous language
the growth of godly power in the soul, and ar
gued, that the only power Christian posses
ses, is the power of Christ orking in him.
When you are weak, Christ is your power; UNI
popular, he is favor; poor, he is wealth; in ad-
versity, he is prosperity. Jesus is everything
to you. He showed that specification is both
knowledge and duty. 1t makes a Christian
happy. The true Christian will not wear long
face; we don't believe in such. He is great
worker, and for others. We all stretch out for
a higher growth When we get in the way OF
sanctiication we consecrate all-time, service,
money, to Christ. He spoke of Gods purpose
in our sanctification illustrating his subject as
he proceeded.
In closing he urged upon his hearers in his
own eloquent and powerful manner the glory
and necessity of development of this growing
element in their lives. The speaker was lis
tened to bith rapt attention, and in his final
appeal, moved his audience to tears.
GREAT REDUCTION OF RATES IN LIFE In
sURANCE.-It will be seen by the letters of the
President and Actuary of the great MUTUAL