The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-03
OLD ORCHARD CAMPMEETANGs.



Dedication Day opened with blue, cloudless
sky and breeze as stimulativey refreshing as
fine, cool wine. The morning attendance was
good. The early trains were loaded with fam
lilies purposiDg to pass week at least of that
seductive life in tents to which the nomadic in
stnct in man, never wholly dying out, sooner
later iuClineS nfm. -I1scaped -fro-r.-c~~~e--
which wear the life away" men cast them
selves upon the soil carpeted with the vegeta-
BILE mould of countless years and Uttered with
the falling leaves of innumerable autumns,
and there breathe the balsamic odors of the
dark pines which cast long shadows at their
feet. The tender charm of the old tent-lfe
with its lmitless memories carries them back
in imagination to time before earth was cum
bered with piles Of lumber and masonry, be-
fore stately temples went up and when man
walked beneath the open sky and communed
with God.
The absence of Rev Mr. Boole, occasioned
by failure to make train connections, caused
tue postponement of the dedication sermon to
afternoon. A morning service was held. con-
Quoted 10y Rev. Mr.. Luce, the Presiding Elder,
who extended a cordial invitation to Christians
of all denominations to join in the exercises.
Rev. Mr. Hannaburg of Pine street church,
Portland, then read the old hatJle hymn No.
go, and the song of God for the first time
echoed through the whispering pines of the
Beach camp ground. Rev. j. G. Perry of Peaks
island followed in fervent prayer Rev. D. b.
Randall of Cape Elizabeth read the 18th chap
ter of the fierce and sombre prophecy of Isaiah.
Rev Mr.. Luce spoke of the duty before all.
sl,o Of Cd roa IN This not tn
picnic or summer esort, but to save souls.
During the progress of this camp meeting one
hundred children must be brought to Christ.
Rev G. 3. Pitblado, of Congress stree
church, Portland, delivered the opening sermon,
taking as his text, Rev. iii, 20, 81 stand at the
door and knock The discourse a very
able anu effective one. Mr.. Pitbado's peculiar
presence and manner of speaking. the suspicion
of the Scotch burr in his tone, the long wall
with which he closes sentence, the quaint
simplicity of his speech, his striking but home
ly illustrations and his power of sarcasm all
combine to make him decidedly interesting
speaker.
He began by remarking that there were
many wonders, scientific and other, in this
world to-day; but he had in his mind greater
wonder than these, 1t was the condescenslon
of Jesus Christ in standing at the door of our
hearts and knocking. In far too many cases
the answer is given mot at homer But still
Jesus continues, in this wonderful forbearance
and love- to knock. In vivid language the
preacher pictured the bitter agony on the cross
and triumphantly asked if history in its huge
records. of marvels told OF wonder equal to this
of God suffering upon the accursed tree in an
| expiration of the sins of all mankind. But there
is still another wonder which the text suggests,
the wonderful laziness of the sinner in neglect
| ing to open the door when Christ knocks.
Some, after the manner Of the world stop to ar
range themselves, to fix up little, before they
| go to the door. They wait to grow little bet
| ter before they become christians. This is all
wrong The exigency brooks no delay.
The sermon was followed by fervid appeal
from Rev. MIR Luce. This concluded the
morning service.
During the noon intermissioa a meeting of
the stockholders of the Orchard Beach Asso-
| citation was held at which Revs. Ramsdell,
Munger and Perry were constituted an advisory
committee to act with the presiding elder in
framing rules and regulations.
The afternoon was devoted to the dedication
sermon, delivered by the Rev. w. Boole of
| New York. The exercises were opened by
prayer from the Rev. Mr. Langdon. Mr.. Boole
chose as his text H. Cor IT'LL: "For if that
which is done away was glorious, much more
that which remains is glorious" The subject
of the sermon was a comparison of the two
dspensations, that of Moses and that of Christ;
the one q system of types and outward forms,
the other system of great and glorious prom
| ises and undoubted commands. In the one we
have the visible ark of the covenant, in the
other the temple is built in the heart. The one
is the shadow of good things to Gomez the other
IS the glorious substance The one is God
We led in the mysterious thunders of Sinai; the
other is God revealed in the form of the meek
aud lowly Jesus. But in both is the spirit OF
the Almighty. The power in the brazen ser
pent lifted up in the wilderness is the same as
that in the finger of Jesus when he touched
the eyelds Of the blind man. Both roads lead
to God; but the one is long, circuitous foot
path, and the other a royal highway The cen,
trail idea of both is Jesus Christ. The subiect
of the two dispensations was elaborated al
length, and the points of resemblance and OF
difference dwelt upon, the conclusion arrived
at being that the first dispensation was a prep
aration and the second elimination, The