The Portland daily press., 1873-09-15
SUNDAY SERVICES.
HIGH STREET CHURCH.

Rev. Mr.. Fem preached from the text Jonn
H. %, ''If man love me, be will keep my
words, and my Father will love Him, and we
will come unto him, and make out abode with
him" Every man thoughtfully and religious
ly disposed desires to know how to love God.
Thousands and tens of thousands in all parts
OF the world have proved its power in their own
experience. In order to have this love, the Lord
Jesus Christ declares that a man must be re-
generated. The coming of the Lord into the
heart of man is possible, mysterious and in
comprehensive as it is, and it is given only to
those who obey and keep His commandments.
The words of Christ include our powers capa-
billtles and pleasures. A man goes into bust
ness and he conforms himself unto the princi-
pies and practice of that business. A man ac-
cepts Christ, and he accepts all the teachings
and precepts of His word for the rule and guild
anee OF his life. Every Christian will affirm
that the Lord never came unto him in the clos
ct, but that in the discharge of every day duty,
OF some self sacrifice for Others, he has had
some richer, sweeter experience of His pres
ence Our visions of Christ are occasional;
during all the time of His disciples on earth
there was but one Mountain top scene, one
transportation scene, when He appeared unto
them 1T man is a Christian there is 10
more occasion for him to measure his expert
ence with another, than there is to compare
any other side of his life. Religion is pure liv-
ing, righteous dealing, chaste conversation.
u,
but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven" God reveals himself to no man
only IN the discharge of his own individual du-
ty. When we rebel, and strive after others
privileges and duties, thinking they are easier
and pleasanter than cur own, we find our paths
and Ways are hedged up, until we are compell-
ed to surrender our wills to Him, and falling,
fall into the arms of God.
The sermon was a rich and touching exposi
ton of the every day experiences of the Chris
tian.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Hayden on Sunday morning de-
liVered discourse on the different degrees of
Christian attainment as illustrated in the two
tribes, Reuben and Cad who desired settle
ment on this side of Jordan-Number xxi.
They were allowed thussto settle, but never
theleSs must fight the common battles with
and for their brethren, to enable them to come
into their inheritance. They were never to dis
courage the hearts of their countrymen. So in
the church, there is every degree of attainment,
which with the utmost liberality, should al
ways be allowed for. Our Lord tells of the
blade, then of the ear, and finally of the full
corn in the ear and of those who bring forth
some thirty, others sixty, andiothers ;again one
hundred fold. Notwithstanding these differ
ent degrees of purity, there are certain COM
mon duties which all alike owe to the church,
to the cause of truth. to the extension of the
Lords kingdom in this world. All ought to
'covet the best gifts and strive for the highest
attachments, ightingsthe good fight of faith in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in
his strength and attributing the merit to Him.
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.
In the morning the pastor, Rev. Mr. Wright,
preached from Mar 7:24-"But he could not be
hid" The discourse was an earnest and able
presentation of the divine and mesmeric power
of the Saviour in his daily round of duties,
drawing all men to Him by His sweet intiu-
elces of love and his gentle teachings. He is
the great revealer of both sin and righteous
ness. Under the revelation of His truth and
power not even science and talent can long re-
main concealed.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.
Rev. Dr. Hill delivered in the forenoon an
able and learned exposition of Paups sermon
on Mars Hill to the Atheneans He went in
to an elaborate account of the manner and cos
toms of that nation, and gave the nature of
the philosophy of that day. His analysis of
Pauls sermon was deeply interesting.
FREE STREET BAPTIST.
Rev. DR.. Small preached in the morning from
the text Matt xvii 90 eff We have faith as a
grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain remove hence, and it shall remove"
The sermon had special reference to the Sunday
School anniversary of the day. Faith is deem
ed the hardest to be understood. Young people
are often called to do the hardest things. Be-
fore US are three points. First, Faith,-to be-
lieve that all things are possible-we must be-
lieve that Christ has all power to accomplish,
THAT through Him we can overcome all things
I'd, The nature of faith: it is to believe in the
unseen. Sd, How faith operates.
At this church in the evening the anniversa-
~ of the Sunday School was held, a large audi
ence being present notwithstanding the rain.
Addresses were delivered by Hon. H. HI. Bur-
CESS and Rev. S. L. B. Chase of Rockland. The
Treasurers report was read and the Supern-
tendent delivered his annual report, of which
the following is a brief synopsis: The Baptist
publication series of questions are used; 100
copies of young Reaper circulated monthly;
an adult class, taught by the pastor, was form
ed December %; twelve teachers are furnished
for mission school at behring's bridge, con-
tanning l26 scholars The school numbers 32S
scholars; 151 are church members, and 1853 pro-
Tossing Christians; II have been added to the
church from the Sabbath School. The school is
represented as in prosperous condition.
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The Rev. Father Powers delivered yesterday
at this church very interesting discourse from
Luke vii. 11-16, upon the parable contained in
the text. Our Lord had compassion on the
widow aud restored her dead son to life. The
preacher dwe]t upon the power of Christ in
being able to raise the dead; upon His divine
compassion; upon His infinite tenderness to the
heart broken mother, and urged upon his hear
ers to love and obey the divine Master
PARK STREET CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Buck gave very fine sermon, choos-
ing his text from John 81 10; Lowest thou me?
y Feed my lambs. The sermon commence
ed with brief exposition of the scene presented
in this portion of the Gospel narrative, and esta5
lished some reasons why these last words of
Jesus, this injunction to unite performance to
profession should be addressed especially to Pc
ter,who on this very occasionhastened to neglect
his own proper work that he might the sooner
be with Jesus. The text emphasizes the unity of
Love and Labor of Faith and Works; as if Jesus
foresaw, and would if possible prevent the di-
visions on this point that afterwards sprang up
in the Christian church But it was not long
before his followers began to say on the one
tapd, we are justified by faith, and, on the
of Ner band, Faith HIthout works is dead. In
cours> Of time the church had chosen the alter
n.1ivo works, and, Furthermore, had inter
nrated 1ror %s to mean ceremonies, and offered
salvation to he. oRrchased by sacraments. Then
Tmther STANDING At the other end of the curve
of oscillation chose nc other alternative, and
based Professionalism on 1Safts: put there is a
small party in the Protesta." eIflot w'io re
lieve neither in religion of IA tn nor - re-
ligion of works. but in that religion winch mas
swung them along the curve from one 70 tne
other, the religion of Jesus, as it lay in ois
own thought, and was preached in his own
words, a religion comprising faith and works in
one. Christianity is sentiment; equally it is
action; but the action is at first a sentiment,
and the Sc ntiment, even as such, is incomplete
without action. Christianity is getting good
and doing good; but the good we do is at first
the good we get, and the good we get is not
completely our own until we give it.
INDIA STREET UNIvERsALIsT CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Gibbs of Congress Square preached
in the afternoon. Mr.. Bicknell the pastor, de-
lvered one of his course sermons in the even
ing to young men and others practical Chris
tianity. He preached in the morning yester-
day, at Windham and in the afternoon at West
Cumberland.
MAsoNIc.-Saturday morning the Portland
Commandery headed by the Portland Band,
followed by the Atlantic Lodge in carriages,
marched to the Boston steamer and received
the remains of Sir Knight Seymour of Charles
he bar rofar,up1s and