The Portland daily press., 1873-04-19

should be the endeavor OF aSarr ~ LII a..
thov CON nv their example TO preserve us reiig
ous character 1t day to devote to Gnd
mum 1 49, oan he properly observed in no other
anu s.a than in humble, prayerful seeking after
God? But how can he come before the Lord, in
sneech of genuine humility and penitence?
E. w s2G1fb held us if we first deepen our apprecia
ton of those moral evils which are prevailing
among us, and leading us to separate as peo-
pie from the favor and protection of God. Much
is being done, both within and without the
church to stay the evil tides which threaten
our land; more effort is needed; intemperance
is still up; like an evil spirit it is marching
over the land with giant tread sowing the
seeds OF disease, suffering and death, and pre-
pairing the way for untold miseries in the flu
ture We had hoped that this year would have
added new triumph over this common enemy
In the strict, thorough and constant enforcement
OF the law against the liquor traffic. But there
are manifest indications that the old enemy is
getting the victory again over the arm of the
arm of the law. The shameful spectacle, so
common in our streets, prove that more vigilance
and perseverance is required of our custodIaHs
OF the peace.
Another evil to be deplored ia the wide spread
diffusion of an immoral literature. No ono
thing perhaps is doing more to undermine the
moral health of the young than this NO one
thing calls for greater watchfullness on the
part of parents and guardians
In view of these evils; in view OF the uhnum-
bered wars they are preparing for generations
yet unborn let US go to God for help, for mat
grace we need to strengthen us for the warfare
against us. 80
The prevalence of irreligion and the ungodli-
ness, and the lukewarmness of Christians call
for our deep penetence and humiliations before
God. The church OF Christ is not sufficiently
aggressive. She has too little to- do with the
outward evils of the world. She ought to be
first among those active agencies engaged in
moral reform.
The greatest discouragements are to be found
IN the christian camps, in christian society, in
the organized means for the extention of the
truth and the promotion of virtue The great
est occasion for humiliation is that so many are
enrolled in the Christian army, but in no spirit
for the conflict
The civil authority cannot make us humble
and prayerful, but it can and does encourage us
to seek the Lord in this solemn fast, to remem
Der our faults and shortcomings, and to exercise
deep repentance in view of our individual and
natural sins. Abstinence and sacrifice are
meaningless as mere facts. God is not pleased
that we go hungry, but If abstain from food es-
teeming the love and the favor of God m ore
than our necessary food, if our abstinence and
sacrifice are the expressions of a deep inward
sentiment, then our fastday will not be in vain.
UNION CONFERENCE MEETING.
The Union Meeting for prayer and religions
conference, which it has been usual to hold in
the afternoon of Fast Day, was held in the ves-
try of the Payson Memorial Church at three
O'Clock, Rev. j. NJ. Palmer, presiding. After
some devotional exercises the conference appar-
emily resolved itself into a society for the extr-
patton of heresy. Remarks were made which
go show that the age of bigotry and intolerance
has not yet entirely passed away. Some of the
clergy present displayed much temper and more
bad judgment. A strange disregard for the
teachings of the meek and lowly Nazarene was
evinced
Rev. Mr.. Dalton, of st. Stephens said:
The great characteristic of our age is the
boldness displayed by infdels. They are not
only infdel in their belief but they are bold in
declaring that infdelity. In strong con trast
with their boldness is'the timidity of Christian
men. As an instance of this boldness spoken
of there has been published in the PRESS with
in the week, sermon IN which the writer takes
the ground that infdelity is preferable to
Cbristianity-or to use the words of the preach
er Christianity as commonly taught is inferior
to infidelity and theism.'' The speaker disap-
proved of the idea that the press should ever
give publicity to sermons or doctrines which,
he claimed run connter to the belief of the
majority of the community. He objected most
decidedly to any minister putting forth SER
mon that attacked any other sect. What is the
remedy ? Simply this We should say to the
press eff you do these things, we, who are your
patrons will cease to be so any longer" He al
he had alluded abominable, but it had received
the commentator and endorsements of the edi-
tor of the journal that published it.
The Rev. E. P.Thwing then arose and said he
was away when the sermon referred to was pub
liShed, and he had not seen it, but from his
connection with the press, he knew more about
the profession than Mr.. Dalton. The common
dation referred to was very likely not written
by the editor, but by some attache, or by the
minister or his friends, and paid for at so much
a line. Such was the custom with newspapers.
Had it been the custom, the PRESS would have
been many dollars in for the puffs of himself
which Mr.. Thwing has contributed to its COL
umns]. If we wait till tomorrow We shall
probably see commentator of this meeting
for it is "Goed Lord one day and ''Good Dew
ip' the next He thought besides, that there
were a great many inconsistent Christians re-
penting of things to-day they would repeat to-
morrow, and he didn't believe in any such
Christianity
Here Rev Mr.. Williams of the Plymouth
Church, arose and said there might be good
many inconsistent Christians, but the vast ma
jority was composed of excellent, silent, consist
ent Christians.
Thwing's remsrks-That he did not refer to the
Portland Daily Press, but to the press general
ly. He continued, there isn't crime COM
mitted by the lowest Catholic, in the lowest eel
lar in New York, but is telegraphed from one
part Of the country to another, and the disgust
ing details are paraded in the public journals
and laid npon our breakfast table in the morn
ing, and it is crying shame When my chill
dren ask to see the morning paper, say to
them, you may read it provided you will read
only the foreign news.
Rev. DR.. Carruthers, said that one good
sign after all, in regard to this matter is the
absolute badness of infidelity, and SO one
knows where to strike lat it,, but there are so
many insidious phases of infidelity in the
world, that one knows not where or whom to
smite.
Rev. James NJ. Palmer, presiding, made
ed the bold infidelity of the sermon referred to-
and even criticised the conduct of the PRESS in
publishing sermon, with such unevangelical
fondapo;oS