The Portland daily press., 1874-03-30
SUNDAY SERVICES.

| CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
| was crowded Early IN the morning the bless
| ing of the palms took place, followed by the
| procession round the altar. High Mass was
| then celebrated, followed by sermon appro-
pirate to the day, by the bishop. The music
| was yery fine At the opening the Hosanna
| Fllio Dauid was given, followed by the Sanctus
from werner's Mass in c. After the sermon
were given the Kyrie. Credo, Sanctus anG Ag-
nus Die from Stoelins' Mass in b. fat The
music closed with the Stabat Mater.
CONGRESS STREET NJ E. CHURCH
The following synopsis of sermon recently
delivered by the Rev. Mr.. Ladd of Biddeford,
is thought to be peculiarly worthy of publica-
ton:
"These were more noble than those in Thes-
salonica, in chat they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scrip
lures daily, whether those things were So"
Acts I'LL.
There is much said about the nobility of Ger
tain families, and certain people-the nobility
of race, and of blood. But God has His nobili-
ity, and His standards of nobility. 1t is wor-
thy ambition to desire a magnanimity, and no.
bility which is after Gods order, and which
will stand Gods test. And this does not de-
pend upon the blood that flows in our veins,
upon titled ancestry, or upon any of those
things which are beyond our control. God s
nobility are of all colors, all nations, and all
ages. The question with God is not ''who was
your father?" but what are you?" not 'what
was his title and rank?" but "what is your
character?' Do we wish to be noble in the
sight of the unerring One? then let us for
little while study the character of these noble
Romans Their nobility is seen in their desire
to konw the truth; whether those things were
500 The statements that Paul made were
not Indifferent statements. Not such that
the people could afford to let them
pass as idle tales, knowing that it
would make no possible difference with
them whether they should prove true or false
But his teachings if true concerned them as no
other truth could concern them. Paul did
not ask of them hearing because he had
something to say upon questions of COM
merce, or philosophy, or social improve
ment, or any other material and temporal in
terest But because he had something to say
to them upon the interests of their souls, upon
life and death, for time and eternity. "Are
these things sop This is the spirit with
which men investigate all other classes of
trnth. The student does not go to his scien-
tifc pursuits armed and equipped with pre-
conceived opinions and deeply rooted preju
dices. He does not ask, "What ought to be?''
"What would l like to have true?" but "What
is truth" He has no pet theory to sustain
no foregone conclusion, upon the confirmation
of which his reputation depends. He simply
takes his place at Natures feet, and asks her
to whisper into his ear her secrets. He I'M
derstands that there are fixed relations, and
underlying principles, ordained by God Him
self, and that these are not to be twisted or
compromis ed for any mans convenience or
pleasure. And in reference to many truths the
student is obliged to rest satisfied to know
that they are truths. There is a stern and un-
bending relentlessness in these great laws Of
Nature, and mans temporal happiness is secur
ed not by ignoring them, or by fighting against
| them but by acting in harmony with them. Fire
will burn and it is we'll when upon the hearth
or in the furnace, but not SO well when thrown
by some careless boy, into heap of shavings
upon the confines of a beautiful city. There j!
tremendous power in steam, and there is some
CINE over the track, like asthing of life, but it il
fearfnl thing to see it plunge into car filled
with meu, women and children. How impor
tant to know what is truth, in reference tt
| these great natural forces-to know all that car
| be known about them; how they can be manag
| ed, and controlled SO as to be made subservent
| TO our good, and not instruments of death. There
| is higher class of truth; there are moral laws.
| The ponderOus engine can crush; the hot steam
can scald the body. But there is soul that is
not subject to such laws; that cannot be crush
| ed OF scalded-that cannot be preyed upon by
| fever or consumption. There are other laws to
which it is subject, there are other truths to
which it is amenabe. We have said Pauls
| preaching was filled with great and startling
| thoughts in reference to personal accountable
ty, personal guilt, individual repentance, justi-
tication by faith, the breaking down of the par
tition wall, the abrogatiou of Jewish rites
These Romans were not over credulous. The!
did not propose to accept all Paul said merel.
because he evidently was honest and sincere
neither were they so prejudiced tnat they would
not listen to any thing because it did not prais'
their customs and fatter their pride. '1s thi
Gods truth?' "Does it come to us accreditet
with "Thus saith the Lord?' This is wha
they want to know. Was it not a noble trai
in them?
II. Their nobility of soul is seen in the fac
that they took measures to inform themselves
They searched the Scripture daily. If they real
ly wanted to know what was true, of cours
they would take the proper means. How man.
| Unere are undU 10 uOJ really WduG W KNOW VIVA
Gods will concerning them is-just as if ig
norance of truth will shield them! They be
lieved in the Jewish Scripture, and Paul pro
fessed to preach nothing but what was support
ed by these Scriptures, and what could be NOR
ing Of the Scriptures, in order t.
learn if those things were 50? 1t
all important in the things of this life t.
have correct standards. Weights and measure
are tested; metals are tested The world is full
e vnI.o md dc
Widely different doctrines are professedl.
drawn from Gods word. Is there no dvn
standard? Are the common people left to b
dupes of intriguing priests, and selfish, part
Fan teachers? Must any one be thoroughly
versed in the languages in which the Scrip
lures were originally written, in order to know
these things? No! a thousand times no-Dis
as deep as you are able, be as exact and critica
in your researches as you can be. But if you
will be as honest and consistent as the Berean
were, you may as truly arrive at the correct re
suit as they did. The Bible is the standard o
religious searching. Facts are stubborn things
and we find ourselves in matter-of-fact world
Family and business cares and trials are facts
terrible accidents and sudden deaths are facts
personal sil and cons cious guilt are realities
power to choose and to refuse we know W.
have. Now in reference t. all this has Coz
spoken in clear, unmstakable, authorita tiv
tones? Or has He only dimly revealed him sci
in the works of nature? He has furnished u
with revelation; He has put it within You
reach: He has bid you call no man master; ii
proposes to speak in your ear; He says 'Searc
the Scriptures" 1t does not come within tn
scope of our subject to dwell upon any of th
special doctrines of IL Bible. Suffice it to sa
that many of the utterances of the pulpit, nov
like the utterances of Paul, are in reference t
the supreme value of the soul-the damnin
nature of sin the unsatisfactory nature G
earthly thIngs-the importance of improvin
, the living present etc, etc, And is it not du
to ourselves that we see for ourselves whf
God says about these things? Is not this neg
ect of the Bible the most culpable of all neg
lects?
; No words strike on my ear like these iudf
ment, heaven, hell, eternity, saved, lost, eve
, | lasting punishment eternal life. Now whs
= concerns me is, are these the production
some disordered mind, or are they found in til
} Bible? In reference to duty, privilege, respor
{ sibility, danger, influence, past, present an
future, what does God say?
Ill. They, many of them believed We III
derstand by this, saving trust, and practic;
obedience.
1. Infdels have often confessed their igrt
rance of the Scriptures. 2. Some have studio
the Bible to hold it up to iidicule, and hay
been convicted, and converted B. Those VIII
+ really want to know whit is truth, and al
determined to conform to it when it is know
and will honestly apply themselves to Bib
study are not far from the kingdom of HEAVIER
4. Nothing can be more corrupting and d.
, moralizing than to know the truth and not
| willing to do it.