The Portland daily press., 1874-03-23
SUNDAY SERVICES.


gave all diligence to write unto you OF the COM
mon salvation, it was needful for me to write
unto you and exhort you that ye should earn
estly contend for the faith which was once de-
livered unto the saints" Jude stchap Sd verse.
Christian life is a warfare. Whoever would
become disciple of Christ must be prepared
for conflict. The spirit of the world has little
in common with the spirit of the great Teach
er. In both theory and practice it is often at
war with all that is vital connected with the
religion of Calvary. Humanity in its sinful
ness has ever been unwilling to accept the gos-
pei on the terms in which it is offered, or yield
obedience to its claims, The way is too hum
BILE for the proud, too simple for the wise, too
pure for the vile and too for the careless.
| The multitude agree in rejecting its personal
claims, while many unite in opposing its very
course. And although one stronghold after
another has been taken in the conquest of the
world for Christ, unbelief still refuses to sur
render.
| Our individual life is also full of weakness
The heart often finds as much to war against
from within as from without. Doubts trouble
us, temptations come unbidden, faith wavers
and worldly interests rise between us and God
l1ut bHc lllc VI ldltu lS WOItHy OI I'LL 6uOrU
| The realities of the gospel are of most precious
worth. 1t offers not only light but life, it gives
not only peace, but rest. Humanity must find
these in Christ or find them lot at all. The
words of our text are words of great sgnifi-
canoe. The exhortation to earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints" is of much importance.
These few words map out the work of the
church for all time, while they as clearly set
forth the duty of every disciple.
Rut what al re we hpra urpa1 f0 coptand for0
''The faith once delivered unto the saints" The
word faith, as here used, implies the revealed
truths of the gospel, its claims, its promises
its threatening. 1t is the way of life as fore
told by the prophets, and made accessible
through Christ
The conditions of that way are unchangable
The world may deny the claims of revelation
but the church must defend them all. They
will never lose their importance. They offer
the only conditions of pardon from sin and
reconciliation with God. Human wisdom has
tried to reason the gospel out of the way.
Some have opposed it with scoff and rid.cule
and Others have met it with the denial of unbe-
lief; but it never had so strong and deep hold
upon the world as to day, and its final triumph
is as sure as tomorrow.
Now what does this faith, that we are called
tolearnestly contend for, include? What are
its demands? what its promises?
l., 1t calls the individual from sin to the ser
vice of God. The first claim of Christ is that
we stop in our lcourse of sin. The next is to
take up our cross and enter his vineyard.
z. This faith secures the pledge of divine
sistance. Every child of faith has the promise
of grace equal to their need. Every step in the
pathway of life is taken in company with the
divine Helper.
8. 1t makes the future reality An eter-
nal woe for the lost. eternal heaven for the
redeemed.
We may accept or reject this faith but we
cannot change its conditions AS once given
to the saints so it will forever remain, the on
ty aooy of life.
MoUNTFORT STREET CHURCH.
The pastor, Rev. G. w. Mossell delivered a
memorial sermon on the late Senator Sumner,
taking as his text ''The Lord giyeth and the
Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the
Lord The sermon will be given in to-mor-
rows issue of the PRESS.
SPIRITUAL FRATERNITY.
A public seance was given yesterday after
noon at Arcana Hall by Mrs. L. E. Weston, a
test medium of East Boston. She opened the
seance by offering short prayer, and then
went into trance, during which some strange
circumstances took place. She mentioned sew
eral deceased persons who were recognized by
friends present.
AT THE JAIL.
been held at the county Jail every Sunday af-
ternooa by Capt. Sturdivant aud others of the
Allen Mission. These meetings have met with
marked success Good has already resulted land
the indications are of permanent bereft Of
the thirty prisoners confined in the jail two
thirds have signed the temperance pledge and
several have risen for prayers.
Yesterday afternoon reporter of the PRESS
attended the services. About fifty people, the
majority of them ladies, were present. A few
were undoubtedly drawn by curiosity, but the
major portion were evidently interested in the
work. Nearly all the prioners were present,
seated on benches in the lower corridor of the
east wing, where the services were held.
The services opened with prayer. Hymns
were then sung and exhortations made. The
prisoners all paid special attention, and some
evinced much interest in the prayers and exhor
tations, but all appeared touched by the singing
of the hymns. Among the speakers was Mrs.
Fitzgerald, the temperance lecturer. She
earnestly pleaded with the wrong-doers, and
her kind words and low,sw voice much NOV
ed the poor men, some of them shedding tears.
One of the prisoners, man under sentence for
smuggling, rose and besougLt prayers for his
spiritual welfare At the close of the meeting
several rose for prayers, among them Thomas
Pike, who is under arrest for the murder of his
wife, When the exercises were over the pris-
oners crowded about Capt. Sturdivant press
ing his hand. They evidently look upon hi m
as their best friend.
deep impression has apparently been made
upon Pike, and he shows signs of a desire to
lead better life. Since his Incarceration his
father has died in San Francisco, and has left
him some money. The jalor speaks in praise
of his uniform good conduct since be has been
in Jail. He is now in charge of the East
Wing.
Uun doubtedly these meetings effect good,
and may be made to effect much more. In her
remarks, Mrs. Fitzgerald said to the prisoners
that they woald not be within stone walls had
the christian world outside but done its duty 1t
then behooves the world to make amends for
its neglect.
Some of the prisoners appear sceptcal in re-
gard TO the professions made, and say with
some and perhaps little truth, that the people
who cry over them while imprisoned, would
not speak to them nor lift finger to help
them were they out in the street.
POLICE NoTEs.-An ex-policeman was in
one of the cells at the police station yester-
day.
A little boy who had got lost was brought
to the station yesterday.
Officers Place, Corliss and Walker arrested
five young men named Bartholomew Clary, Ar
thur Chambers, Patrick Ford, Joseph Mcclure
and Peter Doherty for the larceny of barrel
of ale. They were found in an old shed near
the Eastern Railroad bridge to Cape Elizabeth.