The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-02
SUNDAY SERVICES.
ST. STEPHENS

ST. STEPHENS.
Yesterday afternoon Rev. Asa Dalton, rector,
preached memorial discourse of the ministry
of Rev. James Pratt, D. D., taking as his text
St. John. v. 50. she was burning and shining
light" 1t was an evil day in which the prophet
Isaiah complained, that when the righteous man
died, ''no one laid it to heart" flow different
is the feeling of the congregation assembled
here TO attest their sense of the loss we have
sustained by the sudden decease of him who for
nearly twenty years was the faithful apd below
ed Rector of this Parish. So assduous was he
in the discharge of his duties as minister of
Christ and steward of the mysteries of God:
that we can unhesitatingly apply to him the ell
conium which our Saviour passed upon John
the Baptist, He was burning and shining
light" "a voice crying in the wilderness" John
prepared the way of the Lord When he began
to preach ''the faithful were minshed? among
men," The Jewish priesthood Was cold, rigid,
precise, and formal; the people backslidden, in
different, or superstitious.
Then was heard the voice of John in the
wilderness of Judea and he so preached, that
multitudes both of men and women resorted to
this solitude, confessing their sins 'sand were
baptised of him in Jordan 1t was true re
vival, in the course of which, John was per
mitted to bear witness to Jesus as higher than
he,and mghtier; "the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world" He fulfilled his
course with such fidelity, that our Lord could
testify of him in the words of the text. HE
was burning and shining light"
There are different types of Christian charac-
nd foit f1In .r1r a..
to our departed friend and brother because
they aptly indicate the distinguishing features
of his life and ministry. No ministry in this
city, since DR.. Paysoh' has be IN more efficient
than his
tered upon the duties he had assumed as Rec
tor of this church. Portland then was only
half as populous as at present and less than
hall as important from abusiness point of view.
There was but one Episcopal parish, and that
had been depressed for two generations When
first founded. it assumed the proportions of a
strong and prosperous church. But from causes
Connected with the Revolutionary War, it
declined almo1t to the point of extinction.
Between 1903 and 1888, the parish was faith
fully served by the Revs. Messrs billiard and
TenBroek, two ministers entirely devoted to
the duties of their sacred calling. but both re-
firing at last depressed and discouraged by
the obstacles in their path. DR.. Chapman
came here in 1888; and Mr.. French in 1896, but
resigned in 1889 to assume the duties of Chap
lain at West Point DIR. Alex Vinton and
Bishop Clark, both came here one for six and
the other for three months. At length, Mr..
now Bishop Southgate suggested IL name of
Rev. James Pratt, then Of Westerly, r.. i as
a suitable person for the peculiar exfgences of
the parish. Mr. Pratt was accordingly written
to and replied favorably. He not only came at
once, but came as he said "to stay" And he
did stay nineteen years, and might have been
here till his death, but for the failure of his
health. ais @
On his arrival, Mr.. Pratt was warned that he
had undertaken a hopeless task Fortunately
it was the difficulties of the position that attract
e. h nm for ne was one who did not desire to
ish was deeply involved in debt, the Church
was cherries and out of repair, the congre ga
ton small and disheartened. fill the Church
debts could be provided for and the building re-
paired, he decided to hold the services in Hall
on Union st. This was suitably fitted up and
soon filled to overlooking. A course of lectures
there given on Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress
were eminently successful, and contributed
much to his usefulness. After repairing the
Church, the congregation returned to it and
coltinned to grow until the Church was crowd
ed This led to the formation of St. Luke's by
those who preferred church nearer to their
homes, and perhaps neare, their convictions
and tastes in those diversities of doctrine and
discipline which are provided for in the Consti-
tuition of the Episcopal Church and sanctioned
BY its history. But the loss occasioned by the
formation OF new parish was in part made up
by the successful and indefatigable labors Of
DR.. Pratt till the decline of health compelled
his resignation. The Church was entirely re-
modelled before his removal, and he left it
With list OF at least two hundred and fifty
families
After a brief rest DIR. Pratt become
the Covenant, Philadelphia; Trinity Church,
Chicago; and ST. Philips, Phladelphla.
of which he was the honored minister
at the time of his death. In each of his par
ana
in st. Stephens, Portland. He came here a
young man Of thirty years, and gave the best
part OF his lite to this parish and city, for he
Minister at large" called upon for ministerial
services by all sorts and conditions of men. The
qualities which made him SO widely and gener-
ally useful, were unusual earnestness, unselfish
devotion to the duties of his Office, and warm
sympathy for all classes, more especially the |
poor, the SICK aud the afflicted
ne was a ready and effective speaker, and |
very happy In occasional addresses, As preach |
er' ne was grave and earnest in manner. clear
impressive in appeal. But it was in the sicI, |
room and house Of af1iction, that his presence
was most sought for, and there his power for
good ap, cared to greatest advantage He was |
also active in the temperance cause and identi- |
fed with the Odd Fellows. indeed there was
scarcely society or movement of any kind for |
the relief of the suffering, in which he failed to
take an active part. AS an able preacher, a de-
voted pastor, and true friend of every good
cause, he will be remembered till the generation
he served shall have passed away. And how
soon that will be. What changes in this city,in
this congregation since he came among you
main with US! Few things in life are more NOV
lug than the records of parish for thirty or
more impressive commentary OH the shortness
and uncertainty of human life.
Be it ours to follow the example of our broth |
er and his most active associates so far as they
followed Chri t.