The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-10
FAST DAY PORTLAND.
Hts Observance.

/ lTOm view. Iu6 CnurCleS were well
attended in the morning, and in the afternoon
| every one appeared to be intent upon going
| somewhere. The Mus cum was crowded long
before it was time for the performance to COM
mence, and many were turned away. Wards
| Opera House drew good audience There
| vas large number of ladies
| aud gentlemen ON horseback in the
afternoon. The streets were lined with people
| all day. But little drunkenness was noticed
and the majority of the people appeared intent
upon spending the day ir quiet manner. The
Resolutes did not play in the afternoon as their
| ground was not in fit condition. The Noun.
| taineers and Haymakers had social game in
| the afternoon on the Western Promenade. The
theatres drew good houses in the evening
| The Grand Army sociable was avery pleasant
| affair and large company was present. 1t
was decided to give another one in two weeks.
| The Young Mems Social Club had pleasant
assembly at Lancaster Hall.
The following are abstracts of the sermons
preached:
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.
The Rev. DR.. Hill preached yesterday at
| the First Parish church, upon the text Luke
vi, As; expanding remark of Archdeacon
Hare's that while crimes excite horror
sometimes out of proportion to their guilt
vices seldom receive the detestation they de-
serve. The hideousness of crime made it
repulsive, while the vice hid its responsiveness
under mask, sometimes graceful and allur-
| ing. Yet the vice might be considered the
parent of the crime and more truly to be
| dreaded.
The teaching of the Lord was marked by a
| spirituality which distinguished it from both
Jewish and Gentle teaching He asked ever
for renewing of the heart, an inward sane
LITIGATION through the power of the divine
| truth. The actions were condemned or ap-
proved by him, only as they were induces and
fruits of the affections. Within the soul it
self was the scene of our temptation, defect
or victory. No outward sign told the passer-
| by of the severity of the battle, or of the fall
or triumph. All men acknowledge this
fundamental doctrine, yet all did not habitu-
| ally breathe its invigorating air. Too often
we praised the rich man for his lberality, and
| forgot that the poor widow might be doing
far greater deed of liberality unnoticed. Too
often when we shuddered at some awful crime
we forget that thousand others and perhaps
even ourselves were cherishing vices of the
same essential character as those which drove
| the criminal to his deed.
Not that the preacher would undervalue
great and noble deeds of charity and heroism;
but that he would give due honor to those
whose hearts were glowing with the same
divine fire, but who were prevented by I'M
comfortable circumstances, from giving any
notable proof of it to the world. Nor would
he underate the guilt OF Crimes but only that
he would condemn more emphatically the
petty acts which betray the heart to be COM
pletely alien from God, and truly destitute OF
high sense of honor, and love of integrity.
| Ho hai hat n
the world to- day as ever; the grace OF God
had not been withdrawn from the church;
| the divine spirit still flowed with almighty
power into the heart that sought it. But he
also believed that there was also in the world
an awful depth of sin; sensual lusts and
deadly passions that would scruple at moth
ing to gain their ends. if there was any hope
of evading punishment. The mother could
| guard her child against falling into crime,
only by teaching it early to abhor vice.
! Virtue was not real and strong unless it
| shrank from vice as from crime. The deca-
| logue might seem to forbid only crimes, but
! the Lord Jesus had taught US that each COM
| mandment is to be obeyed in the heart, and
govern the thoughts and feelings which might
lead to its transgression. The only safety
against moral death and destruction was to
bring into the heart divine source of life
and strength; to cling to Jesus and to his
ministry of reconciliation with that strength
! and earnestness of purpose that should bring
into our souls present participation in eter-
nal life
| ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Wright, of the St. Lawrence. took
as his text, Psalms lxxxv: 9. Surely his
salvation is nigh them that fear him, that
glory may dwell in our land" In the
| Psalmist's thought there was the closest re-
| lot hot tha cal Of
prosperity and glory of the nation. The
| nearer God was to the people, the nearer his
truth dwelt in their hearts; the more his will
was known and obeyed, the more glory
dwelt in the land. The true natural life was
relig ious life. The decline of religion was
! the nations decline.
! The same relation exists to-day between
! religion, and national glory. Christianity is
/ not only the safeguard of the nation it is the
! nations only hope. 1t alone gave to nations
I the durable elements of life. That which has
power to regenerate the individual, has power
to raise society to its highest condition and to
preserve nations from decay.
The evils which afflict the nation, and re-
! tard its progress are many. Christianity
alone has power to remedy those evils, and
restore the moral health of the nation.
The need is for more Christian manhood
| This the religion of Christ can supply.
While we mourn over the sins of the nation
and the crimes of society, let it cheer us to
! know that evil is not omnipotent. 1t can be
overcome With all it's feebleness, and error,
and lukewarmness, the church of Christ, I'M
| der its various UNCONVENTIONAL names, is the
noblest and best institution on earth. 1t is
| doing that work which is grandest in signifi-
canoe and importance. We may deplore the
| widespread evils that threaten the life of the
nation, but we have need to mourn most over
the weakness of our faith in the redemptive
agencies of the Gospel, and the lukewarmness
| of our endeavor.
The salvation of God is nigh them that
fear him. While we labor to save souls from
eternal ruin we are doing the best work for
| the nation, in fitting men to be good citizens,
and making them in their characters and lives
elements of national strength and glory.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
| DIR. Smaller, of the First Baptist, selected
for his text the first part of Exodus xviii. 81,
| ''Thou shalt provide out of all the people
able men, such as fear God, men of truth,
hating covetousness; and place such over
them to be rulers"
After a suitable introduction the four
| qualifications of the ruler were applied pow
erfully and pointedly to those men who
should be sought for rulers among the
people of to- day. The success or
| VI oHC lepuDliO was oAAo"4A w
depend greatly upon the character
of those chosen from the people to
rule over them. In answering the question
"For whom shonld our suffrages be given,' 1t
was safe and perhaps sufficient for the
| present occasion to confne our thoughts to
these words of inspiration, and consider why
we ought to provide from among the people
men of ability. who fear God, love truth, and
| hate covetousness.
| Several reasons were then given why such
men, and only such, should be chosen, but as
| it is probable that the sermon will be pub
| lished in full at the request of those who
heard it, only this meagre abstract will be
| given at this time.
| PINE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
| The meeting of the Sabbath School Society
| 10 connection with the above church was held
Fast Day at q p. m pastor, j. w. Johnston,
| in the chair. After the devotional exercises,
Mr. M. L. Burr, superintendent, presented the
| report for the past year. which was an able pre-
| sentation of the state and general condition of
the school. The reports of the secretary and
| treasurer, Mr.. NJ M. Riggs, were also present.
ed showing the school to be in healthy and