The Portland daily press., 1875-07-05

Besides all this there were multitudes in
Rome yet unacquainted with the truth and
grace OF God They were sled away unto dumb
idols" They were the unsuspecting dupes of
crafty, cunning and Safeguarding priest
hood. They were perishing for lack of that
knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation
There were thicky nterspersed amongst them
sages proud of their philosophy, sceptos scorn-
ing the superstitons of the vulgar, supercilious
and naughty men and women, dsdaining to
come into even momentary contact with the
| contemplate and credulous followers of the
| erucifed Nazarene. Paul well knew that the
| gospel which he preached would be offensive
and obnoxious to all classes Of the Romans
1t proclaimed ''peace on earth whilst they de-
lighted in the art of war. 1t inculcated
and fundamentally induced purity of heart
ness with greediness." The humility it en-
| joined was with ttem vice and crime. The
pride which it denounced was, In their view,
the most becoming of their virtues. In such
circu instances, worldly wisdom would have
suggested the inexpediency and daL ger of pub
licy teaching in Rome, the facts and principles
and preCepts of the gospel of Christ.
Ridcule, reproach, contempt and ultimately
death might be the result All this Paul fully
and clearly anticipated, but neither fear nor
shame took momentary possession OF his mind.
In the gospel he proclaimed he saw the instru-
| ment OF divine power productive of results
which fill heaven with gladness, AMI furnish
forever to all holy beings materials and motives
| for admiring and adoring thankfully.
The preacher now stated and illustrated at
length the nature and effects of the gospel of
Christ as exhibited in Pau"s inspired epistles
and illustrated by the annals of the Christian
church.
Power implies opposition, resistance, requir-
ing infinitely more than human persuasion to
gain effectual entrance for the truth into the
citadel of the understanding and the strong
hold Of the hearts affections.* eve are
laborers together with God. Ye are Gods hus
bandry; We are Gods bull ling. He who is
wonderful in counsel and excellent in work.
ing" has put this treasure into earthern ves-
sells that the eXcellency of the power might be
of God and not of man." The exercise of this
power is to be obtained by prayer
After some further remarks on preaching
and prayer. the Doctor thus concluded his dis
course.
We look back through the traditions of
the past to the erection of that sanctuary
where Kellogg, Payson, Tyler, Vale, a
Condit, successfully led 1.-THE devotions of their
We think tenderly and gratefully of the multi
tudes who were conducted by them to the green
pastures and still waters of divine grace. We
feel as though the great Master of these as
sembes were now saying to us, as to his ear
Hest disciples, "other men abored, and We have
entered into their labors'. That former house,
long since laid in ashes, was the scene of events
which swell the songs OF the redeemed in heav-
en-, and we can well imagine that the spirits of
the departed pastors and members of this
church hail devoutly and gratefully our occupa-
ton of this second sanctuary, as the earnest of
future accessiODs to the number of the saved
on earth and glorifed in heaven. LET us not
be sOthful, but followers of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises.
At the close of the sermon hymn was sung
when the pastor arose and commenced his ded-
catory prayer in these words, "We do dedicate
this house to the service of Almighty God"
He then followed with very impressive
IL
Weeks being present after having suffered for
many months. The Doxology was sung by the
congregation and the pastor pronounced the
benediction.
Rev. Messrs. DR.. Smaller, Vail, son of for
mer pastor, DIR. Fisk of Bath, Wright, and
DR.. Carruthers, occupied Sc ats upon the plat.
form.
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
In the afternoon the church was we'll filled
though not crowded. DR.. Hill and Rev. Mr..
Dole were seated on the platform. The SER
vices opened with an anthem by the quartette.
Rev. Mr.. Dole then read a portion of scrip
ture and offered prayer
Rev. Dr. Fisk of Bath, preached an able dis
course taking his text from Mark xii, 81,
"And the common people heard him gladly"
The speaker remarked that it was INTENDED
from the very first that the gospel should be
universal religion, quoting from the Scriptures
in proof of the assertion, assuming that what
appeals to the common necessities and common
wants of humansnatnre, what the common
people will gladly hear is to be perpetual and uni
versal. He went on to show that the gospel as
understood by evangelical churches is fitted for
this universal reception. aforementioned first
H. A. L. kI,ok
| the gospel had proved itself in all ages when
presented by holy men, simply, earnestly and
| with prayer adapted to move the great masses
| of mankind. Reference was made to the
preaching of Christ; of the Apostles. of preach
l ers in the middle ages, to Whitefeld, the
WeSleys, etc. ~
l Second, the pure land perfect system of NOR
i ais presented in the gospels, never to be inn
peached, fits it for this universal and perpetual
influence.
| Third, its grand doctrine of the necessity of
regeneration, and its provisions for experiencing
1T, being in this respect precisely what all who
are convinced of sin feel that they need is aneth
proof of the fitness of the gospel to be the uni
l versal religion.
The last position assumed was that fourth,
| the high and supernal mysteries of Christiani-
ty often asserted to be a hindrance to the gos-
pei, are in fact the very hiding of its power.
/ Large reference was here made to the power
essness and lack ofipopuiarity ofiabe systems
/ of religions devoid of these divine and incom-
i prehensiblestruths. @ 80
The speaker closed by remarking first that
| any system Of the religion which racks power to
be apprehended by and move the masses has a
l strong presumption against its truth and en-
forced, second, the duty of all who accept the
l gospel, to do the utmost in their power to
l maintain and disseminate it. For this object
l this new and spacious church edifice has been
/ erected and here it will be the pious en-
i deavor of this church to maintain and spread
] through this community and in the world at
| large the very sane truths which the
/ eloquent Payson once promulgated here, and
by the power of which great multitudes were
moved as the trees of the wood are moved by
/ the wind.
At the close of the discourse the Holy com.
munion was celebrated, the pastor officiating,
assisted by Rev. Dr.l Fiske and Rev. e. P.
! Thwing. A large number of the audience par
ticipated, most of them were members of the
Congregational churches in this city. The SER
| vices closed with the benediction.
EVENING SERVICE.
In the evening'a very interesting service was
held in memory of DR.. Payson. Rev. Mr..
Hincks presided, and on the platform there
was seated Rev. Mr.. Dalton of st. Stephens
and Rev. Messrs. Fem and Dole. After the
opening exercises Mr. Hincks delivered the
l memorial address. IL was quite brief and to
the point. He first spoke of the Joy it gave
him to congratulate the parent church in the
city on their success. He was glad for them
and for the church of Christ. 1t is impossible
for us to forget the animated Christian man for
whom this church is named-Dr. Payson. His
name will be remembered for ages to come in
this country and across the water. We are
here to pay tribute to this man. He could see
the truths of God and show them to others
with great clearness, and even by reading his
works we get the glow of his pcty. The speaker
closed with the hope that the audience would
testify their appreciation of the man by liberal
gifts.
The contribution was then taken. About
$500 was taken at the three services during the
day.
Rev. Mr.. Dalton of ST. Stephens church, was
the next speaker. He remarked that he had
looked forward to the completion of the church
with great deal OF anxiety and was glad to be
able to congratulate the parish on their sue
cess He spoke of the good effect such a man