The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-18

Guided with the solo and quartette, CONSIDER
the lilies" by the choir.
A brief address by Brown Thurston, Esq, a
former Superintendent, and singing by the
congregation, with the benediction by Rev. Mr..
Hicks of the State street church, concluded the
service.
The chancel and platform of the church were
beautifully decorated with flowers and ever
greens. Pendant from the chancel arch were
heavy festoons of evergreen with numerous
hanging baskets and wreaths of flowers, while
below was perfect wilderness of cut flowers
and potted plants, including many rare exoties
from the lighthouses of friends of the school.
We have rarely seen a more beautiful floral
disploy at an occasion of the kind.
A pleasant and unusual incident was the
presence as visitors of the State street, Ply
mouth, st. Lawrence street, Second Parish and
West Esd Sabbath Schools, each school COM
ing as body in charge of its teachers, and be.
ing allotted seats together. The invitation to
which their presence was a response, was hap
by thought by Superintendent Abbott.
The school and its officers may be congratu-
lated upon the exceedingly pleasant and taste
stand that the floral decorations will be photo
graphed before being taken down.
CoNGREsT SQUARE CHURCH.
The 10th anniversary of the First Universaist
Sobbath School was observed in the morning
at this church. After prayer by the pastor
the .choir sang "Co2sider the Lilies with
much expression. The pastor read from
Matthew Goth, the Parable of the Talents, fol-
lowing the reading with few very appropriate
remarks upon the significance of baptism. To
those who have reached years of understand.
i0g it means that they wish to lead better
life. With the young the parents feel that the
lives of their children have been consecrated to
God and it has an effect to make their own
lives more pure. The school sang s'Tn Thy
loving arms, 20 Saviour" The pastor then bap-
tised nine persons and two infants The school
sang "With loud Thanksgiving Mr. Nash.
the superintendent, then read the annual re-
port. From it we CLEAN the following: The
vestry has been enlarged and improved in order
to give the infant class better accommodations.
The work cost $3.50 and the school paid all but
500. The infant class numbers 60 children.
There are 80 classes, 4I2 scholars, SO teachers,
and officers, making 452 connected with the
school. The average attendance is 217; largest
260; smallest 81. The library contains 1850
books, and there is 49, so in the treasury There
has been four deaths the past year.
After singing by the school the pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Gibbs, preached an excellent discourse up
on the Importance of Sunday School instruc-
was necessary that the word of God should first
have been spoken to you.' The exercises
closed with singing "Whithersoever Thou 60 I
will co.
The church was very prettily decorated with
plants and flowers. In the alcove behind the
desk there were two vases formed of evergreeus
and filled with flowers and grasses. From the
ceiling there was fine large basket of choice
exotics hanging directly over the desk. Bas-
kets of plants hung from the gas jets on either
side while in front there was profusion of
plants and running vines. The green ground
was set off by two stars formed of white flow
ers in the centre, while on either side there
were flats of dark red flowers. The whole
made very handsome picture.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.
DR.. Hill announced as the subject of his first
lecture to the young the question, What is the
true aspect Of life; what view should be taken
of life by those who are just entering upon its
full career.
The first picture which he presented was that
presented by many preachers of the past gener-
alton: that this world is vale of tears, and
life series of disappointments and SORROWS.
The second wa, the view painted in altogether
rosy tints, making happiness our beings end
and aim. A third presents itself in the modern
evangelists, and was presented still more
strongly in older days. it represents life as
fearfully solemn from its being brief proba-
tion to determine an endless fate. The fourth
view was that which might be called the
make the best of it,
Neither of these modes of viewing life seemed
to tie preacher in full consonance with the
teaching OF the Lord. Jesus presents US man as
the child of God, seeking under parental disci-
pline to learn and to conform to the Divine will.
Men areeNnder he guidance of Providence,
and the Influence of the spirit to learn to be
helpers of each other, and to be obedient and
loving children of God. Under this light of
Christ's teaching, life is neither sad nor Joyous,
nor overwhelming in solemnity, nor time to
be patiently endured, but life is series of no.
BILE opportunities, or self culture and useful
ness, fo- communion with God and with
Christ, and for companionship with men. It
is field wherein the noblest and purest in
every soul may be gratified, the ambition to be
a fellow worker with God and with Christ in
redeeming and lifting up mankind.
THE FRIENDS.
The farewell meeting of the Friends was
held yesterday afternoon in City Hall. The
hall was about half full and the audience were
evidently much interested in the services. The
meeting was opened by Rev. DR.. Wetherald,
who read selections from the 22d and 23d
Psalms. AT the close of the reading there was
an interval of silent prayer. After this Mr..
Wetherald preached, taking his text from the
Epistle of Paul TO Titus, I'd chapter, 9th and
10th verses-"Exhort servants to be obedent to
their masters and to please them well in all
things, not answering again, not purloining
but showing all good fidelity that they may
adorn the doctrine Of God our Saviour in all
things He spoke of the text in its relation to
the Christians, to whom Paul addressed it, and
applied it to the followers of Christ to-day. At
the close of the sermon Mr.. Jones addressed
the meeting in few we'll worded remarks de-
duced fromithe preceding sermon. The m eet-
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