The Portland daily press., 1878-12-23
PULPIT AND PLATFGRlI
PORTLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

PORTLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
The annual address before the Benevolent
Society was delivered at the meeting house of
the First Parish on Sunday by Mr. William E
Gould. The religious exercises we're conducted
by DR.. Hill and Rev. Mr. Lathe of Plymouth
church. The music was Of an excellent
character and specially adapted to the occa-
ton. The address was plea 70 oonsecrated
giving as means Of moral discipline of
character. 1t was contended and fully llustra-
ted, that the finer sensbity of the soul can
only be enlarged, strengthened and main
tanned By benefcence founded on principle
and conservation. The speaker carefully
avoided the presentation of the usual details
and statistics that seem to belong to charity
discourse, aud put 10 an argument for giving
from the highest motives, not only of good to
others but for what it does for ones own
nature. 1t was stated the appreciation Of all
that is good and beautiful was dependent in
highest degree upon character chastened and
sanctlfied by the grace of giving Mean men
cannot grasp the best; low men cannot see the
purest; and if one is to excel in the pro-
fesslon of art, the truest art is that which is
seen and absorbed by soul rendered plastic
by sympathy and watered by sanctifed con-
secration. Poetry is at it's bsst as it touches
the common heart of men and women who
need consolation. Music, as it sings songs
that bring others into service for those who are
SO poor they cannot sing. The discourse was
wholly upon this plane, and left the solution of
the money question to the response of the con-
science rather than to the emotions.
RENDERING TRIBUTES.
Rev. Geo. w. Bicknell gave a lecture at
India Street Church last evening upon
Rendering Tributes" from the words in
Matthew, %: 81. The rendering of tributes,
which by virtue of our existence we must and
ought to do, to the nice things in life, such as
friendships, love, charity, nobility in business
and religion was restly urged, while the
rendering OF tributes to the corrupt aud
vicious in she world, and which men too often
love TO do, yet ever accompanied viii SORROW
ful consequences, received condemn alton and
warning.
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Owing to the pressure on our columns this
morning, we. are compelled to postpone the
publication of our abstract of Rev. Mr.. Dalton's
lecture until tomorrow.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
At the New Jerusalem church yesterday
morning instead of sermon Rev. Mr.. Smythe
introduced the subject of the payment of the
church debt. He said he had no intention to
beg bis parish to pay off the iacumbrance but
should leave the matter in their hands. Mr..
J.P. Baxter then said the deb amounted to
$40 800. rhs parish responded to the sun of
S., 400
The Rev. Mr.. Smythe will be ordained the
first Sunday iu January, by R5v. Dr.. Dyke of
Bath. Rev. W B. Hayden will praaca to
or tination sermon.
NOTES.
Dr.. Hall repeated his Thanksgiving sermon
on Beauty" yesterday at the FIRST Parish, and
the choir rendered the cl ,siog chorus from the
Mt. of Olives with fl le eff ct.
Rev. Mr.. DckeBson of Andover, Mass,
delivered an able sermon at the Second Parish
yesterday.
Rev. g. S. Perkins at the Free Baptist
church yesterday moraing gave an interesting
and instructive discourse relating to the birth
Of Corist, appropriate to the approaching
Christmas.
The temperance meeting at Congress- Hall
last evening was filled to oveif1)w. Interesting
and enthusiastic addresses wer made By Rev.
Hugo Barnard of Montana TERRITORY, Hon.
Benjamin Kingsblry and Mr.. G. A. Merry.
Several persons signed the pledge.