The Portland daily press., 1878-02-25

| Yesterday afternoon City Hall was filled to
| OVERLOOKING at the services conducted by Mr..
| George G. Needham, the Evangelist The ex-
ercses were as follows: Singing hymns Nos.
| % and 80; prayer by Rev. Mr.. Fem; reading
| 51st Psalm, with comments, by Mr.. Needham
| also prayer. Mr. Cato sang +" Nothing but the
blood Of Jesus" The preacher took his text from
Matthew 96-"The Son of Man hath power on
earth to forgive sins.' Many years ago the
Governor of the Isle of Man was tried for some
criminal offence, found guilty and sentenced to
death, aud previous to his execution he was
| confined in castle under charge of very
wicked man. The King of England, who had
great respect for the condemned man, sent him
pardon, but the keeper neglected to present it
until after the execution, saying for an excuse
that it had arrived too late. How the keeper
must have felt as he saw the condemned man
| going to his death, knowing that in his hands
was the power to save his life. can but feel
the responsibility of my position as 1 stand be-
fore you to-day as an ambassador from Christ
with pardon for every guilty and condemned
sinner. Christ has bought the pardon with his
blood, and the Bible says we are saved In
Isaiah 55:7 we find precious promise to the
sinner: If he but returns to God, how heinous
may be his sins, their pardon will be abundant.
We are all debtors to our God, but Christ has
come to our rescue, and has paid the debt
Mr.. Needham closed with with a powerful
plea to the sinner, which held the close attsn-
ton of his audience. Mr.. Cato sang finely the
hymn "fet there is pardon for you," aud the
meeting closed by benediction from Mr.. Fem.
The evening meeting, at the same place, was
more full attended than the forenoon services.
At least 5000 people were gathered together
The choir sang hymn, followed by prayer
from Mr.. Cato. Mr.. Needham read the 18th
chapter of Acts, after which Mr.. Cato sang
''The Ninety aud Nine
The speaker took his text from John 7:37-
If any man thirst, let him come to me and
drink" You all know there is a wide desert
track between Egypt and Canaan. In olden
times many caravans were lost crossing it on
account of the scarcity of water, and now trav-
ellers are in great danger. One caravan start
ed from Cairo for Palestine, and on the journey
were unable to find the fountains of water. AS
last resort the party stretched itself across the
plain as far as they could, each being 10 hail
ing distance, SO as they journeyed if one found
water he could hail his neighbor, and thus pass
word along the whole line. This proved sue
cessful, and as the finder stopped to drink he
shouted "ComeW To night sent the word to
you sinner. journeying on the desert plains of
sin. | have found the fountain, and send the
word to you, come and drink. Jesus was the
first to give this invtatioa, He was the foun-
tain himself, and he preached this invitation.
All through the Bible you find this word
''Come." You notice Christ stood and preach
ed; this was not the custom at that time, for
the preacher usually sat down after reading thu
scriptures and expouuded them. He also did
80 to give more force to bis words. Tonight [
invite you to come and be saved. do not
promise you that the invitation will be offered |
great while, for l, as well as all the active |
Evaugeists, to-day believe the coming of our
Lord is near at hand. He now offers to save |
you If you will but come to him, and he will |
satisfy you, as no earthly pleasures will do
Mr.. Cato sang very pretty selection, after |
which the meeting closed. An after-meeting
was held at the Second Parish Church, which |
was addressed by Rev. Mr.. Gardiner and 9TH |
ers. Tbs church was full.
The meetings for to-day are as have been
previously announced, to be held at First Bap.
fist Church. Mr.. Needham will preach this |
evening.