The Portland daily press., 1879-06-16
FAIRFIELD QUARTERLY MEETING.

FAIRFIELD QUARTERLY MEETING.
Sarah M. Richardson, Phoebe P. Jones' An
ma j. Bailey, Lavina M. Briggs Cynthia H.
Farr, Mary G. Winslow, Silva A. Farr.
The epistles from the yearly meetings were
read and committee appointed to prepare
answers.
In the>afternoon the clerks appointed in the
morning were confirmed for the meeting. The
remaining business was substantially the same
as that done in the mems meeting.
The school committee report was received
and committee appointed to nominate a
school committee for the ensuing year.
| TEMPERANCE MEETING
The temperance meeting at City Hall in the
evening was presided over by James Boyce of
Lynn, Mass, chairman of the committee on
temperance, under whose auspices the meeting
was held. Addresses were made by the chair
man, Judge Kingsbury, Eli Jones, John
Lemley, Stanley Pumphrey and Susan A
Clifford. The speakers all expressed satisfac-
tion with the results of the Maine law and
made comparisons with other cities highly
complimentary to Portland.
Stanley Humphrey gave some interesting
and valuable facts which had come under his
observation, notably that there is an increase
OF interest in temperance work in England:
that practical prohibition has already been
secured in many parishes and some large
towns through the wise policy of land owners,
as at Saltaire, that prominent church; men
| like Canon Farrar and Wilberforce, a grand
son of the great philanthropist, are taking up
the matter, and that the medical profession
are discontinuing the use of alcoholic medicine.
Eli Jones' remarks were in his usual quaint
manner, reference to the entry in Parson
Smiths diary about the day of fasting because
of the many Quakers in town creating a
general laugh.
| Several of the speakers notably Mrs. Clifford
and Mr.. Nye, took stronS grounds in favor of
church temperance work and work with the
Children
Sunday Services.
The friends yesterday held services in City
Hall and at several OF the churches. The
morning prayer meeting in City Hall was led
by David Douglas of Manchester. There was a
large number of short and interesting testi-
monies by Friend speakers.
CITY HALL.
Hall where Stanley Pun phrey, the English
evangelist, delivered thoughtful and
eloquent sermon on the commission of Christ
to his disciples to go out in to the world and
preach the gospel to all men. Mr.. Pumphrey
is an exceedingly rapid and terse speaker, con-
densing his thought in the shortest possible
expression and speaking with a rapidity that
defes the reporter. In his intr oductory
remarks he showed the omnipotence of Christ
and the doctrine of the Trinity quoting
numerous passages in confirmation of his posi-
ton. He alluded to the sacrament of baptism
drawing evidence from the apostles in proof of
the soundness of the Friends'b belief in a baptism
of the Spirit rather than of water. When
Paul first preached to the gentiles, we are
told that the Holy Spirit fell on the gathered
congregation-nor was this an exceptional
instance-such CAGES are found throughout
the writings of the apostles. We are not to
suppose that the wonderful results of the
ministers in the early church were merely
human. God employees human instrumental
ties to do his work. We who have done Gods
work have no power in ourselves-all that we
accomplish is through God. Christ's COM
mission directed his servants to make disciples
VI VIC udtlOHS. I1OW Lar are we ODey1nS UnlS
commission? We may not excuse ourselves by
saying that the commission was given to the
early Christians and was not intended for us.
The commission is binding ON us all. How
were these commands understood and were
they Obeyed? Yes, in only a few weeks after
the resurrection the disciples filled Jerusalem
with converts; for were they content to preach
III the temples and public Places but sought
and gained admission to every house, that they
might preach Christ's gospel
Nbac +I,o,,c
prayer, and referred to the manner in which
its efficacy was recognized by the early church.
Special attention was called to the peculiar
advantages for Christian work which the
Society OF Friends offer to its members. They
are not as in other churches required to give
themselves entirely to the ministry but any
may make themselves useful in the work. I'm
WorthlneSs must not be a reason for holding
back but give ourselves to Gods service and
let him do with us as he will. The Lord will
put each one in his proper place. God often
gives victory where men seem to think it is
defeat.
There are many whose names are little known
who have done great work. 1t is our duty and
privilege to take hold of the promise 81 am
with you Always promise as broad as the
world and as long as time. Especially are the
acts OF the Apostles given to be guide to our
work as showing what was done in the early
church. Many examples were cited to
show the manner in which the early Chris
tians went to work to evangelize the world. In
this audience are representatives from proba-
bly, fifty different churches. Every one of
these should be earnestly engaged in this
work. Each one should be gospel center.
AT the close of this sermon there was prayer
by Deborah Thomas of Baltimore, and an ex-
hortation by Thomas Kimber
In the afternoon VIM. P. Angel preached
on Christian Joy and the duty of the Christian
In his home. Some seem to think it necessary
to find an excuse for being Christians. If we
would be known as Christians we must de-
velope in our homes the true Christian spirit.
l have been in professedly Christian homes
where the bible was brought out but once a
week. The Christian must be bold and ag-
gressive. We must let people know we have
an altar established to our Lord and not to an
unknown God. In one case where family
altar was maintained 27iwere converted under
their roof The reason there is no more salts
faction from religion in your hearts is because
you have not the right spirit in your hearts. If
we would carry out what is unfolded to us in
Isaiah xii it would not be long before the
world would be converted. The great MAORI
ty OF protesting Christians do not show that en-
joyment they should. Satan fears the joy of
the Christian more than the strongest arguments
of the theologian. Christians talk more of
their sorrows than they do of their joys, of
their discouragements than of their blessings.
A sinner can tell whether Christian is happy
as well as anyone, and no argument can take
the place of joyful experience. Yet the best
thing promised within the lids of Gods book,
which is an experience that will satisfy the |
longing soul. When you get that experience
it won't be hard to set up family altar.
Mr.. Engell was followed by Allen Jay of
the Providence Boarding School, where he
has been engaged in revival work among the
students He took for his text, "All the
land that thou shalt put thy feet upon will |
give thee" We are not ready to take what |
the Lord gives us. The Israelites were in
clined to listen to the ten doubters rather than