The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-12-27
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.


Ills text was Psalms Xxi, ~: In MS days
shall the righteous flourish and abundance of
peace SO long as the moon endureth. The
inability of David to forecast the distant fu-
ture of Israel, when a nation that was no ma
ton at the time of his writing, should be the
destroyer of its nationality, furnished no good
reason why we of today should not find in this
sublimest of Hebrew melodies an application
to that ever enduring reign which shall Gull
inmate, at last, in an age of universal right
eousness and peace. The reign of Solomon,
peaceful and prosperous, was but faint
scarce distinguishable type of the golden age
to come, when "the mountains which pre-
figure the chief rulers of the world, "and the
little hills L. e. the lesser repositories of
political power, "shall bring peace to the peo-
pie by Righteousness" Great shall be the tri-
umphs of peace when "love your enemies, do
good to them that hate you." shall be the uni
versal law of Christendom, and the bloody
hand of war shall no more write "thou shalt
hate thine enemy" over against that diviner
law of the Prince of Peace. War was shown
to be of the antichrist. Peace to be of the
Christ. The lovers of peace, the friends of
humanity, were encouraged to renew their eff
forts for the abolition of war in every shape
and form. Jesus was in advance of his own
age, and also of ours when he denounced all
out any qualifying if, or but, "All they who
take the sword shall perish with the sword"
Truths not generally received, especially if
they clashed with our interests or our early
educational prejudices, were always in adj
vance of the age of their first proclaimers.
Id r. -.
political and economical, would be the cher
ished creeds of tomorrow. The spirit of war
was as anti Christian as that of slavery. Eng
land and America had given its death blow to
the latter, and the day was not far distant
when these great kindred nations would give
the law Of peace to the world. Universal
freedom and universal peace were the fruits of
Righteousness; the watchwords of our common
Christianity; The pre-ordalned results OF the
mission OF Jesus; the everlasting pillars of the
heavenly Jerusalem. The great heart of hui
manity was preparing for the reception of
these inestimable blessings War has no
rights. Its so-called rights were, one and all,
internal wrongs. The preacher believed in
the omnipotenee of public opinion and was
satisfied that in its formation his hearers and
himself had something to do. The eloquence
OF the pulpit was indeed perverted when it
bounded men on to deeds of blood to the
slaughter of their fellow creatures. The sol
der dying upon the battle field was infinitely
less criminal than the pulpit orator who had
taught him that war could ever be in harmony
with the angel song of 'Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good w III towards
man" View it in what light we will, war is
the concentrated essence of iniquity and in
humanity. 1t demoralizes society. 1t dehu-
victims the image of God. 1t is at once anti
Christian and ihhuman. "Where," asked the
preacher, "where is the nation that dare en-
blazon upon its battle flags the words of Jesus
that they might be heard above the shouting
of the captains, All ye are brethren;' Love
pets of war would kindle rage no more, nor
the deadly nightshade of tyranny flourish as
it always does, on the fields of carnage.
sHer silver wings the dove of peace
Would spread Ger every human soul, & 81
And wrath. and strife and war would cease,
And Justice ride from pole to pole.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mr.. Lathe preached Christmas sermon
from the text John III, 17-"For God sent not
His son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be
saved" The sermon was presentation of
the worlds need of Christi There was no
allusion to the fact that this was the last oc
casion upon. which Mr.. Lathe would address
this church as its pastor, except in the closing
sentences, which we report verbatim. have
thought that perhaps God has one special de-
sign in removing me from my pastorate here;
that He may have loving plan for those of my
people who do not know the love of Jesus
Christ. have tried to point to you this
Saviour. I have longed to persuade you to
give yourself to Him. With many have not
But rejoice to hope that after 1
hoov
which have been unable to speak, which shall
80 present your Saviour to your heart and con-
'cience that you will joyfully become His dsci-
pies. God grant this glorious privilege, whic
has been denied me, to another who shall,
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, lead you
TO the cross of Christ. There are many things
hat would like to say but I cannot trust my
self to say them now. When we think of how
much we hope to accomplish in Gods work
and then consider how far short of our hopes
our success falls, we can only be humble and
trust that God will multiply the harvest. 1
know nothing of what are called the 'hard-
ships of the ministry. I know much of its
abundant rewards. have had what sincere
y believe to be remarkably kind and consid-
crate people. Some tell of those in their
churches who are hindrances in the work and
constant trial to their pastor. There is not one
Of that family in Plymouth church. 1 shall
never find people more harmonious in its
labor; more thoughtful of its pastor and for
bearing; more heartily willing to assist in
every good work. mean all that I say
nave often thought of it, and from my heart I
thank you for it. Many other things I will
eave unsaid. 1t is beautiful thought that
Christians never say farewell for the last time
prayer is that when God shall call the redeem
I'd to Himself at the great day, each one now
here may receive our Fathers welcome. "Well
done, good and faithful servant
ge wILLIsToN CHURCH.
The services were in especial reference to the
Christmas time. An original hymn, written
BY Miss Eunice D. Sewall, was sung by the
congregation. The pastor, Rev. F. E. Clark,
preached from I'd Cor. 9-15:-"Thanks be unto
God for his unspeakable gift
This is an especial time for gift giving, and
Ill gifts point back to that first of all gifts
which was given to all the world almost 1900
years ago. There are three essential charac-
5eristics to all gifts. 1st-The spirit which
prompts the gift; 2d-the sacrifice required to
make the gift; 3d-the intrinsic value of the
gift. All gifts must be measured by these
three standards. All earthly gifts may be
measured and the self denial necessary may be
understood, but the love which sent our Saw