The Portland daily press., 1881-02-07
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
DEDICATION OF wrnrrsroN CHURCH.

AuO ioiAidi uOulCdliOu Vi buolE Soo1
place last evening. There was very large at
tendance.
The sermon was preached by Rev. f. Il
Clark, the pastor of the church, who took hi.
text from I. Cor. III. 10: "Other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which i:
Jesus Christi
In commencing the preacher gave briei
historical sketch of the church, from which il
appears that the seed from which it sprung was
planted when, in the year 1861, few children
were gathered for religious instruction in the
Walnut street school-house In 1866, the school
removed to the Williston chapel on Danforth
street, but it was not until the 9th of February,
1873, that the church was formed, just eight
years ago. The church consisted originally OF
twenty-three members, of whom seventeen
came from State Street church.
Rev. B. f. Leavitt was the first pastor, and
he did faithful pioneer work. During his pas
torate of about four years fifty-one were added
to the church. In 1876 the present pastorate
began. In October, 1877, the corner stone of
the new church was laid; in September, 1878.
it was occupied for the first time. In Novem-
Der OF the same year the debt OF S1O,0U0 was
pledged, the whole cost of the church having
been about $25, 900. Within the last four years
one hundred and eighty nine have been added
to the membership of the church, some at every
Communion season. The church now num-
bers two hundred and thirty members, with
prospects of large additions in the near future,
since, during the past month more than fifty
have professed to have found Christ.
The preacher then compared the work which
the church had to accomplish with the object
OF Chrlst's mission upon earth Christ came
to make men nobler. This he did, first by
teaching the inherent worth and dignity of
every soul; second by laying down broad foun-
datlon principles upon which all moral reforms
that promote the welfare of mankind rest.
This church is dedicated to this purpose of
making men nobler in Christ's way.
Third, our Lord came to earth to make men
happier as well as nobler. This He accom-
plishes chiefly by giving them future to live
for. The best philosophers of old could inspire
their followers with no hope of future blessed
ness. Christ alone brought life and immortal
ity to light. This church is dedicated to the
purpose of making men happier in Christs
way by revealing to them, urging upon them
the claims OF the future life. Fourth, our Lord
This church is dedicated, above all, to the pro-
clamation OF these good tidings.
FOR all 9Se purposes, to make men nObler
and happier, and to save them eternally, we
desire to lay no other foundation than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ While this church
IN mind, but no longer, she has right to live,
she has right to grow, she has a right to claim
the sympathy and fellowship of other churches
and to expect the blessing of Almighty God
The exercises consisted of an anthem by the
choir, invocation by the Rev. Mr.. Woodworth
OF Boston, reading of the scriptures, hymn,
sermon, delivery of the deeds of the church to
the treasurer. c. HI. Payson, by j. H. True,
chairman of building committee; dedication
prayer by Rev. e. Y. Hincks; hymn; ad-
dresses by Rev. W. III. Fem, Rev. DIR. War
ren, and Rev. Mr.. Dickinson: Vesper anthem
by the choir; benediction.
The church is in very prosperous condition
spiritually and financially. The vestry has
had to be opened to sittings. There are still
good sittings at low rates. The voluntary con-
tributions have largely increased, in the boxes
placed at the door, The weekly collection of
pew rents has proved great benefit. The
Sabbath school has 800 names with nearly that
average attendance.
THE THEATRE AND THE CHURCH.
Last evening Rev. c. A. Hayden delivered
an admirable address to his congregation at
india Street church, on the above topic; the
relation of amusements to the church.
Mr.. Hayden said that any subject concerning
the moral welfare of mankind, it was proper
for the pulpit to discuss. Probably no question
OF like Importance had received such superf-
cial treatment as public amusements The
theatre and opera were never held in as high
favor as now, or SO generally encouraged by
cultivated aud religious people. Is this an evi
dence of Generalization? The speaker con-
tended it was not. Life is pleasure as well
as duty. The change iii sentiment in regard
to the theatre is because the drama has been
conspicuously elevated in character of late
years. The legitimate function of the stage is
to teach truth, illustrate the noble passions and
expose moral meanneSSes. JefferSouS Rip Van
Winkle has tatght better lesson than many
sermons. The preacher alluded to Booth, Nc
Culloch, Davenport, Murdock Wallack. Cush-
man, Ristori Parepa, Addie Phillips, Cary
and others, whose social standing was strik-
Ing rebuke to those who claimed the total de-
pravity of the theatre. The speaker claimed
that all amusements were beneficial, under
proper restraints, such as dancing billiards and
cards. All were liable to abuse but were not
on that account to be condemned. If children
are deprived of these pleasures at home they
are apt to seek them abroad under the worst
companionship. 1t is the duty of the church
to raise no false standard of morality for it be-
gets two evils,-it makes religion irrational,
and it stultifes the conscience of the young
who crave amuSementS and will have them.
Let the church sanction pure amusements and
she can then work against depravity.
MORNING AND EVENING.
Park Street church, after having been closed
for about year, was reopened for public wor-
ship yesterday, Rev. Mr.. Alger, the distin-
guished preacher of the Parker Fraternity,
Boston, officisting There was large attend.
ance. There is every evidence of good strong
society with an able pastor
The preacher delivered very able and poet.
ical sermon in the morning from Genesis l. 5:
"And the evening and the morning were the
first day." The preachers thought describe
the appearance of a thing often as evil while
the reality was good. For instance, the man
gazing upon the approach of the first night
would be overcome by dread, but as he became
accustomed to it he would experience the fact
that the night was a good thing, its dark man.
tie wrapping his tired brain and body in repose
So when he viewed the sun that ushered in the
first day. the first storm, the stars, all of these
might ill him with apprehension until custom
habituated him to them and they were all
proved benefits. In most beautiful perora-
ton at the close he showed that death was
feared in like manner because no one ever re-
turned to the world to narrate his experience
but it was most probable that, like the first
morn, it would be discovered blessing.
GOSPEL MISSION.
The mission held $50 meetings during the
year; 474 persons were at the altar for prayers;
SO converts were baptised by immersion; TIA
visits made by the pastor. The pastor, Mr.
Pearson, officiated at 27 funerals outside of the
Mission; solemnized 10 marriages and relieved
families by distributing food, clothing, medi-
cine and fuel The church is out of debt with
$37.3 in the hands of the treasurer. The
church during the first year has doubled its
membership.
The Atna Life Statement.
We extract, from the comments of the Hart
ford papers upon the Etna Life Insurance