The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-19

The Conference reassembled at o'clock
After devotional exercises there were addresses
on the following topics:-"What not to read.
by Rev. f. E. Clark. The speaker dwelt upon
the evils of pernicious reading, and made the
following points: Tread nothing at least
that has in 1t a faint of indecency. Read
nothing that is purely sensational. 3-Read
nothing that serves simply to pass away the
time. and for these reasons:-It is a waste of
time: it introduces into the very worst COM
pany The stain is ineradicable. Tire evils
of vile literature can be avoided il young peo-
ple can be made to resolve never to read such
books. Parents also have great responsibility
in this matter Then further, there is need of
strong public sentiment to enforce the laws.
We can all do something towards resoluteiy OPP
posing this great evil and helping to rescue our
young.
At 745 Rev. @. A. Dickinson spoke on
"What TO read" Books are like food We
are inclined TO dwell too much on the cheap
ness of our literature. We have two classes of
books. Books of the hour, that have only a
brief existence, and books Of the times, the
books that will last, the books OF the great
men of the age. We should lay especial stress
on The books which furnish US with solid facts
The science primers now published are
worthy of especial attention. There is need
also of learning how to reason. Three books
will help in this direction, viz, Buffers Anal
ogy, Evidences of Christianity, and Paley 8
Natural Theology. We must also develope
our powers of imagination. This refers to all
books which como under the head OF fiction.
Many of us have what may be called fantastic
minds, which results from too mncn hosoi
reading. Still there are worthy novels, VIZ J,
Scouts and some of George Eliot's Then,
too, what are we reading in poetry NIX,
what are we doing to increase our heart poWef!
Read the biographies of great men, Tor eXau-
ple that of Martin Luther. Finally, read your
| Bibles and read them intelligently.
AT S.25 Rev. s. w. Adrlance. spoke on
"How TO read.' Reading is in some respects
| like eating. There are three different meln-
DDS. LEARN how TO read by reading. we
| learn by experience. Self-educated men nave
made their reading turn 10 best account =
| Read with attention. This sometimes IS oil.
ticuit matter. Macaulay had the power u
| carrying himself back to the times and people
| of which he wIote We must cultivate the
power of attention. We must not sleep over
our books. Try to understand just what your
| author is writing about g. Read definitely
| This is Of vast importance for there is now 30
much desultory reading. Be occupied WIN
some definite topic. Novel readers are not 90
ing this stlll, novels may sometimes be profit
| ably read. Read with note books. This IS
a debated point, but the method may. be OF
| great value. Envelopes are convenient for ar
| ranging topics and selections for remembrance
| 5-Read courteously. Some people read TO
criticise. Tread iudiclslly. That is, make
up your own mind as to what you read.
At85 there was praise meeting conduct
ed by Rev. e. A. Harlow. The Conference
closed its evening session with benediction.