Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-28
Religious Matters.
A Praise servfce-A Baptismal and Oth-
 CT Services.

A Praise servfce-A Baptisma1 and Oth-
 CT Services.
 A praise service was held at the Third Congregational church last evening, when the excellent quartette choir of the church, consisting of Mrs. Dr. Mullins of Westfeld, Mass, soprano, Mrs. Blinn, contralto, MT. Bush, tenor, and Mir. Bryan, bass, gave fine programme, consisting of solos, duets, trio and quartette selections. All were glad to hear again the fine voice of Mrs. Mullins, who seriously injured her wrist at the con- cert given by the Third church at the New Haven Opera House 8 number of weeks ago, and who was able to resume her position again for the first time last evening, having been quite indisposed at her home in West field. Mrs. BIinn sang very finely, her splendid voice being heard with great pleas ure, and all much enjoyed the praise service throughout Rev. pr. Dennsn preached an able discourse Rev. MT. Williams assisted in the devotional exercises The church was thronged.
 Rev. Dr. Todd preached very interesting discourse yesterday morning from Luke 10th, 25th and 26th, in which he reviewed some of Uu6 CuduReS buhb uhtC buhCA eA@No Al OA~N world in contrast, speaking of the stability of the kingdom of Christ.
 At the Wooster Place Baptist church last evening Rev. Dr. Stifer preached an able discourse, passing the subject matter of his sermon on the ''Prodigal Son." The text was from Luke 18th chapter 17th, 18th and 18th verses. In his opening remarks the preacher referred to the fact that after the prodigal had expended the substance in riot .ous living received from his father, he re- pented and resolved to return to his father and ask to be received as one of his hired servants. A very astute man has said of Paul that much learning made him mad. This young man must have been mad when he left his fathers house where his every want was gratifed, and go forth as he did. He was rational when he said I will arise and go to my father. In the same way are men mad who sin against God, and not until they return to Rim are they rational. When the young man returned he had nothing to offer his father, and proposed to be one of his hired servants. The thought never dawned upon him that his father was longing to receive him. The young man had not lost the father, but the father had lost the son, and he was anxiously waiting his re- turn. So if God cannot have the sinner He will take care of the sins himself This young man was in condition of poverty and also in & condition of penitence, but had he not been reduced to want he would probably never have seen him again. He had to como home. So the longer we put of God our hearts become correspondingly hardened. I tell you it is fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. His hand is heavy It was blessed thing that matters pressed so hard upon the prodigal that he was brought to return to his father So God often lays His hand heavily upon His chil- dren to bring them back to His fold. The man must be penitent and have broken and contrite heart before He can come to God What brought the prodigal back? He got new desire, 8 new passion he was home sick. That is what men get when they come to Christ. The prodigals desire to go home drove out every other desire, and that is the way men are saved. The prodigal was not saint when he went back to his fathers house, but his desire to stay with his father increased his desire to be good. In closing his very able discourse, the preacher said What have you got against God? You be- long to Him, why not come to Him now and let there be joy in heaven over your return
 Whn the sermon was concluded the pool was prepared and the ordinance of baptism was administered to three young men. The proceedings were of most interesting char acter.
 The Rev. Mir. Kelsey, of the College street Congregational church, preached fine dis course yesterday afternoon from the words ''How hardly shall they that have riches' etc. The sermon was heard with much interest and close attention.
 Center church pulpit yesterday was occu- pied by Rec. Geo. B. Stevens, of Buffalo, N r., who preached two excellent sermons.