The Portland daily press., 1882-06-26
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
FIRST UNIvERsALIsT.

Yesterday was Children's Sunday at Con-
gress Square (UniversalisD Church, and there
was very large congregation, owing to the
presence of Rev. Mr.. Gibbs, the former pastor.
The gay is one which is always looked forward
to with great pleasure by the Sunday school,
and the services this year will be especially re-
membered by the children on account OF Mr..
Gibbs presence. -Four infants and six young
children were presented for baptism. Mr.
Gibbs's charge to the parents W as very inn
pressiye. He said that the rite of infant bap-
tism was meaningless ceremony unless they
fully realized that they were, by the act, con-
secrating, as far as possible, the lives OF
their little ones to the Masters service.
As Jesus said, Suffer the little children to
come unto me and forbid them not, by this
ceremony they were brought to receive His
blessing, and the parents would realize more
fully that each child was gift from God, that
the little children should lead them to the
Father, and from Him through them would
come more of the divine spirit, which would
strengthen their endeavor to direct the young
lives Alright.
The sermon was for the children, and the
text was taken from I. Timothy, a part of the
18th verse: Neglect not the gift that is In
tQe6. Iu0 HuNduCbu W6Tbs buhb ehO
cultivation of right-thjnking and pure affec-
lions lead to the best cultivation of the soul or
spirit, which was the gift not to be neglected.
The contrast between a merely physical exist
ence and intellectual and spiritual lives was
dWelt upon, and Darwin, Longtellow and EN-
erson eloquently referred to as examples of
what men could accomplish. In conclusion
the children were urged to make their lives SO
true and pure in the sight OF God that it could
be said of them when their lives here were
ended, that no one of them had left an evil i'm
press upon the world.
The church was prettily decorated with ever
green garlands, baskets and vases of flowers,
while in the rear of the chance in green let
tiers were the words, Bring an offering and
come into His courts.
the close of the service Mrs. Halves rendered
very effective solo. In the evening there was
very enjoyable concert by the Sabbath school.
FIRST BAPTIST
The sixty-ffth anniversary OF the Sunday
school connected with the First Baptist Church
was observed yesterday afternoon and evening
with appropriate exercises. In the afternoon
the pastor, Rev. 7. D. Anderson, Jr., preached
a capital sermon to the children, from the text
Daniel i: 8. The general theme of the dis
course was the difficulties and rewards Of self
AOhA0A' ~ bhO ofOuAbSs eAO AOSNiot e'AAAfSA
sary exercises were held, and included singing,
responsive readings, a recitation, prayers, also
interesting addresses by Rev. Mr.. McWhinnie
and the pastor. The singing was excellent,
and large audience was interested in the ex
ercises of the evening. The pulpit recess was
beautifully decorated with flowers. including
many memorial wreaths The statistics of the
school are as follows: Whole number belong
ing, 30; average attendance, It's; about 20
new scholars added during the year. Total re-
ceipts. $338.34; total expenditures, $225. ST; of
this $31.39 has been for missionary objects,
and the 500 gift of last year was devoted TO
the library. Balance ON hand, $52.67, and the
society is out of debt. The Sunday School
Cent Society has been formed to aid the church
by weekly penny pledges, and SS282.65 has been
already pledged. The library contains SAG
books; SO new books having been added during
the year. Seven members have died.
CONGRESS STREET NJ. E. CHURCH.
AT the service commemorative of the men,
bers of the congreg alton and Sabbath school,
the pastor chose as his text James ", IA, from
which he preached an able and eloquent ser
mon. Many floral tributes were!displayed in the
front mart of tl,4s-o,zSsEcTf, among WHICH were
noticeble, heart of white roses and daises
fanked by two beautiful bouquets of cut flow
ers to Miss Wealthia johnson; an anchor OF
cut flowers, fanked by two immense bouquets,
to Captain Charles McDuffee; a large photo
graph covered with handsome flowers to Ina
c. Shaw; plate of beautifully arranged cut
flowers to j. B. Kimbsll; a handsome floral
cross to Charles e. McDuffee; beautiful
wreath of yellow roses and white pinks to Mrs.
Susan M. Thurstcn "a handsome basket of flow
ers trimmed with geranium leaves to Freddie
McDuffee; floral wreath of white roses and
pinks interspersed with small red and white
rose buds and smilax, surrounding a photo
graph of the departed, to Hattie Foy; and
beautiful bouquets to Hattie Goody, Mary
Loyle, Captain John Hutchinson, Captain Sam
uel Davis, Captain George w. Davis, White
field S. WheeIock, Mr.. and Mrs. A. Chase,
John Warner and Mrs. e. G. Fuller.
NOTES.
Children's Day was observed at the Wood
ford's NJ E. Church yesterday afternoon and
evening. Rev. e. S. Stackpole, the pastor,
preached to the children in the afternoon, and
in the evening there was singing and recita-
tons by the children. The church was beauti-
fully decorated.