The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-05
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
PINE ST. CHURCH.

PINE ST. CHURCH.
Rev. Prof. Williams, pastor of this church
made his first appearance in the sacred desk
yesterday morning. In the afternoon he
preached from Hebrews Willy. "For he testi-
fieth thou art priest forever after the order
of Melchisedec." The following is brief abb
stract of this very able effort:
Although there was some dispute among
learned men as to the authorship OF this epistle
it was assumed TO have been written by Paul
to show the Jews that they ought to renounce
their allegiance to the priesthood latter the
order of Levi" and transfer it to priest
"after the order of Melehisedec." OF course this
was difficult thing to do with all the memoir
les, traditions and express commands that
bound the Jews to the old economy. Could
Paul hope to do it? The speaker said that the
natural inquiry would be as to who was Mel
chisedec and what the claims of his "order?''
This was the first question to be settled If the
Jew was to be persuaded to change his allegi-
ance
The claims of the 'sorder of Melchisedec were
supported and defended for the three follow
ing reasons:
The status of Melehisedec was fully
equal to that of any Jew, because he
had been skiing of Salem (the ancient name
of Jerusalem) "and priest of the most high
God" These two offices had never been com
bined in one Jew. Hence the status OF Mel
chisedec was fully equal toleven the priest
hood itself since he had been both priest and
king.
2.-The superiority was argued on the
ground that Abraham was blessed by Mslchis-
edec, and "beyond all contradiction the less
is blessed of the better" and also because
Abraham paid tithes to Melchlsedec. But
Abraham represented the entire jewish race,
including the tribe of Levi. If, then, Abraham
by these acts confessed his inferiority to Mel
chisedec, he representatively confessed the IN
feriority of the entire Jewish nation.
3.-The advantages OF having one AFTER the
order of Melchisedec" over and above one
"after the order of Levi" were both universal
and peculiar. Universal, from the fact that
the language predicated of Melchisedec IN the
first part OF this chapter could not be predicted
of mere man, except when construed as the
Jew was likely to construe it,
Mr.. Williams then proceeded to explain that
one must know the modes of thought and utter
ances, as we'll as the history CT any people, be-
fore he could always construe their language
correctly The Jews had for centuries been
scrupulously kept record of their pedigree.
In the popular mind and parlance it came to
be understood that whatever was not recorded
about person did not exist. Now no record
of the parentage, birth and death &C.,
of Melchisedec seems to nave been
out beginning of days or end OF life" This
would be easily construed by a Jew when pre-
dictated of a mere man. But thls'order is to DC
universally understood, and when the language
is transferred to Christ it becomes both unlyer-
sally true and universally understood. Hence,
the universally OF Christianity as compared to
the exclusiveness of Judaism, Again the
special advantages accruing to the Chrlstian
beyond these annoyed by Jews were that (a) the
Christian is never without priest. His is a
priest forever" (b) Christ has made an atone
ment s'once for ALL (c) All the efficacy of the
atonement is applied to us. He must not first
make atonement for "his own SINS" (d He
can sympathize with us, having been tempted
in all points," (e) He is always and directly
accessible. (D We sh all be made "kings and
priests unto Cod Mr.. Williams closed with
the hortatiye warning that ii we reJecs TINS
priesthood we will be "despised and downtrod-
den" as is the Jew, except that ours will be
eternal, while theirs was temporal.
The new quartette choir consists OF Miss r.
Pond of Boston, soprano; Miss Wesco tt, alto;
Mr.. j. P. Wescott, tenor; Mr.. 1. M. Fisher,
bass
CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH.
Yesterday was one of great interest at this
church. The pastor received to full member
ship twenty-five Of the probationers, mostly
heads of families, and four by letter from other
churches A quiet, steady interest continues
to pervade the society, and new candidates for
membership are continually being adced to
the list of probationers The pastor preached
in the afternoon to full house on the twofold
character of salvation, from l Tim. 4:l6. In
doing this thou shalt both save thyself and
them that hear thee" The aim OF the dis
course being to show that in saving ourselves
we should also save others; Christian life
could not be barren.
FREE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
The attendants at this church were favored
by the presence of Rev. W. George mission
airy in the employ of the A. B. Missionary Un-
ion who has Just returned from his field of la
Dor in Burmah, where he has been engaged for
some ten years or more preaching the gospel to
that people. The account this preacher gave
of the work to which he has elevated himself,
the difficulties surrounding it, the methods
used in spreading the word of light and life
over this field, the obstacles to be met and over
come, were especially interesting, and the very
practical and at some points the facetious style
of the preacher in illustrating his sSubJect rem
dered the service highly enjoyable, and instruc-
tive to those whose good fortune 1t was to be
present. Mr.. George with his wife is on his
wav to his former home in Amherst, N. S. for
short visit, after which it is his purpose to re-
turn to Burmah to resume his missionary
labors.
TRINITY SUNDAY.
Yesterday was the day especially set apart by
the Church to commemorate the mystery of
the Blessed Trinity, signifying one only God in
three divine persons, the Father, the Son and
the Holy Ghost equal in all things and CO.
eternal. The services at the Catholic churches
in this city were carried out in full accordance
with the ritual, and were most solemn and i'm
posing. At the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception mass corans Episcopo was oele-
brated by Rev. T. P. Linehan, assisted by Rev.
John ODowd as deacon and Rev. 7. T. Della
nv as sub-deacon. Rt. Rev. Bishop Healy
preached a profound and mastery sermon
from the Gospel according to st. Matthew.
xxxviii 1870. His sermon throughout was
very affecting, particularly his exordium,
which was one of the grandest efforts OF his
life. At the early masses the number OF COM
municants was very large.
The services at st. Dominic's were very I'M
pressive and largely attended. Rev. Q. w.
Doherty and Rev I'll. J. McGill conducted the
services.
A fine sermon was preached at State street
church yesterday by Rev. DR.. Webb OF Bos-
ton.
y Rev. T. B. Thayer of Boston gave polished
and able discourse at the First UDiyersalist
church yesterday morning.