The Portland daily press., 1883-09-24
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
SECOND PARISH cu1rnnu

Rev. DR.. e. Payson Thwing of BROOKLYN, N.
T., preached at the Payson Memorial church
yesterday sermon appropriate to the 25th an
niversary of his ordination in this city Sept
22, 1858. His theme was Spiritual ArohitAc-
ture, its laws and lessons" Kings 6.7. We
are, he said, all builders. We are bnilding all
the time. AS in the physical, go in the mo,al
universe, the builders rest not, day or night The
rivers seek the sea, The skies WOO The waters
back to their bosom but only 60 d-op them
once more upon the earth, watering the hills
from their chambers TO set free again the
streams i'll their journey to the deep. The
coral reefs are built by unresting toilers. The
vital forces of the body are ceaseless in their
play, albeit automatic, while the work OF the
spiritual architect is voluntary and never
loses its moral quality Much of the work. too.
is silent one. DR.. Thwing dwelt on this and
showed that our unhistoric years, our sequester-
ed activities form vital factor Of the success
which after days reveal. Great thinkers, from
Moses down, have loved solitude The Jesuits
put their noyitiates under the discipline of
solitude. Its relation to scholarship end to
profound piety is apparent. Again, the Syrian
hills whence the materials of the temple were
brought picture the formative and probation
ary features of this life. Reference was made
to the fashioning of the masonry OF the New
York post office which the preacher Witnessed
at Dix Island. The Lord kneweth them th at
are his. There is no confusion or change or
loss. Another principle is the mutual union
of social interests involved. We build into
each other, uplifting in the case of a noble
character, or giving a downward pull, when
the foundations are inadequate or the materials
are poor or the plans and specifications of the
Master Architect are overlooked. The solem-
nifty of work SO unique, so vast and so sublime
IN its beneficent and eternal issues was un-
folded.
Prof. Thwing then briefly referred TO the
circumstances of his coming to Portland to
assume the pastorate of the st, Lawrence
street church, colony of the Second church;
the welcome received from Pastors Carruthers,
dwight, ChickeTing, Bradley, Merrill and
others; the great revival of1658; local events
IKE tne visit OF the Prince of Wales. the ex-
pected visit OF the Great Eastern, the bursting
forth OF the Rebellion and the departure of
the Maine troops. He spoke of the sixteen
years given to pastoral labors and nine to au-
thorship and workin theological or college
classes among churches in yarious nlaces In
this and. in foreign lands. He had spept five
summers IN Europe and enjoyed preaching to
believers of different denominations and
nstionalities from Troudhjem, Norway on the
north, to Barcelona in Spain on the south. 1t
~ 90 ooen s,o"us JOY TO preacn the gospel OF
Christ, though painfully conscious of psrsonal
defects and limitations. The discourse closed
with warm gratulations at the prospeets before
the Second Parish and the earnest wish that
their spiritual advancement might equal and
surpass their temporal prosperity.
wILLIsToN CHURCH.
congregation filling every available space
in the audience room and vestry assembled to
greet Rev. F. e. Clark yesterday on the occasion
OF his preaching his last sermon previous to
taking his leave of this city.
he did not in any sense preach farewell
sermon, but one in his usual vein helpful and
hopeful. His text was from Col. i, IS; lsAnd
He is the head of the body the Church.
The pastor spoke of the many names by
which the church is called in the Bible. By
these names God shows His love for the church
and His ownership in it, AS mans word is
involved in his business, SO Gods Word Is in
volved in preserving and caring for the church.
Because He has voluntarily assumed the Head
ship of the church, therefore all Christ's
power is involved lis maintaining its SUI
premacy.
he said he had no wish to lool, back and tell
OF figures of the past, but he could tell them
who had pledged them his love: This Is not
my church, nor your church, but one branch
OF Christs church, ard to you is the assurance.
"Lo, am with you Away"
Six children were baptized previous to the
sermon.
From other sources we gather the following
facts In relation to this church which Mr.
CLARK leaves after pastorate of seven years:
Mr. CLARK was installed October 49, 1876 over
what was then small church of 81 members.
worshipping IN chapel on Danforth street;
SINCE tnat time there has been steady and
continuous growth, some being received at
every communion until now the number of
churcn members is nearly or quite $50. These
meet for worship in handsome and convenient
church, free from debt and in good financial
standing. There is Sabbath school of nearly
400 members and Society of Christian En-
deavor" OF 100 or more. From these facts it
would seem that Mr.. Clark does not leave
because discouraged for want of results.
Ihat ne is appreciated is a fact that is patent
to everyone.
He has received several testimonials Of affec-
tlon from his people since his resignation,
among which We have only space to mention
beautiful painting by our artist a. B. Brown,
Esq, given him by the society of Christian En-
deavor, and fine and costly gold headed cane
from two of his church members.
we cannot gain any better idea of the feel
Ing which goes with him than in the words
written short time since of him by one of the
ladies of his church:
There was time when we were few, and small
Our place among the churches. But there came
One sent to be our pastor in the name
OF Him who knows his flock; and seeing all
Their need, and all the work. knows whom to call.
We know his life, his labors, and the same
Unfaltering purpose which has been his aim,
Since first we heard the Mas ter message fall
From out his servants lips. And more and more
Have come to us to whom his words have been
fragrance, as of life to truer life
Seeking to reach the young an open door
Was set before him, and he entered in-
God grant that he unnumbered souls may win!
At meeting recently held series of resolu-
tions were passed accepting Mr.. Clark's resigna-
ton and expressing the grief felt by the society
at the separation of pastor and people, and ap-
pointing Messrs r. P. Warren. j. 81. Trne and
j. +. Jeffsrds committee to call council and
to represent the church before It, The council
has been called to meet at the chapel on
Wednesday, 18th inst, at o'clock p. m.
PEOPLES GOSPEL MEETINGS.
Mrs Anna e. Smith, from New York city,
preached yesterday in Carlton Hall, at the
corner of Cumberland and Lafayette streets,
and will do SO every evening through the
following week except Friday. Every body is
invited to come and bring gospel hymns with
them.
NOTES.
There are eight ministers in Maine who have
been ordained fifty-one years or more, and the
venerable DR.. Carruthers of this city has been
in the ministry for the remarkable period of
three-score and four years. One of the eight,
Rev j. t. Hawes of Litchfield, still supplies
for the church lin that place. or the remain
ing 1S1 ministers in the State, twenty-five
have been ordained "A years, twenty-six 80
years, thirty % years, thirty-two 10 years, and
seventy-one years.