The Portland daily press., 1883-12-24

ion.' He believed that this noble organlza-
tion of women had done splendid work. Ihe
amazing vote for prohibition In Ohio-the
changed sentiment in the South-the changed
customs at the Capitol in Washington were
some of its fruits.
In the course Of these illustrations Mr..
Blanchard spoke Of the experience Of Senator
Garland of Arkansas, and of the fact that at
the recent election of Speaker Carlisle, not a
single intoxicated member of Congress had
been seen. The men of America today who
deplore the customs Of the past and see the
perils of the Republic from the use of intoxi-
eating liquors, are grateful to those women for
the work they have undertaken, and for that
part of it which they have already achieved.
The speaker was glad to express his sympathy
with the breadth of the aim of the "National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union" He
honored the spirit Of self-sacritice in which its
grand work was carried on; be commended it
heartily to the good will and reverence Of his
brother men.
The speaker rejoiced in his privilege OF show
ing something OF the influence of Christ upon
the condition of woman. In helping her
Christ has helped man. Bless we the Master
who honored woman, and lifted her to an ex-
allied place, whore, as servant OF God and
helper of man, she receives the homage OF her
brothers.
The music, under the direction of Mr.. @. X.
Hawes, the organist and director, was excel
lent, the main feature being Christmas
anthem by Tours, and Adams Christmas song,
with solo by Mrs. Hawes.
FIRST PARISH.
This church was very prettily decorated with
evergreen. The pillars supporting the gallery.
the. eide lamps and brackets, pulpit-arch and
pulpit being festooned with that material. In
the rear of tbe pulpit was suspended an ever
green cross surmounted by the Greek word.
"iehthus" Rev. DIR. Hill preached from Luke
2-11. "For to you has been born this day a
Savior which is Christ the Lord"
1t is not pretended that the date of the birth
OF Christ is accurately known Various dates
have at various times been assigned as the
proper one. The 25th of December was fin
ally accepted as compromise of the various
dates, doubtless influenced blythe fact, that
throughout Europe, the heathen nations all
had at that season celebrations intended to rec
ognize the fact that, at that time, the sun be-
gins to rise from the lowest point which it
reaches, and to cause an increase of heat and
light throughout the world.
But although the year and day of the birth
of Christ is hid in impenetrable darkness, 70
one can doubt that he actually lived, nor doubt
the immense influence which His life has pro-
duced in all times and on all nations. From
the rough and rude celebrations of the early
nations, which extended over all the early
months of the year, a form of celebration which
their rough nature craved as a stimulant, to
the utter abstinence of the Puritans, the same
spirit and intention prevailed, namely to keep
in mind the reviving power OF the life OF Christ
as symbolized in the growth and increase of
light and heat of the sun. Prominent among
the symbols of the early church was the Greek
word ichthus or fish, whose letters in
the Greek stand for the initials Of the legend,
'tJesus Christ the Son of God, our Savior"
hot hpic ruaa NJ
Jews; that Christ was the son of God was
preached to the Gentiles, and that the time
was fulfilled for the coming of the Savior, was
the essence of the Gospel, or good news, then
given to the world.
The new impulse given to the study of NOR
al questions by the preaching of the gospel has
been one of the mightiest influences ever ex-
erted in the world. So the theological aspect
of the question has been of greatest benefit,
fer though there is and must he wide diver
sity of opinions the study Of the sdbject opens
up nearer and clearer view Of the Godhead.
The Christian philosophy is infinitely higher,
broader, and deeper than any form OF atheistic
philosophy since faith is higher than reason,
aud so the life of Christ in this has deepened
the intellectual as we'll as the moral life Of
men. Let then this season SO highly typical OF
that life be celebrated until all nations be
brought into that glorious liberty of the sons
OF God.
The Christmas music, under the direction of
Mr.. Kotzschmar, was exceedingly fine and
consisted of ''Exultiug Angels in Seraphic
Strains" Trowhridge's "Holy, holy, holy Lord
God Almighty" "a Voice from the DESERT"
''Hark the Glad Sound, the Saviour Comes"
&c., &C.; "Stearn's Watchman tell us of the
Night
FIRST Baptist CHURCH.
There was no floral display here. Tho prin-
cipal musical selections were Christmas an
them, "While the stars are cleaning bright"
select Christmas hymn ,and Lloyd's TeDeum in
Eb The text was in Heb i:6 -"Let all the an
gels of God worship him. Usually in the act of
worshipping the eyes of the worshippers ara
turned heavenward; but here the angel host
turned their faces toward the earth. The birth
of Moses, the coming Of Luther, the birth of
Washington, the emancipation proclamation
of Lincoln. and all the pivotal days in the
worlds history are commemorated. But what
event can compare in Importance with the
coming of the Son of God TO save the world?
The human heart always longs for the person.
al presence OF the being worshipped. So, in
the coming of the Messiah, God appeared
among men, and all are commanded to wor-
ship him. He is the only visible manifesta-
tion of the invisible God; and in Him alone do
we see the Creator Of the world. Again in
him we see the divine re-Creator Man,
Gods noblest work. was wrecked by sin, and
his whole moral nature became disorganized;
and the Son of God alone can reconstruct and
recreate this ruined nature. The nOblest ma
lures have worshipped this One; and more
than this, the angelic hosts are His devout
worshippers. What are the elements of true
worship? 1. The highest admiration of the
being worshipped; q We give to him our best
gifts; g. We keep His own anniversary day,
His Sabbath sacred, and devote it to His wor-
ship. The Lord has connected the bestow-
ment of great blessings With the proper OBJ
servance of His Sabbath, and we are not to
make this observance depend upon our con-
venence or pleasure, but are to make all
things to bend to Gods command. We have
no tight to rob God of any part of his day, and
it. is wrong for US to let aur business OF con-
venience keep any person from the duties or
privileges of Sabbath worship. The Lord
Jesus has not not permitted us to know the
his own resurrection day that we may spend it
all in his worship. May this reminder of the
birthday of our Lord lead Us to hallow anew
his own chosen day, for no people can neglect
that and hope TO prosper.
The preacher made most earnest and et-
feetlve plea for a devout observance of the
Sabbath By the Lords people, and protested
against allowing the world to decide how the
church should observe Gods holy day.
HIGH STREET.
There were no decorations at this church
The pastor, Rev. w. Fl. Fem, preached from
the text: John ], 27.-"There standeth one
among you, whom ye know not" Never were
literature, theology and daily living more oc
cupied with Christ than now. Christmas is a
festival yearly more aud more observed. But
whether we are also entering deeper into the
mind Of the Lord in his incarnation is not so
clear. We know more than our fathers and
in some things behave better, but as touching
the recognition of the highest in the Redeemer
and the drawing from him the best that he
woald do for us to-day, we are very backward.
He is come, and is to be revealed more and
more: that is plain; but for some cause our
eyes are holden. The idols of tho day are
more impersonal than Ceres, Baeehus and Pan
bat they are no less our gods. We defy
nature, pay incense to life and worship man.
Agnosics as to the cause, we glOrify the
effects. Nominaliy we believe in God as be-
ing in the world, society aud the soul; practi-
cally for us. He is rather hidden behind
them than visible through them. OF the
modern church itself it may be true, as Of the
Jews, that we are blinded by excess of light.
We are so very sure that we have the very
heart OF our Lord in our hand, that we per-
haps dare to believe we compass it all, and en-
ioy its monopoly. For all our real insight, for
ali our assurance. The Christ incognto must
give us pause, till we receive Him as He is
and have power to become the sons of God.
The music, under the direction of the
orgaDist, Miss Adams, attracted much atten-