The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-21
FAST DAY.
It's Observance in the Churches.

Fast Day was better observed in Portland
than for many years. The day was pleasant in
the morning, cold and raw in the afternoon
Stores were closed as generally, for the most
part as on Sunday, and many citizens drove
out in the country, or took an excursion down
the harbor to the islands, noting the Brooklyn
on the way. The congregations at the churches
were not very large; in fact, Fast Day is hol-
iday, and the people so consider IT,
AT the First Parish church there was union
service of the Universalists and Unitarians.
Rev. Mr. Hayden offered prayer and appropri-
ate selections from the Scriptures were read bv
Rev. DIR. Hill. Rev. Henry Blanchard, of the
First Universalist chnrch, then delivered a
very eloquent and impressive sermon, his sub
ject being "Our Fathers trust in God" The
text was from Psalm xxi, 4. The causes OF
trust IN God were then shown to bel reyer
ence for Deity; 2, obedience; 5, an awed con-
seriousness OF the individuals responsibility 10
has Creator A, reliance on God as the Sover-
eign OF the Universe. These points were
dwelt upon at length
There We're prayer and praise services at
Milliston, st. Lawrence street. Free and the
First Baptist churches and the Gospel Mission.
The Plymouth and Second Parish churches
held union service at the latter church. The
III. III.
Plymouth church, from the text, Micah vi, o.
The Lords voice crieth unto the CITY," The
preacher said the religious quality of these an
nual occasions has mostly dropped out The
largely prevailing observance of Fast Day is
oaricature of its original intent, Ii was de-
signed for humiliation; il has scarcely a look
that way to-day. IL was appointed for prayer
and It is principally used for amusement IL
started cut as day OF fasting, il is extensive.
~ kept as day OF feasting. Yet let not the
few who gather in the courts of the Lord
while the throngs are found in other places
lose sight of the high intent of the day, nor
miss the renewal OF faith and hope and cour-
age that came OF its faithful observance.
At the State Street Church there was q I'M
ion service OF the Williston and State Street
societies. Rev. Frank I, Bayley of State
Street Church preached upon the subject.
The Principle OF Fraternity, as applicable in
Social and Political Science The text
suggests, first, that man has a brother. with
whom he is to live, in social and political rela-
lations; second, that his brother has equal
rights with himself, because he is his brother;
third, that 1t Is incumbent upon him to have
fraternal care for his brother fourth, that
in his seltishness, he is prone to ignore that
duty; to live in the spirit OF Gains words, g Am
my brothers Keeper? The eaeher then
went on to show that il we did not take heed
TO these suggestions we lived in great Peril.
He showed how the wretched Margaret OF
Hudson river, wanderer and outcast became
the ancestor of recorded list of 200 criminals.
The wrongs of slavery put negroes, after The
civil war, into State governments, raising the
State debt OF South Carolina from S500,000 to
s., 000, goo. The great wave of immigration is
filling our western lands. IL education is not
afforded literally the illiteraey OF the people
will place us in awful peril. There are 1,700,-
600 voters in the Southern States who cannot
read-S9 per cent. of the voters. And these
States elect 50 out of the "a United States Sem
ators, and 100 out of the 292 Congressional
Representatives. Taking this mass Of Hitter
acy together. it is hardly better fitted for self
direction than an Alpine avalanche. How
awful is the peril TO us all if the direction Of Ii
shall fall into the hand Of unprincipled politi-
cal demsgogues
An article in recent number of the Inter-
national Review suggests the ease with which
the tremendous weapon, already forged to the
hand OF master, might be used with momen-
tous consequences. The writer shows that, in
the last Presidential election, one per cent of
the vote of committees would have given it to
the other party; three and half per cent
would have changed the result in Maine; two
and third in New Hampshire; one per cent
IN New York; one and seventh in Pennsy-
vania; three and third in Illinois: q half of
ons per cent in New Jersey; two and third in
Ohio; seven-tenths Of one per cent in Indiana;
and nine one hundreds of one per cent in Ore
gon; while a change eff 1864 votes in ten
States would have changed Ill electoral votes
nearly one-third of the entire number. Can
We afford to leave this mass of ignorant voters
subject TO the control of pot-house politicians2
The speaker dwelt upon the homes OF the
poor in New York where 70 people live in a
house 100x25 feet in size. Such places breed
criminals. One lad born in such place cost
the city, in direct criminal costs, about three
thousand dollars; while two of his own brothers
were saved and sent West by the Children's
Aid Society, at q cost Of thirty dollars each;
and they are now thriving farmers.
Then there are the monopolies. One Of the
railroad magnates testified in 1878 that he had
contributed money to control legislation in
four States; and it vas proven that the Erie
Railroad had disbursed more than . million
dollars in one year for this purpose. The
treasurer of the New York Central Railroad
testified that the road paid in one year $685.
600 to obtain legislation. Here may come la
Dor vs.. capital; strikes, riots, political cofrup-
ton, communism.
Speculation causes Gerangement Of trade,
and should be curbed; so with the sale and
use of strong drink.
Finally, what shall we do about it? First,
this principle should be incorporated in cur
legislation. in every practicable form. Il is
freely admitted that the task is mot always an
easy one. We should recognize the essential
nature of a sound public sentiment. All leg
islation depends for its effectiveness upon
this; without il, is like wedge without a
beetle, useless. I understand there are some
excellent wedges lying about in this COM
munltyi
Second. We should push On every wise be-
nevolent work for the sanitary, educational
and moral elevation of our brother
Third. We ought to use the gospel of Christ
as the best instrument for the highest good Of
man.