The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-12

Rev. DR. Lincoln of Newton Center. Mass
preached with much acceptance at the Free
street church in the morning, and at the First
Baptist church in the afternoon yesterday. At
several Of the Congregational churches mis-
slonary sermons were preached by representa-
tiveS OF the Congregational Home Mission
Society, and in the evening union missionary
meeting was held at which addresses were
made.
Rev DR.. CLARK, Secretary of the American
Home Missionary Society, made the first ad-
dress. This was the 31st in a series of meet
ings held in Northern New England in the in
terest of the society. DR.. Clark spoke Of the
field as whole, adopting one of Joseph Cooks
expressions, ultimate America The Home
Mission work has been pushed into the wilder
ness ust as far as the national good requires.
The great West is the objective point of Home
Mission work; for that section will rule the
country. The older States have their own
organizations for mission work, but the new
and destitute sections are divided into superin-
tendencies. Look at some of these States
Colorado has room for both Old and New Eng
land ; and If We look at Texas We find State
large enough to contain the whole present
| population of the Union and third more,
sixty-three millions of people. But why do we
send money TO these Western States? Because
it is the spirit of the Society to send the gospel
| to those who need it, The most prosperous
| Western States owe their prosperity to Home
| Mission. As the new States of the extreme
West opened, it introduced a new era in Home
mission work. In hundreds and thousands of
| communities in tho Missisainni vallau fhara 10
| sad restitution of churches ard Sunday
schools. Farther north and west vast sections
are filling up, and yet ministers and mission
aries are wanting.
Rev. Mr.. Blanchard of the Colorado division
followed He spoke of the foreign element
pouring into our country, 100000 coming the
| past year. Can our churches meet and as
simulate this vast mass? Is their piety of that
| order that will esvond to this call? These
foreigners come to this land with great hopes,
and they are ready to be nodded. Especially
are the children OF these immigrants accessible.
They are ready to go to the Sunday school.
We are too ready 10 go to take it for granted
that these foreigners will refuse the Gospel it
is mistake, they are ready aud willing tv be
taught. The speaker gave sketch of one OF
these western stations-with Its log chapel, log
parsonage and crowded congregation. They
seek to plant churches only where they are
needed; SO that Christian comfy is observed in
their work.
Rev. Mr.. Paddefort of Michigan spoke of his
work up in the north of the State. Whiskey
intidelity and the Devil are the great curses OF
the people; and nothing but the gospel viii
meet their needs; and the gospel changes all
But they need more laborers. In that wide
field the scat. cred homes, the growing villages
the thriving towns need the purifying, eeva-
ting, saving influence OF the word of God
With this in the hands of the living preacher
those moral wastes shall become as the garden
| of the Lard.