The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-15
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.


Rev. DIR. J. S. Hoyt of Cambridge, preached
at Williston church yesterday. The text &C.
lected by him in the morning was Acts 3, 5,
and he announced as his theme, "what the
World Expects of the Church"
The preacher began by calling the attention
of his hearers to the very marked difference,
both in character and disposition of the two
apostles, Peter and John, and yet the perfect
harmony that existed between them, in their
work. 1t was of them unitedly that the lame
man asked and evidently expected, an aims.
So the Christian church to-day is composed of
men and women differing widely in character
and ability, yet in perfect accord in their desire
to do the work God has given them to do.
What now is expected of the church by the
world? It expects the church to live as the
world does not live, but according to the New
Testament, the world has right to expect
from Christians blameless life that shall be
Giving epistle known and read OF all men,"
Sometimes it is true that the world expects too
much and expects of the church faultless lives,
but the church is not TO be held accountable
for that.
The world expects christians will keep the
claims of Christ ever before them And who
may be expected to do this if the Christian
does not 40 IT? Surely philosophy, science,
oulsuAoS an VI them cannot DO SO II they would
and would not if they could
The world expects the church people to think
OF themselves less and others more The
preacher closed with solemn appeal to the
church to live up to its high privilege also to
those who are not yet in the church to come
kind.
FIRST BAPTIST.
The sixty-sixth anniversary of the First
Baptist Sunday School was observed yesterday
afternoon and evening with appropriate exer-
clses. In the afternoon the pastor, Rev. DR..
Small, preached an interesting sermon to the
children from the text in Rev. 4:5-7. The
preacher suggested that the four living crea-
lures might be emblematical of the characters
tics of the church of God-the hon symboliziHg
| strength and royal majesty; tho man intslli.
gence and progress; the OK, labor and sacrifice
the eagle, swift obedience and triumphant sur
mounting of obstacles. The sermon was a
timely and earnest enforcement of the obliga-
lions resting upon those who would be faithful
workers in the vineyard of the Lord.
| In the evening, as has been customary for a
| number OF years, memb@ls of Free St. church
were present to listen tc The exercises which
| were varied and exceedingly interesting. The
| opening prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Bur-
rage, followed by responsive reading and sing
| ing, after which the Superintendent presented
an abstract of the usual reports which gave an
encouraging view of the school. The whole
number of scholars is BIT; the average atten-
dance 40. The infant class numbers u; and
IN the school during the year there were four
conversions and two deaths
The Treasurer reported the total receipts.
$3.50. 40; expenditures, $21S.99. The library
has 547 volumes, "a being added the past wear.
The Cent Society raised $153.93, which was
appropriated towards the payment of the
church debt. A society of Christian Endeav-
or has been formed in connection with the
school and church, which is doing an excellent
work. The reports were followed by an exer-
else by the infant class, harvest song and the
presentation of baskets of Autumn fruits Rev
Mr.. McWhinnie made interesting remarks and
| was followed by the pastor in the closing ad-
| dress The singing was excellent and the ex-
| ercises throughout were greatly enjoyed by the
large audience. The pulpit recess was TASTE
fully decorated by flowers and Autumn leaves
| The officers of the school have occasion to
be encouraged over the result of another year
| of faithful work.
| STATE STREET CHURCH
| Miss Lucia e. f. Kimball spoke at this
church last evening on 1.-THE necessity fol
trained forces in the temperance cause. Miss
Kimball was greeted by full congregation
and delivered clear, argumentative address
| which commended itself to all interested in
the great cause the lady represents.