The Portland daily press., 1883-07-16
PULPIT AND PLATFORMS
SECOND PARISH CHURCH.

Tbs Rev. Erastus Blakeslee, who was lately
settled at Greenfield, Mass, preached at the
Second Parish church yesterday. His text ia
the morning was from the Psalms, Like as
father pitieth his children, the Lord piIieth
them that fear him." His development of the
suggestive thought Of the text was ia natural
expression translated by The word pity, imply
ing besides eommiseration, love, helpfulness
and solicitude, the greater difference ia wisdom
and power between God and men than be-
tween an earthly parent and his child, the
compatibility OF this supreme, affecti3nate
regard with the pursuit of disciplinary ends in
Gods dealings with men, and the peculiar
value of the blessings God confers on those
who lear him, compared with those which all
men share alike. The preachers discussion
of the topic was characterized by clearness Of
statement, an attractive felicity of illustration,
and an earnest personal appreciation of the
sacred message which made strong impress
sion the hearers.
In the evening meeting vas held in the Ia
tsrest Of the Woman's National Temperance
Union. Rev. Mr.. Blakeslee presided, and the
meeting was addressed by Mr.. Blakesee, who
very pleasantly introduced the subject and al
so the leading speaker, Miss Kimbal, secra
tary Of the Sunday School Department OF the
Woman's National Temperance Union Miss
KimbalPs field Of work is in Chicago mainly
and she gave interesting sketches of some OF
the temperance work in that city. She wished
this evening TO speak OF the necessity of
trained workers ia the temperance cause.
The Speaker spoke OF the efforts made to
stay tbe ravages of the yellow fever when it
ragged at the South; but how much more are
efforts needed to stay the fearful evils of in
temperance. Why is il that we are gathered
here tonight? Why are so many 10 prison, 50
many orphans, SO many dying FROM strong
drink, so many suffering from hunger, dis
ease, death? Is il not from ignorance? The
child is not told of the danger of forming the
habit of using strong drink. Iu the city of
Chicago, temperance workers have felt the
need OF training the youth in temperate hab-
It's la the Chicago Inebriates' Home, the
superintendent finds that most of the inmates
were, in early life, ignorant Of the danger Of
using, and of the nature of strong drink.
The speaker wished to speak OF the increased
at the present day; our obligation to improve
| the opportunities; and Of the methods Of meet
| ing these obligations. Science throws light
| upon these important questions. About the
| time OF tue beginning OF the western temper
| ance crusade, Dr. Richardson investigated the
| nature of alcohol and its effect upon the living
| tissue, and he is joined in his conclusions by
| the most distinguished physicians Of both
| bemispheres. 1t IS noble to use means to res
cua drowning seamen on our coast; but much
| moro SO TO rescue perishing drunkards. We
| are upder obligation ID use means to stay the
| evil The children are the chief sufferers from
this curse, and We must save them. Ii we dc
| not try to do this then God will come to us in
| wrath. We are not fanatics; we call upon you
| to work in this cause as you would be true to
| GOD and men. II we would preserve our ma
| ton we must cutter upon this work. We
| have four millions who cannot read six mil
| lions who cannot write. The liquor sellers
/ are largely responsible for this, aud we must
SEQ that in this question the very life OF our
| republic ID concerned. II the State OF Maine
| should never do anything more than to have
| originated the prohibitory law, it will have
done blessed thing. But we must stand by
the lay and enforce 1t, and so make it great
| er good.
How shall we meet this evil? We must ed
| ucate the children by all means; educate the
| children; save them. But we must look to the
| church as the great instrument for opposing
| this dreadful sc0urge. We must introduce il
| into the Sunday school. We must find time
for this Children will be interested In it, for
| they often are in advance OF their elders In
| their moral perceptions. Use temperance
| books, temperance tracts, the temperance
| pledge. We can find all these ready prepared
| for the children. We need trained minds,
| trained hearts, trained consciousness trained
hands for this great struggle. Make the chill
| dren students of history. Teach them to be
\ firm, stable, confident of the result. We too
| are TO be confident of final triumph IN this
grand cause. We shall ere long secure a ma
| tional prohbtory law. The work sat the
west is going on Rloriously, aud Oar land shall
yet be redeemed from the curse of intemper-
| ance.
Miss Kimbal is an exceedingly attractive
| speaker and her hearers were interested and
| instructed by her eloquent address