The Portland daily press., 1884-09-29
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.

and evening. After making some touching
illusions to the many who had passed away
since his departure from this city, he preached
an interesting sermon from the words, "The
first shall be last, and the last first" The
general subject of the discourse was the Guilt
walton of moral character Ali outward dis.
tinctions, human judgments,o or assumed virtues
are of little account. The real question is
what is our character as it stands in the sight
of God, or according to the law of eternal
right?
In the evening he preached from the words
in John *. 1.3, "And as Jesus passed by he
saw man blind from his BIRTH" etc. The
question of the disciples was metaphysical, but
the answer of Jesus was practical. Men are
very prone to ask questions It is not the
broadcast mind that asks the hardest questions
But it is right still to ask questions. God is
willing to answer our proper queries if it will
be best for us to know. Most of our question:
concerning religious truth may be classed un-
der three heads: What is done? How was 1t
done? And Why?
The question before US, as to the origin of
evil, we may not be able to answer But we
may see that God uses it as field for the
manifestation Of his great goodness. Existing
evils serve to develop human goodness in the
physical world. So in the intellectual world,
how much Of human effort is lost on account
of ignorance! 1t would be lamenJable world
II everybody knew everything. Ignorance is
the field for the manifestation OF intellectual
energy and growth. So also is it in the moral
world. Ii there were no moral evil in the
world there would be lacking many of the
finest illustrations of moral excellence. All
virtue centers at last in moral courage. We
act in the presence of evil? How can we make
it an opportunity Of good? Let us act as to the
things we do know, and leave the mysterious
to be answered in the future. Let the evils in
our own way challenge our virtue, for life is a
serious subject, and it rests witch us whether
it shall be grand opportunity for growth in
all moral excellence or most disastrous
failure.
The church was crowded in the evening. DR..
Stebbins appeared in excellent health, and his
old parishioners were delighted to see him.
THE GOSPEL MISSION.
Those o: our citizens who feel an interest in
brethren would be well repaid by attending the
services at the Gospel Mission. Last evening
every available space where it was possible to
stand was occupied. and many were turned
away unable to obtain admittance. The ex-
ercises commenced with a service of song led
by Mr.. Hiram Foss, and accompanied by Mr..
Bent with the cornet and Mr.. Hanson with the
trombone. This was followed by testimony
meeting by those who had been redeemed.
| Many of the addresses were quaint and home
| ~, but from what they said Jesus had done
mighty things for them. During his address
Rev. s. f. Pearson drew the attention of his
hearers to the want of room to accommodate
| the people who are hungering for the gospel,
and in pleasant manner suggested that the
authorities roof in the park for place of wor-
| ship for the masses, and at the close of the
meeting made a powerful appeal to the un-
| saved, and as it was some time after 9 o'clock
an after-meeting was held and very large
number remained Three persons asked for
and received the prayers of the workers. Cos
| pei and temperance meetings are held at the
Mission every evening of the week at 730
| O'Clock.
FREE STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AS the Sabbaths of the year pass by Sunday
school anniversaries take place, and as the
| time flies the scholars increase in numbers and
| the exercises are of higher order. The
school connected with the Free Street Baptist
| Church held its forty-eighth anniversary last
evening in the presence of a large congrega-
ton.
Skilled hands had adorned the interior of
the building with evergreen, potted plants and
bouquets of flowers, the most elaborate design
of the decorations being an inscription "Forty-
eighth anniversary" placed across the arch in
rear of the pulpit.
The order of exercises was as follows:
Organ Voluntary.
Singing-"Hail the Festal Day..
Responsive Scripture Reading.
Prayer.
Solo"He shall feed His flock" Miss Bartlett.
Stnging-"The Past and the Future ,.,......,,,.
Reports of the Secretary and Treasurer.
Solo. Mr.. Chase.
Exercises by the Primary Glass.
AadIess' i =. Rev K z. Small, D. d.
Slnglng-"Lo It's the Army of the Lord l."
Remarks by Prof. j. F. English.
Benediction.
The present officers of the school are:
Supt.-H. W. Noyes.
Asst Suppl. III. Morse.
Secretary and Treasurer-C Charles A. True,
Asst. LibraIian-Wm. Leavitt, Jr
Pianist-Miss Carrie Haskell.
Music Librarians-Frank S. Wallace, Frank
81. Power.
The superintendents report for the past year
shows the number of scholars in the school to
be 322; average attendance, 1874; number Joined
the church, 9. The treasurer reports $319, SO as
the total of the school and church offerings, to
gether with sums obtained from other
sources. The expenditures for missionary pur-
poses and running expenses amount to $29395,
leaving balance of $24.65.
The morning Of the anniversary was obsery-
| ed by an appropriate and well delivered SER
| mon By Professor j. F. English of Newton,
| Mass.
NOTES.
Rev. Mr.. Crosby preached at the Church of
the Messiah, yesterday, an admirable sermon
from the text Man is from above"